Post on 11-Aug-2020
Improving the insulation of a building can be the most ef-fective first step towards conserving both energy and money. Good insulation makes buildings more energy efficient and more comfortable in both winter and summer. Appropriate insulation also helps protect buildings from condensation, and the damage that it can cause.
How Much Insulation is Needed?Deciding how much insulation to use in a renovation project is affected by factors such as: the amount and type of insula-tion that is already in place, local building codes and design and construction methods of the building itself. Natural Resources Canada’s Energuide book “Keeping the Heat in” gives guidelines for recommended insulation levels.
Insulation is typically located inside a building in the walls, ceiling and floor, but it can also be found on the building’s exterior, often hidden beneath siding. Adequate attic insula-tion is particularly important as 25% of the building’s heat loss is through the roof.
The quickest money-saving insulation improvements are to caulk, seal and weather-strip all seams, cracks and openings to the outside (including windows and doors). These simple strategies can reduce energy bills by at least 10%!
What is ‘R’?The ‘R’ value of an insulation product refers to its “thermal resistance”, or how difficult it is for heat to move through it. Slowing down the transfer of heat keeps living spaces from getting uncomfortably hot or cold. The insulation value of a wall, roof or floor depends on the type and amount of insulation used. In some renovations, people will increase the depth of their walls to give extra room for additional insulation.
In Nova Scotia, insulation values of R20 in main walls, R17 in basement walls, R32 in the roof or ceiling, and R27 for floors above unheated spaces, are the minimum recom-
mended standards1 – additional insulation beyond these recommendations is often a good investment.
Where to insulate?Before adding insulation to a building, it is important to first determine how much, and what type of insulation is already in place. This is straightforward in areas such as at-tics, where the insulation is visible, but it can be difficult to determine what is there inside walls. One way to understand what is happening in these areas, is to turn off the power, remove an electrical plug plate, and check the voids around the outlet with a flashlight. Sometimes it is also possible to check under the base of exterior siding. A little detective work of this kind will generally reveal what sort of insula-tion is in place.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has developed an insulation assessment worksheet that can help establish the type and thickness of insulation recommended for specific installations.2
Insulation basics for renovations• Increase insulation to an R-value of at least that recom-mended by local building code and exceed that if possible. • Add insulation first to those areas that are below the recommended standard• Blown-in insulation works well in difficult to access areas, without removing drywall. Rigid or batt insulation is appropriate where drywall will be removed.• If mold is detected a building specialist can identify the type of mold, and determine whether it needs to be removed professionally.3 • Ensure there is good ventilation in attics and roofs, with appropriate baffles etc. to off-set condensation build up. • Ensure thorough and even distribution of insulation materials. This prevents thermal bridging, which are gaps in the continuity of insulation in a wall, ceiling or floor that allow heat to pass more easily between the inside and outside of a building.
INSULATION
Green Renovation Toolk it
Type
of
Insu
lati
onB
AT
TS
Fibe
rgla
ss
Cot
ton
Shee
p W
ool
Min
eral
Woo
l
RIG
ID B
OA
RD
Stra
w b
oard
Extr
uded
Po
lysty
rene
(EPS
)
Expa
nded
po
lysty
rene
(XPS
) (pe
arl b
oard
)
Poly
-isoc
yanu
rate
LO
OSE
FIL
L
Cel
lulo
se
*R-v
alue
per
in2
Stan
dard
: 3.
2
Hi-d
ensit
y:
3.8
3.5
~3.3
2.
2-2.
9
1.4
5
3.8
5.6-
7
3.1-
3.7
Supp
lier
Man
y su
pplie
rs.
John
Man
svill
e
www.
jm.co
m(N
o fo
rmald
ehyd
e)
Inno
ther
m
ww
w.in
noth
erm
.com
, N
orth
Car
olin
a, U
SA
or B
onde
d Lo
gic
ww
w.bo
nded
logi
c.com
, A
rizon
a USA
Goo
d Sh
ephe
rd
ww
w.go
odsh
ephe
rdwo
ol.co
m
Alb
erta
, Can
ada
Rox
ul
ww
w.ro
xul.c
om
Pres
towa
ll av
ailab
le fr
om
A
fford
able
Build
ing
Syste
ms
www.
affor
dabl
ebui
ldin
gsys
tem
s.co
m
Styr
ofoa
m S
M fr
om D
ow
C
hem
ical
ww
w.do
w.co
m
True
Foa
m, T
rue W
all
ww
w.tru
efoa
m.co
m
Dyp
last
ww
w.dy
plas
t.com
and
John
Man
svill
e
www.
jm.co
m
Seve
ral C
dn m
anuf
actu
res
Ava
ilab
ilit
y/O
ptio
ns
Avai
labl
e in
Atla
ntic
Pro
vinc
es
at H
ardw
are
Stor
es. A
sk fo
r fo
rmal
dehy
de.
Stan
dard
3.5
”: R
12
St
anda
rd 5
.5”:
R20
Hi-d
ensit
y 3.
5”: R
14
H
i-den
sity
5.5”
: R22
Not
loca
lly a
vaila
ble.
Ord
er
from
US
base
d su
pplie
r
(Ins
ulte
ch in
Ten
ness
ee o
r The
Hea
lthie
st H
ome)
3.
5” :
R11
or R
13
5.
5” :
R19
Not
loca
lly a
vaila
ble.
Ord
er
from
man
ufac
ture
r 2”
blan
kets;
al
so ro
lls u
sed
for
in
sula
ting
log
hom
es.
Lim
ited
avai
labi
lity.
Acad
ia
Dry
wal
l in
HR
M.
2”
: R 4
.5 -6
an
d 4.
5”: R
10-
15
Not
loca
lly a
vaila
ble.
Ord
er
from
man
ufac
ture
r in
Whi
terig
ht, T
exas
.
2” sh
eets:
R 2
.8
4”
shee
ts: R
5.6
Loca
lly a
vaila
ble.
1”x2
”x8’
: R 5
2”x2
”x8’
: R 1
0
Avai
labl
e at
Pie
rcey
s and
oth
er
hom
e ha
rdw
are
store
s. M
anuf
actu
red
in D
artm
outh
2
”x4’
x8’ s
heet
: R 7
.6
Loca
lly, b
ut n
ot c
onsis
tent
ly,
avai
labl
e.
2”x4
”x8’
shee
t: R
12-
14
Avai
labl
e lo
cally
, can
rent
mac
hine
s to
blow
in o
r ins
talle
rs
such
as H
ome T
ite, w
ill in
stall.
$ /
ft2
$0.5
5-$0
.65
$1.0
0 &
$3
.00
ship
ped
~$5.
50
ship
ped
2”: $
0.42
4.
5”: 1
.18
2”
: ~$
4.50
sh
ippe
d $2
.62
for R
19
equi
vale
nt
$1.5
6 fo
r R
19 e
quiv
a-le
nt
~ $2
.50
Varie
s with
in
stalle
r, co
mpa
rabl
e to
fibe
r-gl
ass b
atts.
Env
iron
men
tal
Con
side
rati
ons
Ener
gy in
tens
ive
prod
uc-
tion
proc
ess,
but l
ow d
ensit
y pr
oduc
t. Ze
ro fo
rmal
dehy
de
bran
ds, m
ost c
ompa
nies
use
pa
rtia
lly re
cycl
ed p
rodu
cts.
Che
mic
al p
rodu
cts c
an o
ff ga
s. C
an b
e re
used
.
85
% re
cycl
ed c
otto
n, n
o
IAQ
pro
blem
s, tre
ated
with
fir
e re
tard
ant.
Non
-toxi
c. C
an
be re
used
. Re
new
able
nat
ural
re
sour
ce. N
on-to
xic.
C
an b
e re
used
.
Mad
e fro
m st
eel s
lag,
en
ergy
inte
nsiv
e pr
oces
s.
Mor
e fir
e re
sista
nt th
an
othe
r pro
duct
s. N
o off
ga
ssin
g. C
an b
e re
used
.
Mad
e fro
m st
raw.
Re
new
able
reso
urce
. Low
in
sula
ting
valu
e, re
plac
es
insu
latio
n an
d dr
ywal
l.
Non
-toxi
c. C
an b
e re
used
. Lo
w R
val
ue.
Expa
nded
with
HC
FC-
142b
(to
be p
hase
d ou
t in
US
by 2
010)
. Pet
roleu
m
base
d. O
ff ga
sses.
Hig
h R
valu
e. C
an b
e reu
sed.
U
se fo
r ext
erio
r app
licat
ions
an
d ba
sem
ents.
Ex
pand
ed w
ith p
enta
ne, n
o C
FC’s
or H
CFC
s. Pe
troleu
m
base
d. L
imite
d off
-gas
sing.
C
an b
e reu
sed.
(int
erio
r use
). Ex
pand
ed w
ith h
ydro
carb
on
mix
. Low
off
gass
ing.
Can
be
reus
ed.
Freq
uent
ly u
sed
in
roofi
ng a
pplic
atio
ns.
80%
recy
cled
. Low
ene
rgy
proc
ess.
Fire
reta
rdan
ts an
d m
old
inhi
bito
rs a
dded
. Use
du
st m
ask
whe
n in
stalli
ng.
Diffi
cult
to re
use,
but
po
ssib
le. H
igh
R-v
alue
.
THIN
KIN
G T
HR
OU
GH
INSU
LATI
ON
Type
of
Insu
lati
onB
AT
TS
Fibe
rgla
ss
Cot
ton
Shee
p W
ool
Min
eral
Woo
l
RIG
ID B
OA
RD
Stra
w b
oard
Extr
uded
Po
lysty
rene
(EPS
)
Expa
nded
po
lysty
rene
(XPS
) (pe
arl b
oard
)
Poly
-isoc
yanu
rate
LO
OSE
FIL
L
Cel
lulo
se
*R-v
alue
per
in2
Stan
dard
: 3.
2
Hi-d
ensit
y:
3.8
3.5
~3.3
2.
2-2.
9
1.4
5
3.8
5.6-
7
3.1-
3.7
Supp
lier
Man
y su
pplie
rs.
John
Man
svill
e
www.
jm.co
m(N
o fo
rmald
ehyd
e)
Inno
ther
m
ww
w.in
noth
erm
.com
, N
orth
Car
olin
a, U
SA
or B
onde
d Lo
gic
ww
w.bo
nded
logi
c.com
, A
rizon
a USA
Goo
d Sh
ephe
rd
ww
w.go
odsh
ephe
rdwo
ol.co
m
Alb
erta
, Can
ada
Rox
ul
ww
w.ro
xul.c
om
Pres
towa
ll av
ailab
le fr
om
A
fford
able
Build
ing
Syste
ms
www.
affor
dabl
ebui
ldin
gsys
tem
s.co
m
Styr
ofoa
m S
M fr
om D
ow
C
hem
ical
ww
w.do
w.co
m
True
Foa
m, T
rue W
all
ww
w.tru
efoa
m.co
m
Dyp
last
ww
w.dy
plas
t.com
and
John
Man
svill
e
www.
jm.co
m
Seve
ral C
dn m
anuf
actu
res
Ava
ilab
ilit
y/O
ptio
ns
Avai
labl
e in
Atla
ntic
Pro
vinc
es
at H
ardw
are
Stor
es. A
sk fo
r fo
rmal
dehy
de.
Stan
dard
3.5
”: R
12
St
anda
rd 5
.5”:
R20
Hi-d
ensit
y 3.
5”: R
14
H
i-den
sity
5.5”
: R22
Not
loca
lly a
vaila
ble.
Ord
er
from
US
base
d su
pplie
r
(Ins
ulte
ch in
Ten
ness
ee o
r The
Hea
lthie
st H
ome)
3.
5” :
R11
or R
13
5.
5” :
R19
Not
loca
lly a
vaila
ble.
Ord
er
from
man
ufac
ture
r 2”
blan
kets;
al
so ro
lls u
sed
for
in
sula
ting
log
hom
es.
Lim
ited
avai
labi
lity.
Acad
ia
Dry
wal
l in
HR
M.
2”
: R 4
.5 -6
an
d 4.
5”: R
10-
15
Not
loca
lly a
vaila
ble.
Ord
er
from
man
ufac
ture
r in
Whi
terig
ht, T
exas
.
2” sh
eets:
R 2
.8
4”
shee
ts: R
5.6
Loca
lly a
vaila
ble.
1”x2
”x8’
: R 5
2”x2
”x8’
: R 1
0
Avai
labl
e at
Pie
rcey
s and
oth
er
hom
e ha
rdw
are
store
s. M
anuf
actu
red
in D
artm
outh
2
”x4’
x8’ s
heet
: R 7
.6
Loca
lly, b
ut n
ot c
onsis
tent
ly,
avai
labl
e.
2”x4
”x8’
shee
t: R
12-
14
Avai
labl
e lo
cally
, can
rent
mac
hine
s to
blow
in o
r ins
talle
rs
such
as H
ome T
ite, w
ill in
stall.
$ /
ft2
$0.5
5-$0
.65
$1.0
0 &
$3
.00
ship
ped
~$5.
50
ship
ped
2”: $
0.42
4.
5”: 1
.18
2”
: ~$
4.50
sh
ippe
d $2
.62
for R
19
equi
vale
nt
$1.5
6 fo
r R
19 e
quiv
a-le
nt
~ $2
.50
Varie
s with
in
stalle
r, co
mpa
rabl
e to
fibe
r-gl
ass b
atts.
Env
iron
men
tal
Con
side
rati
ons
Ener
gy in
tens
ive
prod
uc-
tion
proc
ess,
but l
ow d
ensit
y pr
oduc
t. Ze
ro fo
rmal
dehy
de
bran
ds, m
ost c
ompa
nies
use
pa
rtia
lly re
cycl
ed p
rodu
cts.
Che
mic
al p
rodu
cts c
an o
ff ga
s. C
an b
e re
used
.
85
% re
cycl
ed c
otto
n, n
o
IAQ
pro
blem
s, tre
ated
with
fir
e re
tard
ant.
Non
-toxi
c. C
an
be re
used
. Re
new
able
nat
ural
re
sour
ce. N
on-to
xic.
C
an b
e re
used
.
Mad
e fro
m st
eel s
lag,
en
ergy
inte
nsiv
e pr
oces
s.
Mor
e fir
e re
sista
nt th
an
othe
r pro
duct
s. N
o off
ga
ssin
g. C
an b
e re
used
.
Mad
e fro
m st
raw.
Re
new
able
reso
urce
. Low
in
sula
ting
valu
e, re
plac
es
insu
latio
n an
d dr
ywal
l.
Non
-toxi
c. C
an b
e re
used
. Lo
w R
val
ue.
Expa
nded
with
HC
FC-
142b
(to
be p
hase
d ou
t in
US
by 2
010)
. Pet
roleu
m
base
d. O
ff ga
sses.
Hig
h R
valu
e. C
an b
e reu
sed.
U
se fo
r ext
erio
r app
licat
ions
an
d ba
sem
ents.
Ex
pand
ed w
ith p
enta
ne, n
o C
FC’s
or H
CFC
s. Pe
troleu
m
base
d. L
imite
d off
-gas
sing.
C
an b
e reu
sed.
(int
erio
r use
). Ex
pand
ed w
ith h
ydro
carb
on
mix
. Low
off
gass
ing.
Can
be
reus
ed.
Freq
uent
ly u
sed
in
roofi
ng a
pplic
atio
ns.
80%
recy
cled
. Low
ene
rgy
proc
ess.
Fire
reta
rdan
ts an
d m
old
inhi
bito
rs a
dded
. Use
du
st m
ask
whe
n in
stalli
ng.
Diffi
cult
to re
use,
but
po
ssib
le. H
igh
R-v
alue
.
•R-v
alu
e re
fers
to
th
erm
al r
esis
tan
ce. T
able
info
rmat
ion
co
mp
iled
by
EAC
Ho
me
Co
mm
itte
e, fr
om
web
so
urc
es, l
oca
l so
urc
es a
nd
rel
evan
t ar
ticl
es a
nd
bo
oks
in 2
006.
What type of insulation to use?Once it is established where insulation is needed, the “decision making matri-ces” in the Nova Scotia Green Sheets can help to determine what type of in-sulation would work best for a particu-lar project.4 These choices are based on: insulation properties, i.e. rigid or batt, environmental impact, indoor air qual-ity etc. Working through a matrix/chart helps to make informed decisions for specific project needs and budgets.
Environmental points to consider when choosing an insulation product :• Avoid CFC or HCFC -based foam insulation as they have high ozone-depleting effects.5
• If using fiberglass, choose formalde-hyde-free, recycled-content fiberglass insulation, because of health risks as-sociated with phenol formaldehyde.6 • Cellulose, mineral/rock wool, or bio-based insulation (see below) are recommended over petroleum-based insulation where possible. • Wool is a natural, non-toxic and re-newable resource that can be purchased in batt form or blown in.7 • Cotton (sometimes from recycled jeans) is available as batts, or as blown in insulation.• Straw bales are another insulation option. These can be used both struc-turally or as infill and have an R-value of approx. R35, almost twice that of standard stick frame construction.8 • Strawboard can replace insulation and drywall in one product.9
New insulation materials are continu-ally coming on to the market, some of these are more “environmentally-friendly” than others. A rule of thumb is to look for options with a high recycled content and/or ones made from rapidly renewable resources. For example: Bio-based insulation is an open-cell, semi-rigid, water-blown foam made from soy beans that insu-
lates seamlessly, creating a windproof barrier without emitting VOCs, CFCs or formaldehyde. Questioning design-ers and building suppliers about cur-rent research is recommended to keep informed about the best choices for any particular project.
CautionsOld insulation, when left alone, is not generally a high health risk because it is isolated from our living spaces. However, once disturbed it can be dan-gerous, especially if it contains asbestos, in which case a licensed asbestos reme-diation specialist is recommended.
Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) is another type of insulation that is no longer in use, but that can be found in retrofits completed before 1980. While this type of insulation emits toxic formaldehyde gas when new, it appears that these toxins out-gas over time.
Finally, when insulating, sealing and caulking a building it is important to ensure there will be sufficient air cir-culation once renovations have taken place. Airtight buildings can suffer poor air quality, which can be improved with a mechanical ventilation system.
BibliographyEnerguide, Keeping the Heat In, Natural Resources Canada (2004)Green Remodeling, Changing the World One Room at a Time, David Johnston and Kim Master, (2004)Healthy Housing Renovation Planner: Renovate the Healthy Way, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) (1999)Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House, Carol Venolia & Kelly Lerner (2006)
ResourcesEcology Action Centre: www.ecologyaction.ca/newhome tel. (902) 442-2202CMHC: www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca tel. (902) 426-4715 or (902) 426-5780Conserve Nova Scotia: www.conservens.ca tel. (902) 424-0790EnerInfo Hotline: 1-800-670-4636Nova Scotia Green Sheets: www.ecologyaction.ca/newhome
EnerGuide home energy evaluations:• Clean Nova Scotia: www.cleanns.ns.ca tel. (902) 420-3474• Sustainable Housing: www.sustainablehousing.ca tel. 1-877-722-2842
Efficiency information for small and medium-sized businesses:• Eco-Efficiency Centre: www.eco-efficiency.management.dal.ca tel. (902) 461- 6704
Endnotes1. “Keeping the Heat in”, page 13 oee.nrcan.gc.ca/keep_heat_in2. CMHC, Healthy Housing Renovation Planner, page 993. Look for mold-control and removal in the Yellow Pages to locate specialists.4. Nova Scotia Green Sheets www.ecologyaction.ca/newhome5. CFCs = chlorofluorocarbons and HCFCs = hyrdofluorocarbons6. “Green Remodeling, Changing the World One Room at a Time”, David Johnston and Kim Master, (2004), page 235-2397. www.goodshepherdwool.com/8. www.strawbalebuilding.ca/strawbales.shtml9. www.agriboard.com/