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| > | Insulation & Public Health |
Insulation and Public Health
|
Approximately 45 Million Homes in the U.S. Lack Proper Levels of Insulation – Is Yours One of Them?
In the U.S. there are at least 45 million homes (65%) that lack the proper levels of insulation according to today’s energy standards. An additional 1.2M new single-homes are built each year, but varying energy codes in each region mean that many of these will not be insulated to the internationally accepted minimum standard — International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
With every BTU of energy produced, harmful gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Nitrous Oxide (NOx) and Sulfur Oxide (SOx) are released into the air, causing pollution in our communities. A well-insulated home, particularly one that is insulated with fiber glass or rock and slag wool insulation, reduces the amount of energy required to maintain a comfortable living/working environment. Reducing energy consumption means power plants burn less fossil fuel to produce the energy and the result is a reduction in polluting gases emitted into our communities.
Harvard University School of Public Health
According to the Harvard University School of Public Health, the proper levels of thermal insulation contribute dramatically to public health. The University is conducting a series of studies on the benefits of thermal insulation and found significant public health benefits from increasing insulation in new and existing homes.
The phases of the studies already published examine the potential health benefits that could be expected from increasing residential insulation from current practice to the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) levels. The studies showed that upgrading insulation levels would result in significant reductions in energy usage and emissions, which, in turn, result in fewer deaths, and reduced instances of respiratory and cardiovascular ailments typically associated with air pollution. The researchers note in one study that, "the magnitude of the economic and public health benefits indicates that creative public policies to encourage retrofits ... may be warranted."
Check back soon for more information on the newest phases of the studies which look at the effect of upgrading insulation to the 2003 IECC and add information on CO2 savings as well as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and particle precursors (SO2 and NOX).
Harvard University School of Public Health Study Highlights
The Existing Homes Study (Pub # RP061) showed if the 46 million existing single-family homes in the United States that have inadequate insulation were retrofitted with additional insulation to meet the 2000 IECC, the annual benefits would include:
- 240 fewer premature deaths
- 6,500 fewer asthma attacks
- 110,000 fewer restricted activity days per year
- This translates into a potential savings of $1.3 billion per year in averted costs such as health care, and $5.9 billion per year in additional savings associated with reduced energy consumption, paying back the initial cost of the insulation in about six years.
- Annual energy savings of more than 800 Trillion Btu (TBtu), which would result in lower emissions
- 3,100 fewer tons of fine particulate matter (PM2.5)
- 100,000 fewer tons of NOX
- 190,000 fewer tons of SO2
The New Homes Study (Pub # RP060) looked at increasing insulation in the 1.2 million new homes built in the US each year to the 2000 IECC would, over 10 years:
- Save 300 billion BTUs each year - This equals 28 supertankers of crude oil and 300 billion cubic feet of natural gas.
- Save 60 lives.
- Protect people from 2,000 more asthma attacks and provide 30,000 fewer restricted activity days
- Lower emissions of:
- 1,000 fewer tons of fine particulate matter (PM2.5)
- 30,000 fewer tons of NOx
- 40,000 fewer tons of SO2
IMPORTANT NOTE
The 2000 IECC is a public/private sector consensus standard which outlines a minimum energy code for new homes. The US Department of Energy (DOE) and others recommend even higher R-values for insulation. To see the NAIMA R-value recommendations based on earlier DOE recommended R-values for a specific region, visit www.simplyinsulate.com/savings/