Riverclyde Homes – Social Housing Retrofit – IndiNature – Natural fibre construction insulation

Case Study: Low embodied carbon social housing retrofit

Location

Huntly Drive, Greenock.

Project Summary

These retrofitted flats are typical 1950s cavity construction flats or cottage style four in a block – of which there are tens of thousands across Scotland.

Their main objectives were to reduce fuel poverty and improve thermal comfort – but not by using any material for insulation but choosing IndiTherm hemp insulation which is the lowest embodied carbon insulation with positive environmental and health impacts. Both operational and embodied carbon were assessed for the project – with the aim of using "local, regional and national products and supply chains."

The project also favoured "more natural and environmentally friendly materials where possible, and an example of this is hemp-based insulation produced in Jedburgh" which was used in both lofts and under floors.