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The growth in environmental concern also benefits these products, notes Kimberly Clark’s Tennison. “Green products are important as we all try to be more environmentally conscious,” he says. “The main concern is typically that green products are much more costly and many customers are not willing to pay premium pricing for green products as the return and savings on the investment might take many years. We as manufacturers need to find ways to make green products more cost effectively, allowing more people to realize the benefits.”
Acoustics Interest Grows
A byproduct of tightening buildings and adding insulation has been an improvement in acoustics, since reducing air movement also reduces sound movement. Although many products offer this benefit, not all promote it. But homeowners often feel it. “It’s a significant benefit that often delights homeowners after the fact,” says DuPont’s Pyle. “We often hear how pleased they are that they find their home to be much quieter afterward.”
MFM’s products do offer acoustic control, notes Delcoma. “It’s an air barrier, which protects against sound, but it’s not sold to customers on that basis.” The same holds true for UFPI’s ThermalStar, says Murphy. “We don’t test for acoustics specifically, but we do know that builders and their customers have noticed an appreciable difference in their homes. It’s hard to prove or even quantify, but there is definitely a value for homebuyers who prefer a quieter home.”
Acoustic control is a bigger concern for multifamily homes. “With the increase in multifamily construction, customers are demanding and installing different fibrous products for top performance,” says Johns Manville’s McGavern. Both fiberglass and mineral wool options provide strong characteristics, he notes.
“We hear a lot about the desire for acoustic control, especially with multifamily projects,” agrees Huber’s Sealock. “Even with single-family homes, there are smaller lot sizes and smaller distances between homes, so the interest is growing. It can be marketed, but it needs to be quantified in some way to make it a clear benefit for the homeowner.”