NAIMA’s insulation manufacturer will be among the more than 2,000 exhibiting brands present NAHB International Builders Show, Jan. 20 – 22 in Las Vegas. IBS is the largest light construction show in the world and will for the second year, be co-located with the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show to create Design and Construction Week, with anticipated attendance of more than 75,000 specifiers, builders, dealers and suppliers.
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The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) frequently receives questions from insulation professionals, consumers and others looking for general information on the performance of various fiber glass, rock and slag wool insulation products. One question that has been asked repeatedly over the years relates to the possible loss of R-value of loose fill (blown in) fiberglass insulation in colder temperatures, a misconception often perpetuated by competing insulation products to try and discredit the performance of loose-fill fiber glass insulation.
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Properly trained insulation contractors play an important role in ensuring the energy efficiency and comfort of a home. One of the most popular insulation products available is loose fill fiber glass insulation, which can be used in all areas of a new or existing home, but is especially suited for areas that are difficult to access, such as truss attics or closed wall cavities. Because poor installation of any system can compromise the performance of the product, a new training effort from the High Performance Insulation Professionals Association (HPIP) aims to educate installers on how to optimize the performance of not just blown-in fiberglass, but a variety of other systems as well. The re-branded organization has reviewed and examined numerous systems and products nominated for inclusion as high performance, and has developed a training program that addresses the building science behind these systems.
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Lucas Hamilton has more than 20 years’ experience in the building and construction industry – working with builders, designers and building product manufacturers. Over the years, he’s seen many advanced technologies employed to make a significant contribution to energy management in buildings. But, he says, insulation remains the most effective product for reducing carbon emissions while offering an immediate return on investment in terms of energy savings. And, he believes insulation will play an ever larger role in the future – as an increasing number of builders nationwide are super insulating homes to boost energy efficiency.
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Early uses of the rock wool insulation trace back to the Hawaiian Islands hundreds of years ago – where huts were blanketed with fibrous wool collected from volcanic deposits where steam had broken the molten lava into fluffy fibers. And although rock wool and slag wool insulations are commonly perceived to be solely for commercial or industrial use by many people today, in reality, they are ideal choices for residential buildings because of their thermal performance, as well as mold and fire resistance.
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Homeowners, Industries and Governments All Play a Role
This Earth Day, April 22 is a good time to highlight the key role of fiber glass and mineral wool insulation in achieving greater energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “Buildings account for 40 percent of energy use worldwide,” NAIMA Interim President and CEO Angus Crane said. “Reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions are global priorities and among the easiest, most impactful ways to do that is ensuring all buildings are energy efficient. Properly insulating and air sealing buildings is critical to optimizing energy efficiency and reducing costs to building owners.”
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