Fiberglass, XPS, Cork? Insulation Options for LEED v4 and Living Buildings

Responding to the shift to LEED v4 and the growing popularity of the Living Building Challenge (LBC), insulation manufacturers are now offering a number of products that comply with various elements of these rating systems. BuildingGreen conducted a survey to assess these products as they relate to the material options for teams pursuing certification (see the table below).

Evaluating the impact of insulation

One of the major changes in LEED v4 is the shift in how building materials are evaluated. The new Building Product Disclosure and Optimization (BPDO) credits in the Materials & Resources category emphasize transparency of a product’s life-cycle impacts on the triple bottom line of environmental, economic, and social health.