THE ENVIRONMENT

Background

As we are all aware, there is now an overwhelming body of scientific evidence showing that climate change is a serious and urgent issue. Home energy use is responsible for 27 per cent of UK carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions which contribute to climate change.

The Insubond Perspective

Protection of the environment in which we live and operate is part of Insubond’s values and principles and we consider it to be sound business practice. Care for the environment is one of our key responsibilities and an important part of the way in which we do business.

Insubond Spray Foam is CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon) and HCFC (Hydrofluorocarbon) free.

Its status as an Energy Saving System is recognised by the Government by a reduced VAT rate of only 5% when installed in dwellings.

We use UK based suppliers for our equipment and products.

We hold a Waste Management License and dispose of all waste responsibly.

In our policy statement we commit our company to:

• Complying with all relevant environmental legislation, regulations and approved codes of practice;

• Protecting the environment by striving to prevent and minimise our contribution to pollution of land, air, and water;

• Seeking to keep wastage to a minimum and maximise the efficient use of materials and resources;

• Managing and disposing of all waste in a responsible manner;

• Providing training for our staff so that we all work in accordance with this policy and within an environmentally aware culture,

• Regularly communicating our environmental performance to our employees and other significant stakeholders;

• Developing our management processes to ensure that environmental factors are considered during planning and implementation;

• Monitoring and continuously improving our environmental performance.

Advice for Architects - Improvement by design

By incorporating low-energy design techniques into new build and refurbishment schemes at the planning stage, architects and specifiers have a unique opportunity to reduce a dwelling's energy use before construction even starts. Some typical elements are:

• Minimise over-shading from trees and other buildings where possible;

• Use compact designs as opposed to sprawling layouts;

• Place living areas such as bedrooms and living rooms on south side to maximise use of solar gains;

• Ensure that 60-75% of the total window area faces south;

• Insulate walls, floors and roofs to 'best practice' specifications;

• Use dense materials to absorb solar gains and even out temperature swings.

Attention to detail by Installers and Builders

Broadly speaking, the fabric of the dwelling should be constructed so that:

• There are no gaps or significant thermal bridges in the insulation layer(s) that could potentially compromise the integrity of the insulation;

• There are no significant thermal bridges at junctions between elements (i.e. between the wall and floor or wall and roof) and around openings such as windows and doors;

• A specific target for air tightness is achieved.