Indinature, a pioneer of the use of industrial hemp as an insulation material for construction, is the first UK natural fibre company to be fully approved for two of Ofgem’s home insulation schemes.
ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation 4) and GBIS (Great British Insulation Scheme) are government-backed grant schemes aimed at improving energy efficiency in UK homes. ECO4 primarily targets low-income households and vulnerable groups, while GBIS offers insulation grants to a broader range of households, including middle income families. This includes EPC B band houses, which are not normally eligible for funding with typical loft insulation materials.
Indinature promotes its IndiBreathe product as a cleaner, safer alternative to conventional loft insulation materials as it is free of formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It is soft to the touch, rather than fibrous and scratchy, and sod does not irritate the skin. And according to the manufacturer, it offers superior heat retention compared to traditional glass fibre products. It is also sustainable as hemp is a fast-growing and plentiful crop and the material can be recycled or re-purposed at the end of life.
Indinature sales director Brian Monaghan said: “We are absolutely delighted that Ofgem has approved our materials for their loft insulation schemes as it opens up a whole new domestic market for the company.
“It now means that builders and contractors can now specify a natural, sustainable and healthy high-performance insulation product when installing loft insulation under the government schemes.”
Indinature’s products are manufactured at its purpose-designed hemp mill in Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders.
Scottish Power sponsored the application to Ofgem for IndiBreathe Flex to be registered as an innovation measure for the ECO and GBIS schemes.
Back in 2004 Indinature was the first company manufacturing industrial hemp insulation to achieve a full agrément certificate from the British Board of Agrément (BBA). This meant that the product could be used at scale for both new build and retrofit projects.
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