Approximately 40% of all energy consumption in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries is from buildings; however, huge improvements can be made to the energy efficiency of buildings by ensuring that the optimum level of insulation is installed. EcoTherm insulation products very often provide the best insulation performance achievable in many new build and retrofit building applications.
Energy efficiency is integral to reducing our CO2 emissions, which are widely accepted to be the main cause of climate change-the biggest environmental challenge facing mankind today.A large part of the cut in carbon dioxide emissions can be delivered through improving the energy efficiency of buildings. PIR products play a crucial role as they offer excellent insulation performance.
1 m³ of PIR saves 40 km³ of CO2
that’s 60 kg of CO2 over 75 yrs
– 50 % more than traditional insulation.
As well as the environmental benefits of improving the energy efficiency of buildings, there are also significant financial benefits. For the domestic energy consumer, heating costs are dramatically reduced when the home is insulated using the best insulation products. And for the industrial user, better energy efficiency of buildings not only means lower energy bills but also reduces the impact of the Climate Change Levy.
The net environmental impact of PIR insulation products is extremely positive. It is estimated that over a 50-year period these products will save at least >1000 times more energy than embodied in the fossil fuel used to produce them in the first place. Moreover, the widely respected sustainable construction consultants XCO2 conisbee Ltd conclude in its publication “Insulation for Sustainability-A Guide” that zero ODP insulation products such as PIR are amongst the most environmentally sustainable forms of insulation. The BRE’s Green Guide rating for Rigid Urethane (pentane blown) is “A Grade”.