Benefits of Insulation
Protecting People, Building, and Environment
- ELECTRIC SAVING
Energy efficiency is a fundamental element in our global fight against climate change and global warming.
If less energy is consumed, the amount of fossil fuel burned will also be reduced. As a result, there will be less emission of greenhouse gasses which can ultimately reduce the threat of global warming.
In various researches and reports in Europe and North America, building have been identified as one of the big energy wasters, accounting for about 40% of energy used mainly for heating and cooling. With increasing global economic and social growth, the world’s energy consumption is expected to soar. Of this energy, 86% is being fueled by dwindling, non-sustainable natural sources that further add to man-made carbon dioxide pollution.
In hot tropical climates like Malaysia, the use of air-conditioners contributes greatly to energy costs. A study done by CEDTEM (Centre for Environment, Technology & Development Malaysia) in 2006 for Malaysian Urban Household Energy Consumption Patterns showed that air-condition and fan accounts for 35% of the average electricity consumption by residential end users. This means that reducing the cooling costs can have a significant impact on energy consumption, which can ultimately reduce the strain of fossil fuel supplies and the country’s electricity grid demand. The LEO (Low Energy Office) building of MEWC (Ministry of Energy, Water & Communications) is an example of where up to 50% energy costs can be reduced.
In 2006, the Energy Commission acting chairman said that even at a low demand rate of 4.7% a year, Malaysia’s energy consumption by 2020 would reach 74.1 million tonnes of oil which is 10 times the amount used in 1980. He believes that this will inevitably cause constraints on the nation’s ability to meet future energy needs, unless energy-efficiency measures are taken.
- LESS ENERGY CONSUMPTION, LESS CO2 EMMISSIONS
The potential for energy savings through technologies that is affordable and well proven already exists in Malaysia today. Insulation is one of the best and simplest solutions to reduce energy consumption of a building. Good insulation can minimize heat penetration into the building, thereby reducing energy required to cool it down and maintaining a cool indoor temperature. Insulation in buildings is mainly applied in roofs, ceilings, walls, internal partitions and floors. So, instead of installing large and expensive air-conditioners, only small models that consume less energy are needed. In some cases, the number of air-conditioners used can also be reduced.
- INEFFICIENT BUILDINGS ARE BIG ENERGY WASTERS, SO INSULATE MORE
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