The science behind sustainable home insulation

Produced with support of , By 2023-04-17T06:45:00

A micrograph of an insulating material showing the holes that trap air

Source: © Eye of Science/Science Photo Library

Are plastics the best option for saving energy in our homes, as well as saving the planet?

Many of the materials we insulate our homes with are made from plastic. So, while we might be saving money and energy through better insulation, at the same time we’re using unsustainable resources to make these materials. Read the article to discover why plastics make such good insulators and how we can reduce the environmental impact of using them in keeping our homes warm and energy costs down. Download the accompanying resources for 14–16 and 16–18 year-old learners. You can develop your GCSE and equivalent learners’ evaluation, extended writing and maths skills using the disposal and life cycle assessments of polymers activity. Or use the post-16 resource to help your learners studying A-level and equivalent courses practise context-based questions.

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