Insulation Institute Blog

Getting Higher Performance at Lower Costs

Maximizing energy performance to cost in new construction homes is every home builder’s goal and every home buyer’s expectation. Research shows that home buyers want energy efficiency but also need affordability. For builders committed to maximizing efficiency, fiberglass and mineral wool insulation products offer both performance and cost-effectiveness.

In this week’s blog, we highlight three publications that demonstrate that fiberglass and mineral wool can be used to meet any high-performance building approach. 

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Grid Modernization, Massive Costs, and Insulation

Electricity prices across America continue to increase even as the price of natural gas for electric generation is near an all-time low. Electric utility costs have increased by 24.8 percent in three years. They will continue to escalate until the Federal Electricity Energy Regulatory Commission acts to protect consumers versus the utility companies that build transmission lines.

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2021 IECC Beats NGBS on Energy Performance

Analysis conducted by ICF consulting compared the home energy performance of the 2020 National Green Building Standard (NGBS), the first residential green building standard to undergo the full consensus process from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and the 2021 Residential International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The analysis showed that the NGBS is not equivalent to the 2021 IECC except possibly at the Emerald level, and all homes at the Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels result in worse energy performance and higher energy costs than the 2021 IECC.

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IEA: Much Faster Progress on Energy Efficiency Needed

Yesterday, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released its Energy Efficiency 2024 report, concluding that much faster progress on global energy efficiency is needed to meet the climate pledges of COP28 held last year. Nearly 200 countries, including the United States, pledged to double the global annual average rate of energy efficiency during the event. One year later, a weak improvement of just 1 percent has been achieved. However, the report includes critical takeaways for the building industry and buildings.

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Setting the Record Straight on Low-Carbon Insulation and Buildings

Setting the Record Straight: Insulation and Low-Carbon Buildings

As home builders work to decarbonize construction, sourcing low-carbon building materials (including insulation) is an important objective. However, it can be challenging to make informed choices when misleading information about the carbon impacts of products is commonly cited.

NAIMA’s new guide, Setting the Record Straight: Insulation and Low Carbon Buildings, details the embodied carbon of common insulation products, highlights the rapid payback period, and dispels the myth that cellulose and wood fiber insulation products are carbon negative.

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Report: 89% of Homes Are Under Insulated

New research sponsored by NAIMA and conducted by ICF Consulting shows that 89 percent of U.S. single-family homes are under-insulated, decreasing comfort while increasing energy costs for homeowners.

Using the 2012 IECC as the baseline for home energy efficiency level, ICF used the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 2024 ResStock database to extrapolate a sample of 1 million U.S. homes for this study. All homes that met energy efficiency targets less stringent than the 2012 IECC were deemed under-insulated.

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Infographic Shows ROI for Modern Energy Codes

A new infographic published this week highlights the surprisingly robust return on investment homeowners achieve when buying an energy-efficient home. The graphic includes a detailed estimate of the cost of complying with the 2021 IECC, estimated at $7,200 nationally for a single-family home. The graphic also details that every dollar invested in energy efficiency saves the homeowner $3 in monthly energy costs.

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Fiberglass and Mineral Wool Facts for DIYers

NAIMA has released a new consumer guide, Fiberglass and Mineral Wool Facts for DIYers, that addresses key concerns about the health and safety of fiberglass or mineral wool insulation as a do-it-yourselfer (DIYer).

The guide details the 75-year history of scientific research conducted by national and international authorities, including the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and the National Academies of Sciences. The research concludes that fiberglass and mineral wool insulation products are safe to manufacture, fabricate, install, and use when recommended work practices are followed.

Fiberglass and Mineral Wool Facts for DIYers also highlights the rigorous chemical standards that fiberglass and mineral wool insulation products meet, including GREENGUARD certification, verifying the products are low in chemical emissions that contribute to healthy indoor air quality. The publication also details the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) required to avoid skin irritation that can result when working with fiberglass and mineral wool insulation products.

Download the guide here.