For architects,
specifiers and builders, it's a lot more than the latest "buzz
word" for the building industry. Sustainability is about designing
and building for the long term while conserving the environment.
And industry professionals are choosing building products more
conscientiously than ever before.
They're choosing building materials such as fiber glass
insulation that minimize the impact on the environment.
Fiber glass insulation is a proven performer when it comes to
saving energy. We all know a building that is thermally efficient
reduces the amount of energy used. But this also means less fossil
fuel is burned to produce that energy, resulting in a reduction of
polluting gases released into the atmosphere and less need for new
power plants.
The Evolution of Green Building
In spite of the significant environmental benefits, only 14%
of new homebuyers say that their builders or contractors told them
about available green building or energy efficiency options like
insulation upgrades, according to Smart Homeowner's Market
Focus.
At the same time, 62% of homeowners say they want a "green,"
environmentally friendly home, and 64% say they would pay $1,000 or
more on upgrades that deliver significant energy savings. Nearly
20% are willing to pay $5,000 or more.
In the commercial arena, sustainable design has become a
mainstream business proposition for North America's most
influential designers and builders. "Green" buildings have never
been more popular; in fact, dozens of cities and states now mandate
the use of green products, and several foundations tie grants to
green design.
The most popular commercial green building program is the U.S.
Green Building Council's LEED program. LEED evaluates
environmental performance from a "whole building" perspective over
the life of the construction. Using LEED as a barometer for
green building growth, it's easy to see that green construction is
here to stay: Since 2000, 171 commercial buildings have been
certified and about 1,800 have applied to be certified. In
California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is now requiring all new
state-funded buildings to be LEED silver certified.
Green building is growing because it contributes directly to
the bottom line--with 30% of all energy used in commercial
buildings consumed by heating and cooling, energy-saving products
like fiber glass insulation can translate into significant
reductions in operating costs. Sustainable construction has
caught the attention of profit-driven builders and developers, and
many now place significant weight on green factors such as indoor
air quality, recycled content and energy efficiency.
Sustainability Means "Rapidly Renewable".
Did you know that fiber glass insulation's main ingredient is
sand, which is classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency as a rapidly renewable resource? Fiber glass insulation
manufacturers also recycle more material by weight than any other
type of insulation. In fact, last year, fiber glass manufacturers
in the U.S. and Canada used over 1.5 billion pounds of recycled
glass.
Taking a Life-Cycle Approach
The benefits of fiber glass insulation multiply when looking
at its impact over the life of the product from pre-manufacturing,
manufacturing, distribution, to use, reuse, maintenance and waste
management. According to NAIMA, fiber glass insulation:
- Reduces demand on virgin resources
- Saves landfill space byusing recycled materials
- Saves energy and pollution emitted during the manufacturing
process.
In addition, the industry as a whole has recycled 9 billion
pounds of glass in the last ten years, equivalent to 30.34 pounds
per U.S. citizen.