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LOW-CARBON INSULATION
“The need for low-carbon insulation is growing, which is why Knauf Insulation is
investing to support long-term demand.”
STUART THORPE FROM KNAUF INSULATION HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE INSULATION CAN PLAY IN REDUCING A BUILDING’S WHOLE-LIFE CARBON… The rising importance of low-carbon insulation
With the introduction of nearly zero- energy building regulations in 2021, the industry’s focus has rightly been on building homes with lower emission rates through a combination of high fabric performance and low/zero carbon technologies. But there is another side to the carbon equation that is increasingly important. Half of the equation Embodied carbon refers to the emissions associated with any materials and construction processes used throughout the lifecycle of the building, including manufacturing, transportation, construction, maintenance, repair, refurbishing, demolition and waste. These emissions can be as much as half of a building’s lifetime emissions. Many countries in Europe have made embodied carbon reporting mandatory and it’s only a matter of time before this becomes part of the Building Regulations in Northern Ireland. Comparing embodied carbon Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are becoming the industry’s preferred
standard for comparing the embodied carbon of construction products and materials. An EPD assesses the environmental impacts of a commercial product, process or service across all the stages of its lifecycle. EPDs are always verified by a third-party and follow standardised methods to make comparisons between them easier. Reducing carbon through insulation Provided it is installed correctly, insulation will always reduce a building’s whole- life carbon. It will ‘pay back’ the carbon expended in producing it through in-use energy savings, but how long this takes will vary widely between different materials and manufacturers. How insulation is made, transported and installed can have a significant impact on its embodied carbon, as can the process for its disposal. When insulating a timber frame stud wall, for example, you could use Knauf Insulation’s OmniFit® Thermal and Sound Slab, which has an embodied carbon impact of 0.75 kgCO2e/m 2 for R=1 (EPD
ID: S-P-10840). For comparison, this is significantly lower than one leading brand’s foil-faced polyisocyanurate (PIR) board, which has an impact of 3.273 kgCO2e/m 2 . Expanding capacity The need for low-carbon insulation is growing, which is why we are investing to support long-term demand. Major upgrades at our St Helens and Cwmbran plants have already increased our capacity for glass mineral wool. We are also planning a new, low-carbon rock mineral wool facility in Shotton, North Wales, which will add more than 100,000 tonnes of annual capacity. These investments ensure reliable supply across Ireland and give our customers confidence that low-carbon insulation will be available when needed.
T: +44 (0)844 800 0135 E: info.uk@knaufinsulation.com www.knaufinsulation.co.uk Want to know more?
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