Last Updated on December 30, 2024 by Tanya Janse van Rensburg
Insulation is a powerful tool when trying to make your home as sustainable as it can be.
Suitable insulative materials can trap heat in your house while reflecting radiant heat to keep it cool.
As a result, you’ll use less energy throughout the year's hot and cold periods, greatly reducing your home’s carbon footprint.
There’s just one problem: Some types of insulation are not sustainable. They’re made from non-recyclable materials, and manufacturing creates a lot of carbon emissions.
Not only that, but you need to think about things like sound and fire proof insulation too as not all materials are as good as others.
So, if you want to remain sustainable, choose the most eco-friendly insulation materials. Plenty of ideas exist, but these three options are the most popular right now:
Lately, Celotex has been used as a general term for a type of insulation, but it’s also a brand name. Either way, it is rapidly becoming one of the most sustainable insulation materials on the planet.
Made from polyisocyanurate foam and aluminum foil, this insulation can be recycled after use and doesn't use any environmentally hazardous blowing agents when constructed.
The DIY Building Supplies website shows that this insulation comes in slabs and fits between wall cavities. It’s extremely thermally efficient and can retain lots of heat when cold.
The fact that your home stays warm with this insulation and can be recycled makes this one of the most eco-friendly options available.
Sheep’s wool is a natural resource that can be harvested repeatedly with minimal environmental impact. Sheep must be sheered to remain cool during hot months, so it’s the perfect combination.
Wool is believed to be a very good material at trapping heat, but the natural fibers in wool also help it provide more breathability.
This can improve the air quality in your home while keeping it warm. Of course, the material is also highly recyclable when it stops being useful as home insulation.
Hemp is a versatile crop with many different applications. We have hemp oil, hemp clothing, and now hemp insulation.
It’s also wildly sustainable, as the hemp plant is easy to grow and harvest under any conditions.
It rivals some of the common insulation types on the market in terms of insulative properties. Your home will remain warm, and your energy bill will decrease.
These savings are important as hemp insulation is definitely a luxury eco-friendly investment. It’s by far the most expensive option on this list, but can you put a price on sustainability?!
Over time, the cost offsets itself with a lack of energy usage, and think about how greener your home will be.
Most of you probably weren’t aware that eco-friendly insulation exists. It always seems like one thing you must compromise on when building a sustainable home.
In conclusion, insulating your home with eco-friendly materials like Celotex, sheep’s wool, and hemp is a powerful step towards a sustainable future.
These options offer excellent thermal efficiency, helping to keep your home comfortable throughout the year.
They also minimize environmental impact due to their recyclable nature and sustainable production processes.
While the upfront cost of some eco-friendly insulation options may be higher, the long-term benefits of reduced energy consumption and a lower carbon footprint make them worthwhile investments.
By making informed choices about your home’s insulation, you can contribute to environmental conservation and enjoy the benefits of a greener, more energy-efficient living space.
Explore these sustainable options further to determine the best fit for your home and join the movement towards a more sustainable future.