WOOD HOUSE

Before starting to insulate your home, it is important to be aware of the risks that may be associated with the materials you are using. It is worth understanding that some substances are allergens, especially for people who work with them, and that polystyrene emits toxic gases when heated. Thus, there are ecological alternatives to these traditionally used insulators: materials from biomass that occurs naturally on Earth, raw materials of plant origin (straw, wood, hemp), animal origin (sheep wool, feathers) and from secondary processing (cellulose wool), which come from renewable sources.

During a fire, ecological insulating material does not release toxic substances, unlike synthetic materials. This is also worth considering, because no one is safe from fire. Finally, their lifespan should be long enough to not require rapid renewal.

Smart choice of insulation

A thoughtful and responsible approach to the choice of insulation takes into account not only the origin of the raw material, but also its availability near the construction site. After all, it is wise to use local resources and choose local materials as much as possible.

Ecological insulation from plants and substances after secondary processing: 3 materials with different qualities.

• Straw: economical, efficient and ultra-renewable material.
  This raw material for insulation deserves recognition and special attention, although few people think about it at first. Since it is waste from the food industry (stalks of certain cereals), straw is an economic and ecological material. In order to limit as much as possible the industrial intervention in the raw materials, agricultural straw bales are used directly with a significant standard thickness of about 40 cm, which is the main limitation during construction. To implement insulation, raw materials are placed in wooden boxes and integrated directly into the walls. Straw is mainly used in new buildings and during construction using a wooden frame.
  Wood fiber: an effective and very versatile insulator.
• Wood fiber is one of the biosources of insulating materials that show very high thermal performance in summer and winter when it is cold or hot. It is obtained from processed wood of ecologically clean forests. During production, the wood is crushed, moistened and heated under pressure, without the addition of chemical additives. The resulting fiber is available in different thicknesses and densities: in the form of a flexible panel, called wood wool, or rigid. The material is very versatile and can be used in many ways to insulate the house, inside or outside.
• Cellulose wool: recycled material with a good price-quality ratio.This raw material, which is obtained as a result of paper processing (offcuts from paper mills, unsold newspapers), has very heat- and sound-insulating qualities. Its production consists in grinding and defibration of cotton wool to turn it into cellulose flakes. They are then treated with boric salt (in small amounts so as not to cause damage) to render them insensitive to rodents, prevent mold growth and increase fire resistance.

Some important points!

It is important to choose ecological materials for insulation with the help of professionals, because the choice depends on many factors: location, type of building, features of use and, of course, the budget. Since each material is not equally adaptable to different climatic conditions, good professional support makes it easier to make the right decision. Daylight duration, precipitation, wind, humidity, ground water are factors that should be taken into account so that insulation is as effective as possible.

If it is a new building, it is also important to think about the orientation, layout of the rooms and heating method so that the house consumes less energy. Finally, rethinking your daily behavior is essential to save heat, rather than overconsumption, such as wanting to heat all the rooms in winter.