Wood just got even more useful.
Scott Johnson, Senior Northeast Business Development Manager, explains the Timber HP insulation product line. Carpentry class members from Chariho Career and Technical Center in Rhode Island pay close attention.
Local builders, tradespeople, students and homeowners learned about recent advances in building insulation during a "Fiber Friday" event hosted by Elysian Build, Stonington's first and only PassiveHouse-certified contractor, and regional service company Anchor Insulation.
The October 20th event, held at Elysian’s future office and educational facility on Alpha Avenue in Stonington, featured presentations and product demos from TimberHP of Madison, Maine, the first North American producer of wood fiber insulation in the USA. Elysian Owners Christopher Smith and Johnee Foshay plan to have more similar education events to promote building science, the trades, and sustainable building practices.
"Wood fiber insulation has been manufactured and used in Europe for decades," according to TimberHP. The company "sources Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified small diameter pulp trees and residual wood chips. Manufactured domestically at our factory in Maine, TimberHP supports the working landscape, sustainable forestry, and our rural economy." The Madison factory was formerly a mothballed paper mill.
The end products, in board, batt and fill forms, provide a carbon negative alternative to widely used foamboard, fiberglass and cellulose insulations. From Elysian’s owner Chris Smith's perspective, there's no downside:
"Wood fiber insulation is a time-tested, high performance insulation product that not only reduces carbon in our atmosphere, but is healthy to work with and live with, and is completely sustainable. It’s good for our buildings, our families, our economy, and our planet. TimberHP’s company values perfectly align with Elysian’s values."
The standing room audience included a carpentry class from Chariho Career and Technical Center in Rhode Island, with instructor David Bannister. A free woodsmoked pizza and salad lunch was provided by Vetrano’s of Westerly.
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