The Benefits of Wool Insulation
Wool insulation is made exclusively from sheep wool fibers that are either mechanically held together or tied using between 5% and 15% recycled polyester adhesive to form insulating batts, rolls and ropes. Batts are usually used in timber-frame buildings; rolls for lofts and ropes are mainly used between the logs in log homes. Wool insulation is used for both thermal and acoustic insulating applications.
Warm and dry environments are vital in creating healthy living conditions. Wool has a natural tendency to accomplish this by absorbing and desorbing moisture.
Wool is a natural protein essence. The protein from wool fiber is being utilized in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical businesses. This would clearly not happen if there was an element of risk or damaging effect.
We live in a nation proud of its environmental approach towards green management. Wool is a natural product that produces no damaging chemicals that contaminate our atmosphere, soil or water. Wool is harmless to our environment and is a renewable supply.
Wool insulation product needs a minimal amount of energy compared to the manufacture of some synthetic products. Wool used in insulation is a by-product from the manufacturing sector of the wool industry. This in turn eliminates waste and presents a positive effect on the environment.
Wool’s exceptional benefit is its breathability. That is its capability to absorb and discharge moisture from the surrounding air, without compromising it’s thermal efficiency. When wool fibers take up moisture, they produce tiny amounts of heat. This heat acts to preclude condensation in construction cavities by keeping the temperature above the dew-point in damp situations. This characteristic produces a natural buffering result, stabilizing heat changes that happen with relative humidity. Realistically, this decreases the need to keep changing heating or cooling levels, as wool insulation will maintain buildings cooler during the day and warmer during the night. Sheep Wool Insulation needs less than 15% of the energy required to create than glass fiber insulation because of being made from a naturally produced fiber. It can take up and break down indoor air contaminants, such as formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. Wool is a sustainable and renewable reserve, that has zero ozone depletion capability and at the end of it’s useful life can be remanufactured or biodegraded. Sheep wool insulation is harmless and easy to deal with and no protective clothing or special breathing equipment is needed to install it.
n Atlanta, Eco Custom Homes has installed over 10,000 sqft of natural wool insulation. If you have chemical sensitivities or are doing a historic renovation, give us a call at 404 303 7280 or email to info@ecocustomhomes.com and we can discuss if Wool is right for you.
