Ecological Building Systems Launch Thermo Hemp Combi Jute Insulation

Ecological Building Systems are pleased to launch Thermo Hemp Combi Jute in Ireland and the UK. Manufactured in Germany, this natural, flexible insulation material is made from a mixture of upcycled natural jute fibres and carbon negative hemp.

The natural jute fibres are sourced from discarded cocoa and coffee bean bags which have been processed using 100% renewable energy, and then combined with hemp, which is renowned for its ecological credentials. Thermo Hemp Combi Jute therefore combines the best properties of each material to create a unique high-performance insulation product. Ideal for both new builds and retrofit, Thermo Hemp Combi Jute is safe to handle and requires no special equipment or extra precautions to use. The insulaton batts are available in a range of thicknesses from 40mm to 100mm with widths of either 375mm or 580mm, and are ideal for installation into timber members at 400mm or 600mm centres. For areas which require a greater depth, the batts can be doubled up on top of each other for added insulation.

The high heat storage capacity and low thermal conductivity of both jute and hemp assist in ensuring a building is warmer and more cost effective to heat during winter months, but also less likely to overheat in summer. This is particularly beneficial for rooms within attics which are often characterised as being too cold or oppressively hot depending on the season.

Thermo Hemp Combi Jute also provides effective soundproofing and has attained a Class A sound absorption rating according to EN ISO 11654 – the highest rating in this metric that a material can achieve. Thermo Hemp Combi Jute also has full European Technical Approval (ETA) which verifies its performance characteristics.

In the next 30 years, the embodied carbon emissions from a highly efficient building may represent 75% or more of its total carbon emissions. As a building‘s operational energy becomes more efficient, embodied energy and carbon emissions will have a greater proportional impact. Between now and 2050, embodied carbon will be the driving force of carbon emissions from buildings. Substituting building materials with a high embodied energy for more environmentally benign solutions such as Thermo Hemp Combi Jute is an effective way for homeowners and specifiers to reduce upfront carbon emissions from our buildings.