Client: US Government Objective: Two Social Security buildings located in similar climate zones were used to compare the energy usage and to determine the effectiveness of BioBased 501 insulation and fiberglass insulation in commercial buildings. Area: The building insulated with BioBased 501 was in Miami, Oklahoma and totaled 5,500 square feet. The building insulated with fiberglass was in Blytheville, Arkansas and totaled 3,920 square feet. Solution: Throughout the course of a year the electricity usage for the two buildings was tracked and evaluated. At the end of the year, the results were reviewed and the following findings were identified.
The building insulated with BioBased 501 used 30% less energy per square foot than 1. the building insulated with fiberglass, even though the fiberglass-insulated building was 1,600 square feet smaller.
During the coldest months of the year, the BioBased building was even more efficient, 2. using 45% less energy than the fiberglass-insulated building.
During the months February, March and April, the larger, BioBased-insulated building 3. used less kilowatts per hour than the smaller, fiberglass building, peaking at 74% more efficient during the month of March.
The tight building envelope, created by BioBased Insulation, prevented air infiltration and exfiltration, the number one cause of energy loss in a structure. The inability of the fiberglass insulation to seal the building envelope causes the heating and cooling system to work harder and increases utility bills.
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