EURIMA. Better insulation warms the home - not the planet.

Transcription

1 EURIMA EURIMA members Given the key role of mineral wool insulation in saving energy and reducing CO 2 emissions, EURIMA members are particularly aware of the importance of environmental protection. It is the declared aim of members that they will take all reasonably practical steps to meet or exceed environmental performance. Their aims are to: Avenue Louise 375 bte 4 BE-1050 Brussels Belgium Tel: Fax: info@eurima.org Comply with environmental legislation, regulations and guidelines relating to the operation of their companies, in a co-operative and open spirit with the supra national, national and regional authorities. Assess the environmental effects of their operations, in the supply of mineral wool products. Reduce consumption of natural resources, such as raw materials, water and fuels. Reduce the amount of waste produced, and increase the use of recycled and renewable materials. Avoid the discharge of waste and industrial polluted water. Promote higher standards of thermal and acoustic insulation in the built environment, in order to save energy and reduce CO 2 emissions. Inform customers and the public about the environmental performance of their products and their operations. Better insulation warms the home - not the planet

2 Mineral Wool Insulation and Climate change EURIMA CO 2 emissions, what can you do?...

3 Mineral Wool Insulation and Climate change... more than you thought! 450 million tonnes of CO 2 could be saved annually

4 Together we can make a difference EURIMA Mention global warming and peoples eyes glaze over. It s not that people don t care; market research into public opinions on climate change clearly shows that we are all concerned about the issue. However, conflicting expert opinions - about the long-term causes and implications of climate change - have left people feeling confused. And because we feel powerless to influence events there is little public support, even for simple energy-saving measures that could dramatically reduce CO 2 emissions. However, regardless of different opinions about the impact of human activities on climate change, it is surely unarguable that the earth s resources are finite. Sustainable development and energy-efficiency are simply common sense. more than 40% of Europe s energy is consumed by buildings Climate change begins at home The energy used to heat, cool and light our buildings accounts for more than 40% of all CO 2 emissions in Europe. That s more than all of our cars, lorries, trains and other forms of transport put together. It s more than the total output of the industrial sector. Buildings are the single largest user of energy in Europe and hence the largest polluter. Quite literally therefore, climate change begins at home - and in the commercial environment. Yes you can make a difference People are prepared to take action, as evidenced by the increasing number of us prepared to transport glass bottles, newspapers and cardboard to re-cycling centres for household waste. And schemes to encourage tree planting (carbon sequestration) receive enthusiastic support. However, worthy though these are in their own right, their contribution to reducing CO 2 emissions is tiny (1, 2), in comparison with the potential savings offered by improved thermal insulation standards. People should understand the critical importance of buildings for the environment. When they do, it will be clear that our individual actions to improve building insulation and cut energy consumption in the home can have a major impact on reducing CO 2 emissions. (1) High levels of household waste recycling, on current evidence, would result in only minor savings of greenhouse gas emissions just 0.2% of UK emissions. (2) Globally, planting additional forests (and other methods of enhancing carbon sequestration in forests) can make a relatively minor, but nonetheless valuable, contribution to mitigating climate change. Carbon in the UK Economy: Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University, UK through thermal insulation and practical energy savings

5 Mineral Wool Insulation and Climate change EURIMA s mission and activities EURIMA is the European Association of Insulation Manufacturers and represents the interest of all major mineral wool insulation producers in Europe. Member companies manufacture a wide range of mineral wool products for the thermal and acoustic insulation, and fire protection of domestic and commercial buildings and industrial facilities. EURIMA was established in 1959 to promote improved standards and regulations for the use of insulation materials. More recently, it has developed to reflect the growing environmental concerns of European society. It is a non-profit making organisation, whose mission is to grow the European market for glass and stone wool insulation. Strategic goals To raise awareness of the important role of mineral wool, and to position it as a key element in any debate on energy, the environment, fire or acoustic insulation. To help frame European legislative and regulatory agendas which address energy efficiency and environmental issues. To collect and analyse market information, for communication both to member companies, and to the industry s customers and users. To help educate a general audience on the safe use and installation practices of mineral wool products. To develop an effective communications process to address a European target audience and to support the communications activities of member companies and national associations in their own markets. The mineral wool balance sheet For each tonne of CO 2 generated in the manufacture of mineral wool, about 200 tonnes of CO 2 are saved by its thermal insulation properties, over a 50-year period. Applying Swedish standards of insulation across Europe would yield energy savings in excess of 50%. The average energy payback of a building insulated to recommended standards is from 1 to 12 months. Potential savings in energy consumption from dwellings could account for most, possibly all, of the reduction in CO 2 emissions needed to meet the Kyoto targets for Upgrading the insulation standards of older buildings in Europe (retro-fitting) would prevent the emission of 370 million tonnes of CO 2 annually, 40% of Europe s Kyoto target figure. 370 million tonnes of CO 2 annually could be saved

6 Together we can make a difference EURIMA The unique properties of mineral wool Mineral wools are manufactured from a wide range of abundant raw materials, including rocks, silica sand, and recycled material such as glass and blast furnace waste (slag). The raw materials are fused at high temperatures, then spun or pulled into fibres. Fibres are bonded together, either mechanically or by the use of binding agents, producing products with the necessary density and strength to withstand rough handling in use. Mineral wool can be produced in many different shapes, sizes and densities. It can be supplied in rolls, blankets, slabs, or tailor-made for specific applications. The unique thermal, fire and acoustic properties result from its fibrous structure which prevents the movement of air and from its chemical composition. Mineral wools do not rot, corrode, nor do they absorb moisture or odours. Although they resist very high temperatures they can be lightweight, load bearing, or even decorative. Health & safety EURIMA and its members are committed to ensuring the highest possible health and safety standards in the manufacture, installation and use of mineral wool insulation. Health is a subject that has engaged the insulation industry s attention since the 1950s when it was first asked whether mineral wools could have carcinogenic potential. Since then, insulation wool has been subjected to more research than almost any other non-medical product. The safety of the material was confirmed in October 2001, when scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) decided that a Group 3 classification was appropriate for mineral wool insulation; establishing it as..unclassifiable as to its carcinogenicity in humans. Even in the cautious language of the scientific community, it confirms the long-held view of the industry that mineral wool insulation fibres are safe to manufacture and use. IARC s Group 3 classification puts the material in a category that includes some 480 everyday substances, such as tea, caffeine, fluorescent lighting, and hair colouring products. EURIMA requires its members to follow a strict code of conduct in the manufacture of insulation wool, and distributes detailed recommendations on work practices to installers and users. The texts are reviewed and updated in the light of any new research results and product developments. d by retrofitted thermal insulation

7 Mineral Wool Insulation and Climate change The need for mineral wool insulation A unique combination of properties makes mineral wool an indispensable material, which no other insulation method can match. To meet the complex requirements of thermal insulation, sound insulation and protection from fire risks, it has the ability: To save precious energy To minimise pollution To combat noise To reduce the risk of fire To protect life and property in the event of fire Thermal insulation for heat retention Well-insulated buildings consume much less energy, either to heat them up or to cool them down. They help to preserve our finite fossil fuel resources, and they result in fewer pollutants being poured into the atmosphere. Throughout Europe, technical systems combining thermal insulation with the use of renewable energies offer the potential for CO 2 neutral heating and cooling of buildings. Hydroelectricity is Europe s most common renewable energy, but wind-power, solar and biomass energy have also proved to be suitable renewable energy carriers. As most renewable energies are still relatively cost-intensive at present, the heat demand should first of all be reduced by cost-effective thermal insulation. In much of Europe, energy is required both for heating and cooling of buildings. Assuming that living standards continue to improve, particularly in Southern Europe, there will be a growth in air conditioning systems; a growth compounded by any rise in global temperatures. Higher insulation standards will have to be introduced, to offset the increased energy consumption required to maintain comfort levels in dwellings. Thermal insulation for low temperatures Keeping heat out, and maintaining low temperatures, is just as vital a role for effective insulation as heat retention. Many of today s process industries depend upon controlled cold environments, but generating low temperatures is even more costly than producing heat. Refrigerated system design has been a potent driving force behind the technological development of insulating materials. Mineral wool products have been consistently proven to offer the most cost-effective solutions. Acoustic insulation Excessive noise is bad for us, and millions of people in Western Europe suffer from the effects of exposure to noise above 65dB(A). At work, it is estimated that 37 million people are exposed to excessive noise levels leading to a clinical condition. The annual cost of treating noise-related health problems runs into many millions of Euros. Because of their unique structure, mineral wool insulating materials absorb sound, and act as a highly effective noise barrier. Better insulation means a better quality of life;

8 Together we can make a difference EURIMA Fire protection There is now European agreement on common fire rules for testing and classification of building materials. The EU now classifies products according to their fire resistance, using the designations A1, A2, B, C, D and E, with the fire risk increasing down through the table. The most fireproof materials, including mineral wools, have been placed in classes A1 and A2. Mineral wool is the ideal fire protection material, since it is both non-combustible and does not conduct heat. It is eminently suitable for fire-retardant uses; including sheathing of building supports and girders, as covering for ceilings, and for incorporation in fire-resistant doors and partition walls. In critical applications such as offshore oil rigs and petrochemical plants, it is used to protect against hydrocarbon fires. The level of fire safety is so high, that buildings insulated with mineral wool often attract lower insurance premiums than those insulated with combustible products. A sustainable future with mineral wool Mineral wool insulation promotes sustainable development by preserving natural resources, promoting economic growth, and reducing CO 2 emissions, which in turn, improves public health. Yet the potential remains vast. There are wide variations in the thermal insulation standards of new buildings throughout Europe, which are often well below the economic optimum. The situation is even more acute with the existing housing stock. Our poorly insulated dwellings are the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. Perversely, this is also the area where the biggest savings in heating costs can be achieved. Calculations show that roughly 370 million tons of CO 2 annually or 42% of the energy costs (our heating bills) could be saved by retrofitted thermal insulation (1). In the urgent need to reduce pressure on the environment, mineral wool insulation has a unique contribution to make: Not only is it green and clean, it is extraordinarily cost effective. Studies have shown that, unlike all other building energy-saving options, there can be a net gain not a cost in using mineral wool insulation to reduce CO 2 emissions (2). It offers an immediate solution, based upon proven, existing technology. Payback times are short, offering a quick return on investment. It avoids the need for expensive capital investment in energy production and transmission. (1) The contribution of mineral wool and other thermal insulation materials to energy saving and climate protection in Europe. : ECOFYS GmbH. info@ecofys.de (2) The cost implications of energy efficiency measures in the reduction of CO2 emissions from European building stock. Caleb Management Services calebgroup@compuserve.com now and in the future