Size and thickness do matter, say housing-insulation makers

Date: 28/05/03

By Karen Carstens

INSTALLING insulation into the millions of homes and offices across Europe that lack proper protecton could slash fuel bills by 50 as well as reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions largely responsible for global warming, according to a new report.

The study, by the European Insulation Manufacturers Association (Eurima), found marked discrepancies in energy saving standards across member states.

Its conclusion is that "size and thickness do matter", at least when it comes to keeping the cold - or excess heat - from our homes.

The report also highlights the fact that Sweden is the EU's insulation superstar.

"Applying Swedish insulation standards across Europe would mean energy savings in excess of 50 could be achieved," the study found.

Moreover, it said, "Swedish standards in Belgium, Spain and Italy would reduce energy losses by up to 90".

For the most part, Nordic countries lead the way in insulation - Sweden boasts the thickest wall insulation, followed by Finland and (non-EU-member) Norway. Belgium, by contrast, has the lowest amount of wall insulation - less even than Portugal and candidate country Turkey.

At the same time, the report warned that increased use of air conditioning in southern European countries means an improvement in insulation standards is urgently needed. Spanish homes, for example, create the most CO2 per dwelling, while more heat escapes Italian homes than anywhere else in the EU.

Across Europe in general, thickness of insulation in walls is half that of roofs.

"It's time that the EU got tough and proposed EU-wide minimum standards for insulation thickness," said Horst Biedermann, director-general of Eurima.

A new EU directive aimed at increasing energy efficiency in buildings became law in January, although most of its provisions will not kick-in until 2006.

Biedermann feels the directive has one fatal flaw: it sets an insulation 'benchmark' for major renovations of buildings of more than 1,000 square metres. However that means most ordinarily-sized family homes, apartments and other smaller structures are effectively ignored.

According to Eurima's estimates, the directive covers only around 10 of all buildings in the EU when it comes to insulation. Moreover, it sets no binding minimum requirements for the quality of insulation to be fitted.

Biedermann had argued, during the directive's journey through the European Parliament, for a threshold of 100 square metres instead but, besides grabbing the attention of a few like-minded MEPs, his plea fell on deaf ears.

Still, there is a dossier on insulation standards languishing on at least one Commission official's desk in the transport and energy directorate, DG TREN, but it is "not exactly a priority at the moment", an industry insider told European Voice.

Biedermann fears that the Commission will not push for setting binding standards - as it may feel the buildings directive covers its commitments on that front in meeting European climate change targets.

But the potential for fitting homes with mineral wool - the most common form of insulation - is enormous, he said.

"We are always surprised that renewables are always put first [as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions], and energy efficiency comes second.

"We think that enhancing energy efficiency should be the primary focus, followed by renewables.

"Without properly insulating our homes, we will not meet our Kyoto targets," he warned.

According to a separate study conducted by Ecofys, a Cologne-based independent agency, 'retrofitting' existing buildings across Europe with mineral wool would cut energy costs and carbon dioxide emissions by 42, which corresponds to a 353 million-tonne CO2 reduction.

The Ecofys study, which was commissioned by Eurima and released earlier this year, also calculates what that would mean in terms of fuel bills.

For instance, the annual heating cost in a pre-1974 family home would be €11 per square metre. But with added thermal insulation, that falls to €3 per square metre - a 77 reduction.

Buildings account for more than 40 of all EU CO2 output and their emissions are rising, the report states. They released 710 million tonnes of CO2 in 1990, which grew to 839 million tonnes in 2002, it estimates.

Without further action, emissions will rise to 865 million tonnes by 2010, it warns.

"Buildings are Europe's single largest CO2 emitter," Biedermann said. "But, unlike the transport sector, where emissions are difficult to control, better mineral wool insulation is a cost-effective solution, using readily available and proven technology.

"All it needs is sufficient political will to upgrade national standards."

The European Insulation Manufacturers Association has released a new report indicating that installing insulation into millions of homes and offices could reduce fuel bills by 50%.

http://www.eurima.org/downloads_pub/brochure_en.pdf http://www.eurima.org/downloads_pub/brochure_en.pdf

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