"insulation"

insulation / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Insulation and soundproofing

Non-toxic natural building insulation made of grass

...insulation materials In order to combat the climate change impact of the built environment, natural insulation materials such as hemp insulation, cellulose, wood fiber and grass insulation help us meet emission targets because they act as carbon storage. We are living in a time when the embodied energy of buildings is ...

Insulation and soundproofing

How insulation works

...insulation works, find the right insulation for your home build or renovation in the Ecohome Green Building Guide and these pages here: Find the best insulation for different parts of your home Is spray foam insulation safe in homes for air quality? Which foam boards are best for basement insulation? Find hemp ...

Roof assemblies - new construction

Using mineral wool insulation batts in roofs

Mineral wool roof insulation used to best effect: Watch more green building video on the Ecohome YouTube channel here The Ecohome's Edelweiss House LEED Platinum certified V4 roof is a 2/12 pitch insulated to R95 with Rockwool (formerly Roxul) mineral wool batts. R95 far exceeds the most rigorous Canadian building cod...

Insulation and soundproofing

Is spray foam insulation a good choice for your home? Or a toxic recipe for disaster?

...insulation When installed properly, spray foam can help make a house airtight (when first applied); it works as a vapor barrier and it adds a significant level of insulation to a home, further reducing the energy needed for heating and cooling. An all-in-one product for home renovation that provides the insulation, air...

Insulation and soundproofing

Spray foam insulation: the hidden environmental costs of difficult removal

...insulation material. The difficulties of removing spray foam insulation One of the most significant challenges with spray foam insulation - both closed-cell and open-cell varieties - is its tenacious adherence to building materials. Differences between open cell and closed cell spray foam insulation can influence how d...

Insulation and soundproofing

Does 'insulating paint' work?

...insulation, why in the world would we put any insulation in our walls at all?" - Jon Eakes Now you know insulating paint does not work, learn how insulation actually works and find the right kind in the Ecohome Building guide and these pages here : Learn all about which is the best home insulation here How ...

Insulation and soundproofing

Choosing the right insulation: the pros, cons and applications for walls, slabs and basements

...insulation panel that one day we hope will replace plastics based foam as a standard building insulation. And better still is when the natural alternative for these plastic based rigid foam insulation boards is a naturally derived cellulose high-performance panel with a higher R-value than current rigid insulation pane...

Insulation and soundproofing

Insulating below slab-on-grade floors

...insulation to use under a slab, It is common to install as little as R5 insulation below slab floors, making that about the weakest point in a building envelope, as walls are generally at least R20 and ceilings R40. There is a misconception that heat rises (hot air rises, but heat travels evenly in all directions) so a...

Insulation and soundproofing

How to choose between open cell and closed cell spray foam and which is best?

...insulation. Find the best alternative to spray foam insulation Be sure to check out our comprehensive guide to choosing the best insulation. That and our page about choosing the best wall assembly you will likely come up with a suitable alternative to closed cell spray foam insulation or open cell foam that works well,...

Insulation and soundproofing

Hemp insulation in Canada & USA - insulating naturally is an eco-friendly alternative

...insulation, including its benefits, costs, where to buy it, how hemp insulation compares to other materials, and legislation around its use in certain regions such as the USA and Canada. What is hemp insulation? Hemp insulation is made from the fibrous part of the hemp plant which is processed into batts, boards, or lo...

Slab on Grade

Slab-on-grade construction: the Ecohome A to Z Slab building guide

...insulation, even in problem areas. Install a polyethylene air / vapour barrier over the entire insulation area. In some cases, a coat of closed-cell spray foam will be added at this point in order to add insulation and to create a continuous moisture soil gas barrier. Seal the polyethylene barrier at all penetration po...