Would you insulate your home in bubble wrap and foil? A Dutch company called PXA Nederland sent
me these samples of Isobooster insulation which might be the most fun and innovative
product I’ve received. It consists of 3 repeating layers. The first is low density polyethylene or
LDPE bubble wrap with small air cushions. The second has large air cushions and the
third is a polyester or PET film treated with evaporated aluminum. I’m very intrigued by this
product because it relies on the physics of heat movement and questions traditional insulation.
Let’s look at the three modes of heat transfer. Conduction is the flow of heat through solids.
Materials with high density conduct heat faster than materials with low density because air is
a poor conductor. Convection is the flow of heat through a gas or liquid. Heat warms air molecules
which expand, become less dense and rise. Radiation is the transfer of heat through infrared
rays which is a band on the electromagnetic spectrum between visible light and microwaves.
Radiation is the most dominant form of heat transfer. In winter, 50-75% of heat loss through
the ceiling and roof is radiant and 65-80% of heat loss through walls is radiant. In summer, up to
93% of heat gain through the roof is radiant. Traditional insulation like rock wool or glass
wool tackle the conductive flow of heat. In winter, they absorb interior heat and slow
down its loss to the cooler exterior. In summer absorption slows down the transfer of heat to the
cooler interior. Isobooster insulation tackles the flow of heat through infrared radiation.
In summer, it reflects heat to the outside, and in winter it reflects heat back to the interior.
A thinner version of this product is available at Home Depot store that can be used in walls,
on HVAC ducts, water pipes, garage doors and water heaters.Isobooster insulation is different because
it addresses radiation with multiple layers of aluminum foil, and addresses conduction with
multiple layers of bubble wrap. It’s available in 4 thicknesses from 24mm or 1” to 56mm or 2.2”
So, what happens to the moisture and water vapor that gets trapped behind the wall?
The reflected infrared radiation vibrates water molecules and evaporates them. This makes the
air in the wall cavity and in interior spaces drier and it decreases the relative humidity.
This constant layer of hot, dry, rising air always moves along the surface of the reflective
foil - a phenomenon called the Coanda effect. Dry air insulates twice as well as humid air,
leading to a healthier environment, and preventing mold. Isobooster claims to turn
walls and floors into infrared radiators. Let’s discuss all the advantages of this
product. Installation is very simple. It can be cut to size with scissors or a box cutter.
It’s attached to wood studs with staples or capped nails. All the seams must be taped up.
It doesn’t release any harmful fibers or dust, it doesn’t cause any skin or airway irritation
and it doesn’t give off any toxic fumes. Since it’s flexible, It can be easily wrapped around
pipes and outlets in stud bays. It’s great for both renovations and new projects.
It is 8 times lighter than conventional insulation materials, so transportation and labor costs are
cheaper. One container of Isobooster is equivalent to 4 trailers of mineral wool, which leads to
lower CO2 emissions. It is maintenance free and DIY friendly. It’s especially useful on houseboats
where every kilo or pound counts. It can also be used on the remodel of old homes and buildings
with space constraints. Because it’s so thin, you don’t need to replace windows, skylights or
door frames. It’s very versatile. It can be on walls, floors, basements, ceilings and roofs,
both inside and outside. It is environmentally friendly.
I know I’m going to get a lot of flak for saying that plastic insulation is sustainable,
but hear me out. Like I’ve said in previous videos, plastic is an incredible human invention.
We have abused and exploited it and created a destructive culture of single-use plastic.
That is our fault, not the material’s. The manufacturing of LDPE and PET film is clean
and efficient, it has low CO2 emissions, and it doesn’t create much waste or harmful substances.
It is also not an energy intensive process like traditional insulation.
Isobooster not only reduces the energy consumption of a building, it is also 100% recyclable.
Polyethylene is a thermoplastic material which can be melted down into new products over and
over again. The aluminum deposits are just 1% of the product and dissolve easily during the
recycling process. At the end of its life, it can be converted into car or airplane parts or even
plastic crude oil which is a source of energy. Most natural insulation has to be treated with
chemicals to prevent biodegradation. They also have much shorter lifespans than this plastic
insulation that isn’t biodegradable. Polyethylene is resistant to caustic substances and damage,
and is nearly unbreakable which gives it a 70 year lifespan. It also has no thermal
drift or loss of R value over time. It is also insect and rodent repellent.
Now the disadvantages. Its R value is on the lower end. It’s 2.4 per inch, comparable to fiberglass.
However, if you’ve watched my R-value video, you know that the testing method favors
fibrous insulation. If you look at the actual thermal resistance
due to reflection of radiation, rather than conduction, it probably performs much better.
I was disappointed with the material’s fire resistance.
It singed initially, but after prolonged exposure to the flame, it ignited.
Fortunately, it doesn’t give off any toxic fumes when burnt.
It costs 13.77 euros per m2 or 1.55 dollar per square foot. It’s even more expensive
than rockwool which is $1 per sq ft. But, if you consider reduced transportation and labor costs
and a longer lifespan, the prices are comparable. This is such a niche product,
with very few manufacturers. If it gets more popular and it’s produced in larger quantities,
we’d see a price reduction. Most importantly, this is a vapor barrier with
a very low perm rating. In older buildings that don’t have an HVAC system, you need to vent the
cavity to allow water vapor to escape. There’s a growing movement of air-tight buildings in the US
and in Europe. People are advocating for building materials that are air barriers,
but are vapor open. These buildings usually have continuous insulation and inoperable windows.
However, if you don’t properly size your mechanical equipment,
you are not circulating enough air in your home. This causes a build up of vapor and
mold in your walls. I spoke to an HVAC guy who said that he’s received more calls than usual
over the last year about decreased air quality and dampness on walls. He said that with families
working, studying and cooking at home, the amount of moisture generated and the relative humidity
levels have increased drastically. If you have an air-tight home with an undersized HVAC system,
you will have condensation issues. So, vented cavities and attics with insulation
like Isobooster is not necessarily a bad thing. It would be ideal if this product was made of 100%
recycled materials, but we haven’t perfected the recycling process yet. A recycled insulation
product might not perform as well and it would be more difficult to pass building code requirements.
For the same reason, ICF blocks are made of virgin and not recycled polystyrene
This product is really exciting. It seems futuristic and doubles as high fashion.
Unfortunately, it has some drawbacks. Apart from its low fire resistance,
it has to overcome huge psychological and mental barriers of consumers.
We see mass and density as quality. We seem to equate flimsiness to an inferior product,
rather than looking at performance. Misconceptions about the manufacturing and use of plastic
products is another hurdle. We have seen the destruction of single use plastics and
microplastics, and we group high quality, long term use plastics with them. I would love to
see this used in tiny homes, van conversions and boats as an initial movement, as possible test
subjects to prove that the material works. Hope you enjoyed this video. I’ll provide links
to PXA Nederland, Isobooster and my Patreon page in the description below. If you can support me,
I’d really appreciate it. A big thank you to everyone already supporting me. Don’t forget to
hit the like button and subscribe to my channel. Until next time, thanks for watching, see ya.