Environmental information
By definition thermal insulation materials are beneficial for the the environment - they help reduce our energy consumption and are an important tool in lowering carbon dioxide emissions and global warming. There are issues to consider however in the manufacture of these products.
These issues have been addressed in 'The Green Guide to Specification - an Environmental Profiling System for Building Materials and Components.' from the BRE (Anderson, Shiers & Sinclair). This publication provides background information and advice on the Ecohomes Scheme and other similar eco-profiling schemes.
Ozone depletion
Traditionally CFCs, and more recently HCFCs and HFCs, were used as the blowing agent for polyurethane foams - they gave an excellent thermal performance and were very stable chemicals to process. The recognition of the damage that CFCs cause to the ozone layer lead to increasing environmental pressure in the 1990s to the point were CFC use was banned and later HCFC use was also banned. Recticel recognised that alternative blowing agents were required and were one of the first manufacturers to introduce CFC and HCFC-free products in the mid 1990s.
All of our products have zero ozone depletion potential.
Global warming
CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs are also all powerful greenhouse gases. Pentane on the other hand has zero impact on climate change - the 'Green Guide to Specification' and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirming a Global Warming Potential of zero.
All of our products have zero global warming potential.
Environmental impact
The overall environmental impact of materials looks at the following parameters:
Pentane blown polyurethane foams achieve an overall 'A' Rating in the Green Specification Guide.
Conclusions
Recticel's polyurethane foams have the benefits of an excellent thermal performance (thermal conductivity as low as 0.023 W/mK) and achieved at a very low density. This combination means that the energy input into the product is minimal especially when compared to materials such as bricks, blocks and cement. The energy used in the manufacture of polyurethane foam is repaid many times over, once installed, during the lifetime of the building.
