Attic insulation is essential for energy savings and year-round comfort in your home. Whether building new or renovating, prioritizing high-quality insulation is key. Choose eco-friendly options with superior environmental credentials over synthetic or mineral alternatives.
Ecological insulation offers key benefits, including high water vapor permeability that lets walls "breathe," preventing condensation and ensuring airtight performance. Sourced from renewable, recyclable materials, these insulators minimize environmental impact and maintain excellent indoor air quality.
Selecting the right eco-insulation involves evaluating phase shift, thermal conductivity (lambda), and acoustic properties. Phase shift measures how long heat takes to enter your home—ideally 10+ hours to store nighttime coolness and release it during hot days for stable temperatures. Lower lambda values (closer to zero) indicate better heat resistance.
Cellulose wadding (photo above) delivers outstanding value. Made from recycled newspapers, it retains thermal performance, resists fire effectively, and boasts lambda values of 0.039-0.043 with up to 12-hour phase shift. Its superior acoustics and 80+ year lifespan make it a top choice.
Wood wool excels in simplicity and performance, crafted from wood fibers in rigid, semi-rigid panels, or loose form. It achieves up to 15-hour phase shift and lambda of 0.036-0.045, with excellent acoustics. Often paired with hemp, it's also known as wood crimp or wood straw.
Hemp serves as a solid standalone insulator, averaging 8-hour phase shift and lambda around 0.044.
Sheep's wool, traditionally used in textiles, now shines in construction as bulk, rolls, or semi-rigid panels with lambda of 0.039-0.042 but shorter 5-hour phase shift. Similar options include recycled cotton, textile wool, or duck feathers.
