Insulation materials at a glance
Context : Insulating the greenhouse can significantly reduce energy consumption. An overview of this.
All prices are based on a required heat transfer coefficient (U-value) of 0.24 watts per square meter and Kelvin. Its implementation is required by the Building Energy Act (GEG) , which, among other things, replaced the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) at the end of 2020.
See also article: Thermal insulation overview
Type | Insulating material | particularities |
Heat protection
| Price, net (as of 2022) |
Organic |
Flax |
Resistance to rot |
bad |
ca. 20 €/m 2 (17 cm) |
Hemp (mat/plate) |
Resistant to moisture and rot |
bad |
33 - 53 €/m2 (18 cm / 19 cm) |
Wood fiber |
High heat capacity |
good |
8* - 20 €/m2 (ab 4 cm* / 16 cm) |
Wood wool |
Resistance to vermin, rot and fungal attack |
good |
€222/m 2 (34 cm) |
Jute |
Pollutant-free and biodegradable |
good |
€21/m 2 (15 cm) |
Coconut Fiber |
Particularly break-resistant, a very good alternative to synthetic insulation materials |
medium |
€45/m 2 (18 cm) |
Cork |
Open to diffusion, very pressure-resistant |
medium - good |
€117/m 2 (18 cm) |
Sheep wool |
Particularly open to diffusion, cleans room air |
good |
€25/m 2 (16 cm) |
Reed |
Resistance to rot and moisture |
bad |
€111/m 2 (27 cm) |
Seagras |
High moisture resistance, resistant to mites, mice and other vermin |
good |
€20/m 2 (19 cm) |
Straw |
Open to diffusion |
good |
8 - 16* €/m2 (18 cm / ab 4 cm*)
|
Cellulose |
Moisture regulating, mold resistant |
good |
€8/m 2 (16 cm) |
Mineral |
Expanded Clay |
Non-flammable, resistant to moisture and frost, good sound insulation |
good |
25,00* €/m2 (ab 4 cm* / 72 cm) |
Calciumsilikat |
Highest fire protection class, alkaline properties prevent mold |
medium |
€366/m 2 (24 cm) |
Glass wool (matte) |
Non-flammable, resistant to mold and vermin |
medium |
10 - 25 €/m2 (24 cm / ab 4 cm*) |
Mineral foam |
Dimensionally stable, pressure-resistant, non-flammable |
good |
€66/m 2 (20 cm) |
Perlite |
Water-repellent, bug-resistant, will not rot |
good |
€40/m 2 (20 cm) |
Foam glass |
Poor soundproofing, no malleability |
medium |
€136/m 2 (16 cm) |
Rock wool (mat, soft) |
Non-flammable, resistant to mold and vermin |
medium |
16* - €38/m 2 (14 cm) |
Synthetic |
Extruded polystyrene (XPS) |
Insensitive to water, tread-resistant, highly flammable |
good |
€30/m 2 (14 cm) |
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) |
High moisture resistance |
good |
12 - 19 €/m2 (14 cm / ab 4 cm*) |
Polyurethane (PUR) |
Elastic |
good |
€26/m 2 (10 cm) |
Polyisocyanurate rigid foam (PIR) |
Weather-resistant, water-repellent, pressure-resistant |
good |
€96/m 2 (19 cm) |
Source: IpeG Institute. *= blown-in insulation; Material thickness depends on the cavity, but at least 4 cm.
Overview of insulation effect
Photo: Research Institute for Thermal Insulation eV
Insulating material
|
Thermal conductivity
|
Application
|
Glass wool
|
0,030-0,040 W/(m·K)
|
Roof: insulation between rafters
Ceiling: impact sound insulation
Wall: ETICS, rear-ventilated insulation
|
Rock wool
|
0,030-0,040 W/(m·K)
|
Roof, facade, screed
|
Foam glass
|
0,036–0,060 W/(m·K)
|
Flat roof, facade, interior insulation
|
Perlite
|
0,038 – 0,050 W/(m·K)
|
Expanded perlite: insulation between rafters, core insulation
Perlite insulation panels: flat roofs, covering fills
|
SLS 20
|
0,035 W/(m·K)
|
Exterior wall: Core insulation of double-skinned masonry, insulation behind clinker brick facades using the blown-in process
|
Calcium silicate
|
0,053–0,07 W/(m·K)
|
Internal insulation
|
EPS
|
0,035-0,040 W/(m·K)
|
Screed, facade (ETICS), flat roofs
|
PUR rigid foam
|
0,025-0,030 W/(m·K)
|
Flat roof, pitched roof (over-rafter insulation)
|
XPS |
0,030-0,040 W/(m·K) |
Perimeter insulation, foundation, facade (ETICS), |
Wood fibers
|
0,040-0,055 W/(m·K)
|
lightweight constructions,
in connection with fills,
Roof, screed, ETICS
|
Wood wool
|
0,090 W/(m·K)
|
Plaster base, summer heat protection, cladding
|
Cork
|
0,045 W/(m·K)
|
|
Cellulose
|
0,040 W/(m·K)
|
Between rafter insulation
Wooden frame construction
Wall/ceiling surfaces
|
Flax
|
0,040 W/(m·K)
|
Under-rafter insulation, not suitable for external insulation
|
Hemp
|
0,040-0,045 W/(m·K)
|
Between rafter insulation, under rafter insulation
|
Neptune ball fibres
|
0,045 W/(m·K)
|
Blown-in insulation for cavities, roofs, facades, interior and exterior insulation
|
ID: 568
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