The National Building Regulations have been updated to include Part X, which addresses environmental sustainability, and Part XA, which establishes requirements for energy efficiency in new buildings and renovations. The application of this new legislation, which came into effect in November 2011, is good news for the environment and will help individuals, businesses and the country as a whole to save electricity. 

In home building, insulation is often considered a luxury and is overlooked, yet its primary purpose is to save energy and improve the home’s comfort. To insulate the ceiling and geyser system properly in a typical home costs less than 1% of the total per square-metre building costs and effective insulation is one of the few building materials that will, in effect, go on saving money over the lifespan of the home.

A home without ceiling insulation typically loses and gains up to 35% of its heat energy through the ceiling. This can be reduced dramatically by installing insulation of the correct thickness. 

Think Pink Aerolite is Isover’s thermal and acoustic ceiling insulation solution which reduces the amount of energy required to maintain a comfortable living environment. It affords the homeowner a payback period of less than two years, with continued savings thereafter. 

Aerolite is produced from a combination of natural minerals such as silica sand, which is a sustainable resource, and up to 80% recycled glass, making this glasswool environmentally friendly. The product is also non-combustible, it offers excellent sound absorption properties and is easy to install. 

All building materials have an R-value, which is a measure of the product’s ability to resist the transfer of heat. Aerolite is manufactured in a variety of thicknesses to suit the insulation requirements for buildings in each climatic zone, in compliance with SANS 10400-XA. The table shows the R-value achieved by a given thickness of Aerolite compared to the estimated minimum required R-value for insulation in each climatic zone. 

Isover also supplies insulation packs for geysers and geyser pipes. A geyser typically accounts for about 35% of the average household’s electricity usage. With insulation, savings can be achieved on the amount of electricity the geyser consumes. The savings will vary depending on the geyser thermostat setting, the length of pipes insulated, and hot water usage. 

By using Isover’s Geyser Pipe Insulation Pack to insulate the hot water pipes, savings of up to 37% of the energy used by the geyser system can be achieved. By using Isover’s Geyser Insulation Pack and Geyser Pipe Insulation Pack together, savings of up to 58% of the energy used by the geyser system can be achieved. The resultant savings on energy costs deliver a payback on the investment in insulation within six months.