Get Sust! Issue 29

CALA trials breathing insulation

Dynamic breathing insulation - an innovation reported in the very first Get Sust! back in November 2003 - has reached the marketplace, albeit still in trial format. The material is being trialled in CALA Homes’ new development in Balermo, Scotland.

Created by the Environmental Building Partnership Limited (EBP), a spinout company from the University of Aberdeen, “dynamic insulation” replaces conventional thermal insulation with air-permeable modules or ‘Energyflo™’ cells that allow the building to breathe, stripping away airborne pollutants and circulating warm air during winter and cooled air throughout the summer. This has the combined benefits of reducing energy consumption and decreasing humidity (which is linked with healthy indoor conditions).

The dynamic insulation in a roof space captures warm air as it leaves the building and uses the energy to warm incoming air; with the reverse happening in summer. At the same time, the air entering the building is filtered to high standards reducing airborne pollution, improving air quality and generally creating a healthier environment within the building.

Tests at the showhome on CALA’s Arboretum development have begun, and preliminary results are due in August 2007. The research team plan to continue monitoring the system’s performance after the new owners have moved in.

Learn more:

	•	The team is led by Dr Mohammed Imbabi, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen and Technical Director at EBP, in partnership with CALA Homes (East) Limited, and the project has been supported by the Carbon Trust.
	•	For more on dynamic insulation, see www.get-sust.com/newsletters/issue1.html#clevercladding
	•	Visit www.cala.co.uk