Life cycle assessment (LCA)
New in-depth life cycle assessment highlights insulation as a major sustainable technology.
A typical Rockwool insulation product can save more than 100 times the energy used in its manufacture, transportation and disposal. Saving fossil fuels also helps to reduce global warming, acid rain and smog. Life-cycle assessment of savings (+ 18093 MJ) from product use and emission/consumption (- 140,2 MJ) during production of 1 m2 250 mm loft insulation produced and installed in Denmark and used over 50 years.
Source: Force Technology / dk-Teknik.
All insulation is good for the environment - it saves energy and thereby also contributes to reducing air pollution from the combustion of fossil fuels. Buildings are the major energy consumer, accounting for more than 40% of the total energy consumption in the EU. Most of the energy (68%) used by an average EU household is for heating purposes. So insulation is a key technology for saving energy and for sustainable development. But exactly how green is insulation? And are all insulation materials equal - or are some greener than others?
