The insulation market has seen steady growth in demand over the past decade, increasing on
\naverage
\nby just under 3% annually between 2000 and 2010. The global
\nmarket for thermal insulation materials totalled 37.1 million tons in 2012, worth an estimated
\n$84.4
\nbillion, including materials used in wall, floor, and roof
\napplications. This is expected to pick up further in the coming years.
\nIn this article, the 5 main trends and drivers in the global sustainable insulation market are
\ndiscussed.<\/p>\n
In this article, the 5 main trends and drivers in the global sustainable insulation market
\nare
\ndiscussed.<\/p>\n
The main influences on demand for insulation materials are various international building
\ncodes
\nand regulations. While these regulations act as a catalyst for
\ngrowth, they also impose limitations by restricting the use of certain materials in specific
\napplications. The introduction of new codes can have a marked effect on
\nthe insulation market, which is expected to be seen particularly in Russia and Mexico in the
\nnear
\nfuture—quantifying this effect, however, is difficult and highly
\nspeculative.<\/p>\n
The effects of the global recession on new building construction are also evident, According to the latest predictions, the worldwide population is growing at a rate of 1.2% \n Most importantly in terms of sustainable insulation, however, is that the global Energy costs are another significant driver of the consumption of insulation materials. In this regard, the development of shale gas as a feedstock for many monomers and polymers The volatility of oil prices serves as an encouragement for Plant and Facility Managers to Sustainability is the major force behind the development of new technologies, but there is The insulation market has seen steady growth in demand over the past decade, increasing on average by just under 3% annually between 2000 and 2010. The global market for thermal insulation materials totalled 37.1 million tons in 2012, worth an estimated $84.4 billion, including materials used in wall, floor, and roof applications. This is expected<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":[185],"featured_media":0,"template":"","categories":[37,302],"class_list":["post-6848","articles","type-articles","status-publish","hentry","category-market-research","category-economy","author-stephen-harrod"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nespecially in
\nthe United States and Spain. Construction did enjoy a boost from
\nthe recovery shown in many countries in recent years, especially during 2011 and 2012—with
\nthe exceptions of France, Spain, and the United Kingdom in 2012. While no
\nreliable predictions are available, the general opinion in the insulation industry is that a
\nrecovery
\nis underway in most regions, with the exception of Spain, whose
\nconstruction industry remains stagnant.<\/p>\n3) Population Growth and Urbanization<\/h2>\n
\nannually from 2000 to 2018, and is set to reach over 7.5 billion by 2018.
\nAlthough the Asia-Pacific region accounts for the majority (55%) of the 2012 population, the
\nhighest
\ngrowth rates will be seen in Africa and the Middle East.<\/p>\n
\npopulation is
\nnot only growing, but is moving from the countryside to the
\n towns and cities, stimulating demand for both commercial and residential buildings as well
\nas
\nassociated infrastructure and services. Just over half of the
\n global population can now be said to be urbanized and this is expected to grow on average
\nby
\nalmost 2% annually over the medium term, based on the latest
\n statistics available from the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA’s) almanac-style
\nreference guide
\nThe World Fact Book. <\/em>\n<\/p>\n4) Energy Costs<\/h2>\n
\nEnergy
\ncosts are widely accepted as the prime motivator driving growth in insulation—both in
\ncommercial and residential applications—though other costs come into it as well,
\nparticularly
\nin tightly managed projects or budgets. This is also true of production costs, of which energy
\noften
\nconstitutes a large proportion, especially in the glass and mineral wool market, which uses
\nconsiderable amounts of energy in furnaces and ovens. <\/p>\n
\nis seen
\nas a significant opportunity for the insulation market as it will help to hold down production
\ncosts
\nand may offer new projects. However, it may also have a negative effect on insulation demand
\nsince it
\nwill likely decrease heating costs, reducing the obvious incentive for Facility Owners to
\ninsulate.\n<\/p>\n
\nimprove
\ninsulation, partly as a result of uncertainty over future fuel
\nprice rises, and partly due to the perceived (if not real) belief that oil price reductions
\nseldom
\nfind their way through to consumers’ heating bills.<\/p>\n5) Sustainability<\/h2>\n
\nno easy
\nanswer to the complex issue of sustainability of insulation
\nmaterials. Even the oil-based materials offer a degree of sustainability when measured against
\ncompeting materials in cradle to grave life-cycle analyses. It is not
\ncorrect to assume that natural fibers such as wool will automatically be more sustainable
\nthan, say,
\nexpanded polystyrene rigid boards. Regardless of the material
\nused, insulation is expected to save up to 12 times as much energy in its first year of
\ninsulation,
\nmaking it an attractive option for both commercial and residential
\nprojects.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"