Insulation Institute Blog

Fiberglass & Mineral Wool: High Performance Priced Right

No matter your building challenge, fiberglass and mineral wool will meet the job’s demands. Fiberglass and mineral wool insulation make up 72% of the insulation material in new homes for a reason.[1] Both products are highly cost-effective selections to meet desired labeled thermal performance.

Our new guide, Fiberglass & Mineral Wool – High Performance Priced Right,” considers the many benefits of fiberglass and mineral wool insulation, including acoustical performance, improved indoor air quality, and sustainability.

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Fiberglass & Mineral Wool: High Performance Priced Right

Industry Use of Recycled Content Grows

NAIMA just released a new factsheet summarizing the industry’s use of recycled materials in 2019 and 2020. Over the two-year period, U.S. and Canadian insulation manufacturers used 4.1 billion pounds of recycled glass and 1.33 million pounds of recycled slag in the production of thermal and acoustical insulation.

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Industry Use of Recycled Content Grows

HERS-Rated Homes Top 300K in 2021

This week, Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) reported that 313,153 homes received a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Score in 2021. The number of HERS homes continues to break records, having eclipsed the 299,775 in 2020. More than 3 million homes have been rated since the inception in 1995 of HERS scores, which are a home’s equivalent of a miles-per-gallon rating for cars.

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HERS-Rated Homes Top 300K in 2021

5 Ways Climate is Reshaping Home Building

According to a report issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) this week, 2021 was the sixth warmest year on record.[1] Further, the hottest decade ever recorded occurred between 2009 and 2019.[2] The planet’s warming trend is forcing home builders globally to get creative to address the challenges we’re confronting. Here are five ways the climate is reshaping housing.

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5 Ways Climate is Reshaping Home Building

Decades of Monitoring Demonstrate Exposure Remains Low

The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (“NAIMA”) is the association for North American manufacturers of fiber glass and mineral wool insulation (including rock wool and rock and slag wool) products. NAIMA’s role is to promote energy efficiency and environmental preservation through the use of fiber glass, rock wool, and slag wool insulation and to encourage the safe production and use of these materials.

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Decades of Monitoring Demonstrate Exposure Remains Low

The Health of U.S. Homes

Did you know that 40 percent of U.S. homes have at least one health or safety hazard? In fact, 35 million U.S. homes place their occupants at risk for health hazards, according to the National Center for Healthy Housing.[1] These homes have a range of problems, from mold and air leaks to toxic chemicals. Some states fare better than others. As consumer concern about healthy homes increases, access to data about the health of U.S. housing stock by state is useful to inform the marketplace and position new construction homes as a healthier option than many existing homes.

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The Health of U.S. Homes

Getting Granular on Clean Energy Jobs

E2 has published new, interesting data on clean energy jobs by congressional districts. Clean energy employment[1] (jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency) accounts for 3 million U.S. jobs, and the sector will likely grow following the passage of the massive infrastructure bill. E2’s searchable database allows users a closer look at where those jobs are.

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Getting Granular on Clean Energy Jobs

25 Checkpoints for Inspecting Insulation Jobs

Most home builders have a point-person responsible for ensuring that tradespeople are completing their work as specified. For some, that means there’s someone physically walking through homes after the insulation has been installed to ensure that the job is done properly. But do they know where to look? Our 25 checkpoints guide can help.

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25 Checkpoints for Inspecting Insulation Jobs