Carbon Neutral Insulation Projects

CEC Spray Foam energy efficiency becomes a bigger priority in both new construction and retrofits, builders need to consider not just operational carbon (the amount of energy used to heat and cool the building), but also its embodied carbon (the energy required to manufacture the insulation). Choosing an eco-friendly product like blown cellulose can make a big difference in not only lowering a building’s upfront embodied carbon footprint, but also its carbon payback.

Sustainable Building Starts in the Attic: Why Insulation Matters Most

The embodied carbon in a material is determined by comparing its global warming potential to other materials, so building professionals need to choose insulation carefully. KPMB Lab recently conducted a study to compare the global warming potential of common insulation materials including extruded polystyrene (XPS), mineral wool, polyiso, spray foam and fiberglass batt. This data was then used to calculate how many years it would take for a building’s operational carbon savings to overcome its embodied carbon footprint.

The results of the KPMB study showed that XPS was a clear outlier with significantly higher emissions than other insulation materials. Luckily, there are alternatives to XPS that have much lower embodied carbon, such as mineral wool and blown cellulose. Builders can even explore the use of plant-based insulation like blown cellulose, which has the lowest embodied carbon of all the materials tested.

As climate change continues to affect the planet, more and more homeowners and building professionals are making sustainability a priority in their projects. Using low-carbon insulation products like cellulose can help them reach their energy efficient and carbon neutral goals, while contributing to a more sustainable society.

CEC Spray Foam
203 Cole Dr, Hampstead, NC 28443
‭(910) 833-4521‬