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Insulation

1. At equal performance levels, choose the insulation with the highest recycled materials content.
2. Insulate and waterproof the foundation
3. Select the most appropriate high-performance insulation
4. If a person sensitive to their living environment lives in the home, use renewable-material insulation made without noxious ingredients.
5. Eco-responsible suggestions for installing insulation

Poor insulation can result in major heat losses, besides reducing the comfort of your home. Improving the insulation and airtightness of your home are among the most effective ways to substantially reduce energy bills and your environmental footprint. The energy savings often end up paying for the cost of the renovation work over the short, medium or long term. And of course when you improve the energy efficiency of your home, you are also helping to reduce the production of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Insulation is often an issue that has to be treated on a case-by-case basis. It’s a good idea to call in a specialist to assess the different factors that can optimize the insulation effectiveness of a home. The insulation chart below summarizes the features of the most common insulation products and can help you make the right choice for your needs.

R factor and RSI value…what’s it all about?

The insulating capacity of any material is expressed in terms of thermal resistance – in other words, its capacity to block heat transfer. This resistance is expressed as the R factor in the imperial system (insulating value per inch of thickness) or as the RSI value in the international system (insulating value per metre of thickness). The scales for the two systems are different, but in both cases, the higher the number, the higher the insulation value.

The right type of insulation in the right place

There are many different types of insulation on the market. Here are some variables to consider to help you choose the most appropriate type:

1. Technical feasibility: The thickness of the walls, the presence of thermal bridges (part of the inside structure in contact with the outside) and the accessibility of the location to be insulated are the first criteria to consider. For example, in spaces that are hard to access, it’s best to hire professionals to blow or spray in insulation.
2. Thermal capacity of the material: A well-insulated home generates a much weaker impact on the environment because it uses less energy. Energy is usually a major source of greenhouse gases. That’s why thermal capacity is such an important factor to consider. If you are hesitating between two materials, the one with the higher R (or RSI) factor is generally the best choice.
3. Air and vapour-tightness: Depending on how the walls and roof are built, some types of insulation, such as spray polyurethane foam, can serve as both air and vapour barrier for the building envelope.
4. Safety factors at the insulation site: The importance of resistance to high temperatures, fire, humidity or air circulation varies depending on where the insulation will be installed. For example, fibreglass and cellulose should not be installed where water may be present or where it’s impossible to install a vapour barrier.