Environment 2007

A convenient truth. Profi table CO2 savings await you.Page 7

Who strengthens energy effi ciency the most?page 8

From energy crisis to effi ciency. We can do it again.page 5

Energy supply under pressurepage 4

2 Environment 2007

Our climate is changing. Our reserves of fossil fuels are di-minishing.

Climate experts, heads of state and the general public are all concerned. But concerns alone don’t get us anywhere. We need to speed up the actions that save energy and cut pollu-tion. The good news: you can make a difference – and even save money by doing so.

Buildings

Our buildings consume some 40% of the energy used in the EU and the US. Heating and cooling are key energy consum-ers. But most of this energy is being wasted due to inade-quate insulation. Using well-proven energy effi ciency tech-niques, we can cut the use of heating energy in a building by up to 90%.

Over time, energy costs of € 270 billion and 460 million tonnes of CO2 (more than the EU Kyoto protocol CO2 reduc-tion commitment) could be saved every year in Europe, if all buildings undergoing renovation were modernised to contem-porary (low) energy standards. Huge potential exists in other parts of the world as well. It’s too costly not to act.

Help is at hand

This report highlights some of the many positive actions that can be taken in residential, commercial and public buildings.

Although Rockwool insulation is one of the few industrial products to save a hundredfold more energy in its lifecycle than is consumed during its production, the Rockwool Group itself is an energy user. So this report will also tell you what we do to improve our own production processes.

We all have a responsibility to keep our own house in order. This report provides some guidelines, but to get across the fi nish-line, you and I need to act.

Eelco van HeelCEO, Rockwool International A/S

The race for energy effi ciency and climate change abatement has begun! This race is not yet lost, but in all parts of society we must accelerate fast, keep on track and keep up momentum.

LET’s GO!

Environment 2007 3

Energy has become a top political issue, and with good reason. Modern society depends on energy. The safe supply of cheap fuels determines the prosperity of billions of people. To feed our needs, the world traditionally cries out for more energy. But we cannot just create more fossil fuels - nor non-renew-able uranium - the sources that quench 86% of today’s energy thirst.

In the last few years, oil prices have multiplied from $24 a barrel in early 2003. Gas crises have also shown how vulner-able we are, and we see natural disasters and political confl icts which perennially threaten crucial energy supplies.

Billions of poor people work hard to replicate the quality of life seen in rich countries. This is good, but if they also copy our poor energy effi ciency, while we don’t improve, the result will be catastrophic for all.

Waste less

Economic growth can – and should – be decoupled from grow-ing energy use. Most of our energy is wasted. ‘There’s a hole in our energy bucket!’ so we must stop those leaks - pouring more energy into the system does not solve our problem.

In 2007 the European Union decided to improve its en-ergy effi ciency by 20% before 2020. The Chinese government aims to improve energy effi ciency by 20% in just fi ve years, but is lagging behind its target. Even the world’s largest energy user, the US, aspires to become less wasteful and to reduce energy imports from the Middle East by 75% before 2025. How do we get across the fi nish line?

Energy effi ciency – mission possible!

Read more about energy effi ciency – why and how: www.rockwool.com

Our buildings, accounting for some 40% of the energy use in Europe and the US, are an obvious place to start. Here lies probably the largest profi table energy saving potential, and this we can realise with existing, well-proven technology. This re-port provides examples of how to achieve important savings.

Energy effi ciency – essential for competitiveness and growth

In the 1970s the energy-ineffi cient oil importing world was taken by surprise and the world economy was plunged into re-cession when supplies were reduced and prices soared. Today the EU, USA and Japan still import a substantial part of their energy while China, India and other key economies are fast be-coming huge importers of fossil fuel. Who is best prepared and least vulnerable if a new energy crisis should occur?

The last oil - breathtaking facts

• 86% of our energy comes from fossil fuels and non-renew-able uranium sources.

• Energy demand is growing.• Reserves are declining fast. • We use several times more regular oil than we fi nd.• 80% of the oil producing nations are facing, or already

struggling with, declining production.• Energy power is being concentrated in a few, vulnerable

hands. Four countries control most of the world’s oil re-serves. Three countries control 56% of the gas reserves.

Sources: ASPO, BP

“How much energy sovereignty does a country have when it is almost totally dependent on oil and gas imports? ”

EU Commission President Barroso

4 Environment 2007

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Why save energy?• Security of energy supply• Reduce global warming• Cut energy costs• International competitiveness• Cleaner air, better health

HOW TO

save 20% again

Improving energy effi ciency by 20% can be done but, rather than in 13 years as the EU promises, in just fi ve years! From 1979-1984, after the fi rst energy crises, Denmark insulated intensively and reduced its need for heating by 20% per square meter fl oor space. Subsidy schemes, information campaigns, professional advice and better energy effi ciency requirements were all important catalysts. Other countries can do the same.

Source: Enerdata/Eurostat

If Russia achieved the same energy effi ciency as Denmark (the EU’s last net energy exporter), it could increase its energy exports considerably. Rus-sia uses more than twice the energy to generate one dollar of wealth (GDP) than the world average. Gas revenues account for 26% of Russia’s GDP.

Energy intensity (2003) - adjusted for purchasing power parity

Environment 2007 5

”More effi cient use of energy is the cheapest and quickest way to cut greenhouse gas emissions”

Claude Mandil, Head of the International Energy Agency

The demand for energy is growing worldwide. Hundreds of power plants will need to be built at high cost, both fi nancially and environmentally, if nothing is done. Energy effi ciency is a comfortable and economical way to reduce the need for new plants. According to the EU Commission, it will cost 50%-400% more to produce an extra kilowatt of electricity.

Profi table CO2 savings:

If we bring European buildings undergoing modernisation up to contemporary (low) energy effi ciency standards we can, over time, save the equivalent of :• 3.3 million barrels of oil energy per day (some 4% of global

consumption for all purposes)

More power plants or less energy waste?

• € 270 billion in annual energy costs• 460 million tonnes of CO2 per year (that’s more than the EU

Kyoto Protocol commitment)It would also create more than 500,000 jobs.This CO2 saving in Europe alone corresponds to• 188 nuclear power plants • an 18-fold increase in the world’s installed wind power• or 88 coal fi red power plants with CO2 capture and storage.Worldwide the potential for CO2 savings in buildings is even greater at almost tenfold. Sources: Ecofys, CEPS, Eurima.

Why make buildings energy effi cient

• Buildings are responsible for some 40% of the energy used and CO2 emitted in Europe and North America.

• 2/3rds of this energy is used for heating or cooling. • Up to 90% of the heating energy can be saved with

existing technology.

6 Environment 2007

A convenient truth

We can save money & CO2 emissions in buildings

A growing number of reports (from Ecofys, Stern, McKinsey,CEPS, the UN’s IPCC - to mention a few) all point to the factthat better energy effi ciency in buildings, and in particular insu-lation, is one of – if not the most cost-effective measure toreduce CO2 emissions: “Energy effi ciency options for new andexisting buildings could considerably reduce CO2 emissionswith net economic benefi t.”, says IPCC. We are actually losingmoney by not saving CO2 and costly energy in our buildings.

Hopefully, this emerging awareness will help to pave the way for more ambitious CO2 reductions in the next climate

protocol. The EU has already given a unilateral 20% reduction commitment, but aims at a multilateral target of 30% before 2020. There is still a chance to limit the increase in average global temperatures to ’just’ 2° C. However this would require 50%-85% less CO2 emissions by 2050 from the industrialised world. Quick reductions have the strongest impact - energy ef-fi ciency in buildings is a technology immediately at hand.

IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, Working Group III,

‘Summary for Policymakers’, p. 18

see www.ipcc.ch

The Rockwool insulation sold this year will, in its lifetime, save more than 200 million tonnes of CO2.

Environment 2007 7

Sweden 0.13

Finland 0.16

Estonia 0.16

Norway 0.18

Germany 0.20

UK 0.20

Latvia 0.20

Denmark 0.25

Austria 0.25

France 0.25

Hungary 0.25

Slovenia 0.25

Switzerland 0.30

Poland 0.30

Czech Republic 0.30

Slovakia 0.30

Belgium 0.40

Lithuania 0.40

Spain (Madrid/Sevilla) 0.45

Portugal 0.50

Italy (Bolzano/Palermo) 0.60

Croatia (Zagreb) 0.65

A building may last 100 years or more. It’s very cost-effective to incorporate optimal energy effi ciency from the start, and very expensive to miss the opportunity for proper insulation. Most countries have minimum insulation requirements for new buildings. But in most cases these standards are far too slack to live up to the full environmental and economical potential.

North American ambitions

The world’s biggest consumer and importer of energy is the US. For decades energy guzzling habits have prevailed, but now times are changing. Sharp reductions in the Americans’ energy intense lifestyle are necessary, if the country is to fulfi l its ambition to drastically reduce energy imports from the Mid-dle East.

Buildings account for nearly 40% of US energy use. Ameri-can houses are more than twice the average size of a Euro-pean home, and 77% are equipped with air conditioning. Bet-ter insulation is crucial. The US Energy Authority points to an energy savings potential of 57%-68% in residential buildings. Nationwide tax credits of up to $2000 are now given to home owners who insulate their homes properly. Many states are embarking on energy and CO2 saving initiatives in public build-ings. Even ultra-effi cient ’passive houses’ (see page 10) are now mushrooming.

Canada is also speeding up energy effi ciency in buildings. In the province of Ontario, energy demands for new homes have been boosted 21.5% by improved standards for wall and ceiling insulation, high-effi ciency boilers and energy effi cient windows. In 2009 and 2012 even higher energy effi ciency requirements will come into force.

How to save more energy in new buildings

0 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60

New roof constructions - allowed energy loss

Almost everywhere in Europe the energy requirements fail to take full account of today’s climate conditions and energy prices. Even these inadequate offi cial requirements are seldom controlled (and not always followed). In old buildings conditions are even worse. In some countries, however, a tighter energy frame for the entire building can cause a tendency to choose lower/better U-values for roofs than the minimum requirement.

The Rockwool Group has initiated an historic expansion of production capacity to meet the growing need for insulation. At least 6 new faci-lities - factories or production lines - will be operational from 2007-2010.

(U-value)

8 Environment 2007

30%

5% 10% 15% 25%20%0%

20%

20%

25%

residential 20% non-residential 27%

30%

20%

0%

25-30%

15%

30%

How to stop losing money

Minimum improvement in roof insulation requirements necessary for new buildings

more than 200 mm extra

up to 200 mm extra

up to 150 mm extra

up to 100 mm extra

0 - 50 mm extra

Insulation standards (minimum U-value requirements) must be improved considerably in most regions in order to stop losing money on the heating and cooling of their buildings. In a city like Bolzano in Northern Italy the marginal cost savings are greatest if the roof insulation requirements were to be sharpened by more than 200 mm. But even with more insulation, the energy savings can still exceed the extra investment at today’s energy prices. Even better insulation will be relevant in countries where CO2 savings have a commercial price, where better insulation makes expensive radiators superfl uous in Passive Houses, or where energy prices are likely to increase.

source: Rockwool International A/SAuthor: SEGEFA-Ulg

1) Only electrically heated buildings2) As of August 20093) Residential. Non-residential not yet fi nalised

HOW TO!

make long-lasting solutions

At least every fi ve years, EU countries must update their energy effi ciency requirements for buildings. And 25% improvements for new buildings are not unusual. Den-mark and France have also made additional medium term commitments. The UK aims for Passive House standards in six years, Germany and the Netherlands in eight years.

Hungary

Sweden1)

Denmark

United Kingdom

Norway2)

Spain

Italy

Netherlands3)

France

Germany

Who improves energy demands the most in new buildings?

Environment 2007 9

HOW TO!

make entire neighbourhoods energy effi cient

When the council of Stenløse in Denmark was selling land for an entire neighbourhood development, it demanded that all 750 new houses should be sustainable low-energy buildings. In this way two million kWh will be saved every year. This visionary choice has attracted much positive pub-lic interest and was championed with the Danish Rockwool Award 2007.

Read more at www.rockwool.dk/sw88766.asp

HOW TO!

build a Passive House:

• Proper insulation (300-500 mm)• Low-energy, triple-glazed windows• No thermal bridges• Controlled ventilation with effi cient heat recovery• Air-tight with all gaps sealed• Optimal building orientation for solar gain or protection• Low-energy appliancesIt is possible with existing and proven technology to have buildings with a fraction of the present average consumption !

Sources: EU Commission (2001), Danish building regulations (2006) and www.passivhaus.de.

Why focus on energy effi ciency of buildings?

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10 Environment 2007

It required 300 million years to form fossil fuels, but it can take youless than 300 days to build an energy-saving building.

Make the Passive House our standard choice

Are you searching for the building of the future? Either as a home-buyer, a construction professional or a building code reg-ulator?

Then you can save 70%-90% of the heating costs if you choose the best, well-proven low-energy technology for your building. Cooling costs can be minimised too. Even in refur-bishment projects, heating cost reductions of more than 80% have been achieved. Currently the most widespread concept is ‘the Passive House’ - so far more than 8000 have been built. Good indoor comfort, low energy bills and low lifecycle costs make this house increasingly popular. Its design includes good insulation and windows, airtight construction without thermal bridges, alongside effi cient ventilation and heat recovery sys-tems. Most winter days the free passive energy from the sun,

from body heat and from appliances, is enough to heat the building. The annual heating demand may not exceed 15 kWh per square meter. The total primary energy consumption is limited to 120 kWh/m2 per year. The impressive energy sav-ings more than compensate for the 5%-15% initial extra invest-ment.

Mandatory soon

The EU plans to make Passive Houses, and similar extremely low-energy houses, the rule rather than the exception by 2016. Ahead of this, Passive House standards will become mandatory in new UK homes in 2013, and in Germany and the Netherlands by 2015. In the UK, ‘Zero-carbon houses’ will be the name of the game by 2016. These low-energy buildings can also produce sustainable energy e.g. with solar panels. The race for energy effi cient building solutions has started.

How much energy can I save?

HOW TO!

promote energy effi ciency in new buildings

The widespread construction of Passive Houses does not hap-pen by itself, but needs visionary regulators. Exemplary are most Austrian regions where these buildings are given fi nan-cial support. The council in Vorarlberg has made Passive House standards mandatory for all buildings receiving public support. The proportion of Passive Houses among new residential build-ings is now 4% in Austria, and accelerating very fast.

Environment 2007 11

HOW TO!

calculate what you can save

Try the new free energy calculator and see what you can save in your own home.

www.builddesk.com

New buildings typically represent 1% of the total building stock. Therefore the largest potential for energy savings lies in old buildings. Too often, economical energy savings are simply not initiated. Or building renovations neglect vital energy effi cient components. There follows a series of examples of how to overcome some of the practical and legislative hurdles.

How to save energy in existing buildings

“If the EU is really serious about energy effi ciency, then the next meeting of Heads of State and Governments should decide that all public buildings in all 27 Member Sta-tes become carbon neutral by 2020.”

Klaus Töpfer, former Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme

12 Environment 2007

7%

11%

11%

30%

6%

12%

Install solar heating panels

Insulate external wall

Energy effi cient glazing

Insulate cellar ceiling

Modern heating system

Insulate roof

What’s the energy saving potential of a typical building?

The percentages are average values, calculated for houses inGermany. They will therefore vary from house to house.

Source: Deutsche Energie-Agentur

Stop the leaks

Over the last few years, the UK has made strong efforts to im-prove poor energy effi ciency in its existing building stock. Insu-lation is a key instrument for reducing CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050, and enabling more than 80% of the energy sav-ings under the Energy Effi ciency Commitment scheme. From 2002-2008 more than 2.5 million cavity walls and just as many lofts will be insulated. Further, the UK energy savings target is even more ambitious for the end of 2011.

Major gas and electricity suppliers (such as British Gas) have been given a key role. They must all meet an energy sav-ing target. In order to reduce fuel poverty, at least half of their savings must be made in low income households that receive state benefi ts. Energy suppliers are even helping to organ-ise and fi nance insulation measures. With the EU Directive on

End-use effi ciency and energy services (2006/32/EC), more energy companies outside the UK will be obliged to undertake similar activities.

Even with these measures, the potential remains great. There are still 9-11 million cavity walls to fi ll in Britain. A simi-lar number of lofts have less than 100 mm of insulation or none at all. In London alone, more than 1.7 million homes have solid walls of which 99% remain un-insulated. Here a warm ‘overcoat’ of façade insulation could do wonders.

Is your country offering similar schemes?

Read more: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/energy/eec

Environment 2007 13

HOW TO!HOW TO! make building renovations energy effi cient

It’s cost effi cient to add extra insulation at the same time that the scaffolding and professionals are in place to renew the roof anyway. A modernisation project that does not apply the most energy and cost-effi cient technology is a missed opportu-nity. It may take decades before the next chance becomes available. Small build-ings account for some 80% of the building stock. So Germany has decided that all buildings undergoing renovation, irrespective of size, must be upgraded energy ef-fi ciently. The EU is also considering lowering its 1000 sq m threshold. To help fi -nance the improvements, Germany has allocated more than € 1.4 billion per year towards interest rate and direct subsidies for the energy effi cient upgrade of exist-ing buildings. The renovated building must be at least as energy effi cient as the minimum requirement for new buildings.

HOW TO!

make public buildings energy effi cient

The public sector accounts for a signifi cant part of the building stock. Far too many public buildings waste energy and tax payers’ money.

But from 2008 the public sector in Europe must play an exemplary role, for instance by renting, building and purchasing only energy effi cient buildings. And by using energy audits – then implementing the recommendations. The modernised Berlaymont building in Bruxelles was one of the fi rst to be certi-fi ed. It’s above standard of many EU countries: 87 kWh of primary energy per year and m² for heating, according to Fraunhofer Institute calculations. A Pas-sive House uses about half that amount.

HOW TO!

take local initiative

When it comes to energy sovereignty, the US is fi ght-ing to regain its lost liberty. A growing number of cit-ies and states are seeking new frontiers for energy and CO2 savings. New York wants to become the green-est city in the US, slashing greenhouse gas pollution by 30% before 2030. Sustainable buildings are one of the measures.

Pennsylvania State aims to become independent of foreign fossil fuel imports.

14 Environment 2007

HOW TO!

make energy effi ciency easier

While many home-owners know that energy can be saved in their building, un-derstanding and controlling the energy renovation project can sometimes be quite complex. Practical assistance is needed. The state of Vermont in the US provides a one-stop service. The Energy Rated Homes of Vermont scheme provides the en-ergy assessment, obtains contractor bids for the upgrade measures, oversees the contractor’s work, conducts a post-construction energy rating and prepares docu-ments to secure the energy effi ciency mortgage.

More info at www.erhvt.org

HOW TO!

renovate multi-occupancy buildings to Passive House

standards

This architectural heritage building from 1730 was reno-vated with Passive House techniques. Heating demand used to be 300 kWh per m2. Now 15-20 kWh per square meter is being achieved. Today, modern buildingsare allowed to use three times more heating energy than this, that’s even according to the strictest EU building regulations.

HOW TO!

solve the landlord’s dilemma

Energy effi ciency in rented buildings is a special challenge because the tenant pays the energy bill. So for the land-lord to invest in energy savings, special incentives are needed. In France a 40% tax credit is given to landlords for insulating houses built before 1977.

Is your country offering similar schemes?

Environment 2007 15

Is your indoor air quality as good at it can get? We spend most of our life inside buildings. But moisture damage is pre-sent in far too many homes - German studies indicate 20%. Moisture and fungi increase the risk of allergic reactions. What can you do?

How to ensure a healthy indoor climate

Insulation, airtight construction and controlled ventilation are essential for a better indoor environment. Properly fi tting in-sulation helps provide a pleasant and stable indoor tempera-ture between 20-26˚C despite cold winters or hot summers. Even expensive heating or cooling, cannot eliminate unpleas-ant draughts caused by temperature differences.

You can never insulate too much! But if you insulate too lit-tle, use incorrect installation methods or ventilate too little, then there is a risk of warm humid air condensing on cold or poorly insulated surfaces. Condensation can create the damp conditions that allow moulds and fungi to grow.

Comfort

Ventilate

Moisture must be ventilated out of the building. An average family of four members contributes up to 15 litres of moisture to their indoor air every day. Clean, fresh air also improves poor quality indoor air that can cause headaches and discom-fort, and can impair concentration.

If you live in a building without an automatic ventila-tion system (see page 10), open your windows briefl y several times a day. In this way the air is swiftly refreshed. During the cold winter months, 5 minutes (with radiators off) may be enough for a complete air exchange without a dramatic cool-ing of the warm surfaces in the building. On windless summer days, 30 minutes may be necessary.

Indoor climate labelling

Rockwool products are qualifi ed to use the Finnish ’M1’ indoor climate label that has the strictest requirements in Europe, meaning no critical emissions of odours, particles or volatile organic compounds. Furthermore the Danish Indoor Climate Label has been given to a number of Rockfon acoustic ceiling products.

Good insulation and ventilation improve your indoor environment

1. Insulate well, seal gaps, avoid thermal bridges. This im-proves comfort and prevents condensation.

2. Ventilate well. If the building is airtight, a ventilation system with heat recovery can do it automatically and energy effi ciently.

3. Keep the materials dry, prevent leaks and keep moisture membranes intact. A moisture content below 15% in buil-ding materials prevents the growth of moulds and fungi.

4. Noise is best absorbed by materials with open structure surfaces, such as textile curtains or mineral wool acoustic ceilings.

5. Ensure adequate light and light refl ection.

6. Keep the building clean.

7. Choose low-emission materials that do not release critical amounts of gases, particles or odours. In some countries indoor climate labels may help you.

Seven tips to improve your indoor climate:

16 Environment 2007

16.5°

19.5°

16.0° 17.7°

16.7°

17.8°

13.0°

5.0°

15.5°

11.0° 16.1°

10.1°

8.7°

8.0°

Facade insulation of these Danish fl ats in Århus removed the condensation and mould problems.

Source: Passive House Institute

Renovated building200 mm insulation (Passive House technique) new Passive House window

Out-door temperature: - 5° C

Indoor temperature: 20° C

The relevant surface temperatures are now above 16° C and no con-densation and mould problems occur. A humidity of 62% is no lon-ger a problem.

Old, uninsulated buildingDespite a new window, condensation and mould problems can occur around window frames, the foundation, in joints and behind cupboards.

Out-door temperature: - 5° C

Indoor temperature: 20° C

Surface temperature: around 9° C

How insulation prevents condensation and mould

Environment 2007 17

Every day - and night - millions of people around the world are suffering from unwanted sound. Noise causes stress, loss of concentration and affects well being. It can provoke stress-re-lated heart problems and can have severe negative social and economic impact. Some 120 million people have disabling hearing problems, according to the World Health Organisation.

Lack of sound proofi ng not only makes life miserable for people living next to noisy neighbours, it also prevents many of us from free expression of music and other happy, yet noisy, activities.

Three things to remember

The elements of a healthy building must reduce noise rever-berating inside a room, impede transmission between rooms and prevent noise from the outside penetrating the building. Just 30dB (A) is disturbing to sleep, while 35dB (A) interferes with the intelligibility of speech in smaller rooms. Disturbing ‘echo’ from too many hard surfaces must also be avoided.

How stone wool helps

Rockwool stone wool has an open fi brous structure making it ideal for absorbing and regulating noise. Rockwool products

reduce ear-deafening noise from machines or from the activi-ties of people. Rockfon acoustic ceiling systems can dramati-cally reduce sound reverberation and prevent echoes in a room. RockDelta green noise barriers alongside roads and RockDelta vibration control under rail tracks both abate frustrating traffi c noise. This problem affects 40% of EU citizens and can reduce the value of property by 1.6% for every decibel above 55dB.

A 10dB difference is perceived by the human ear as a doub-ling (or halving) of the audible sound. A good wall construction with Rockwool insulation can help ensure many a good night’s sleep! It can reduce noise transmission by more than 50dB (Rw - value) which is about 20dB more than a poor construction without insulation.

ABC - what class are you in?

Noise reduction requirements have not improved fast - if at all. The Danish building regulations will soon give noise quality la-bels to new premises. To get in Class C (the minimum require-ment) noise dampening should be suffi cient to satisfy 50% of the inhabitants while no more than 35% of occupiers should be discontent.

HOW TO!

reduce noise in your building:

• Use materials with good absorption such as mineral wool• Install these in combination with dense materials• Avoid gaps, especially where walls meet fl oors and

ceilings• Insulate against vibrations - be careful about details• Avoid too many hard surfaces in the room• Acoustic ceilings, textiles and other materials with open

structures, help prevent ‘echo’• Buy machines with low noise emissions• Develop a culture of respect: louder isn’t always better• Noise screens – including well-insulated windows, walls

and roof – help against traffi c noise

Learn more about how you can reduce noise at

www.rockwool.com

dB

140

120

85

70

55

3530

0 Source: World Health Organisation

Sleep disturbance

Disturbance of communication

Serious annoyance (outdoor)

Hearing impairment (daily noise for 24 hrs)

Hearing impairment (daily noise for 1 hour)

Hearing impairment of child (peak noise)

Hearing impairment of adult (peak noise)

Critical health effects from noise

Reducing noise pollution

18 Environment 2007

HOW TO!

listen and learn

The future wealth of society is sown in our education system. But ‘noise infernos’ are a reality in far too many class rooms. Millions of school years of concentrated learning are lost due to poor acoustics. When the teacher’s speech becomes a mud-dled echo in the class room, it is diffi cult to understand, to concentrate - and to keep quiet. A vicious circle of noise starts.

Reverberation times should not exceed 0.6 seconds. Even at 0.7 seconds only 67% of the spoken word remains compre-hensible, falling to less than half (40%) at 1.7 seconds. This is compounded for people with hearing diffi culties or for those without full command of a language that is not their mother tongue.

In Germany, a country which has produced unacceptable results in the international PISA learning studies, one of four children has hearing problems, and many pupils come from families who are not native speakers.

But better acoustics can prevent these noise problems. In the Droste-Hülshoff School in Berlin, Rockfon acoustic ceiling & wall absorbers, plus a sound absorbing fl oor, have reduced the reverberation to a third: from 1.7 seconds to just 0.5 sec-onds. The Rockfon solution will work for many years. Seminars are now being arranged to encourage a small investment (€ 1000 - 2000 per class room, or less than a month’s salary) to be made in more class rooms.

See and hear the German TV report

http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/inhalt/

28/0,4070,5268412-0,00.html

After: “You can now hear the teacher much better. Especially because I sit in the back row.” pupil

Before: “It’s very strenuous for me. You get really stressed.”

Diana Lammert, teacher, Berlin

Environment 2007 19

Own house in orderThe impact of Rockwool products and production

Positive environmental balance

Energy saving Rockwool insulation is one of the few industrial products with an overall positive environmental balance. Im-proving that balance is key. All our 23 factories should be able to demonstrate effi cient use of resources, local responsibility and respect towards our neighbours.

Once again in 2006 better results were achieved:• Seven of 13 key performance indicators were improved

from 2002 to 2006 (see p. 21).• The tradition of green accolades continued. Rockwool Ltd.

in the UK won another environmental award.• In 2006 the Rockwool Group was not involved in any

environmental court cases.

Mandatory green standards

All Group companies must fulfi l Rockwool environmental standards which specify procedures, responsibilities and as-sessment methods. In some cases the Group environment policy tells us to go beyond local legislation requirements. Compliance is regularly audited.

Some subsidiaries have chosen certifi ed management sys-tems like ISO 14001 or EMAS, audited by third-party ex-perts. In 2006 a total of 40 environmental, energy, and fi re & safety audits were made. On average a Rockwool factory is subject to one such scrutiny at least once a year.

HOW TO!

make Rockwool insulation

The Rockwool process resembles the natural action of the volcano: stone wool is made by melting rock, lime-stone and recycled briquettes with other raw materials at 1500°C in a coke-heated cupola furnace. The resul-tant liquid stone melt is spun into fi bres. Binder and impregnating oil are added to make the material stable and water-repellent. The stone wool is then heated to about 200°C in order to cure the binder and stabilise the material for fi nal processing into a variety of prod-ucts. Environmental equipment – fi lters, pre-heaters, after-burners, and other cleaning and collection sys-tems – makes the ‘tamed volcano’ an environmentally responsible process.

See the video ‘People & Environment‘

www.rockwool.com/sw13164.asp

20 Environment 2007

Excluding impact from product use. The total life cycle eco-balance for a typical insulation product is illustrated in the Eco-balance charts on pages 22 and 24.

2002 = Index 100 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Change Comments

5 years trend Page

Factories included in key fi gures 23 20 21 21 21

Energy 100 98 95 91 90 22

Carbon dioxide 1 100 97 98 97 102 = 24-25

Carbon monoxide 1+3 100 108 132 137 141 24-25

Sulphur dioxide 2 100 106 96 105 104 = 24-25

Nitrogen dioxides 1+2+3+4 100 105 107 105 94 = 24-25

Ammonia 2+3+4 100 93 93 83 75 24-25

Formaldehyde 3 100 67 61 70 63 24+26

Phenol 3 100 100 79 70 72 24

Water consumption 100 89 86 86 81 24-25

Dust 100 120 96 102 108 25

Waste to landfi ll 100 70 62 47 56 27

Recycling – residual products from other industries 100 103 95 101 103 = 27

Accidents per million working hours (not indexed) 19.1 15.8 15.6 16.2 11.5 26

1 Global warming potential, 2 Acid rain, 3 Smog, 4 Nutrifi cation

The key environmental fi gures include consumption and emissions in the production phase at the Rockwool factories. The energy consumption is calculated in mWh and the water consumption in m3. All other key fi gures are calculated by weight. The key fi gures are indexed and shown per tonne line stone wool, except accidents among factory workers (direct personnel) which are indicated per million working hours. Three plants were closed during 2002. Our second plant in Hungary, which was acquired during the last few days before year end 2003 is included in the 2004 fi gures. For one of the acquired factories, some of the data was not registered.

A green ‘smiley’ indicates a positive trend from 2002 - 2006.

Red symbols a set-back from 2002 - 2006.

= Indicates a stable trend from 2002-2006 (max 2% change in fi ve year average).

Environmental production fi gures

Since 2002 the Group’s water usage per produced unit has been reduced by 19%.

Environment 2007 21

The impact of our production

Energy effi ciency has been top priority for many years. It is also an important key to reducing other environmental impacts of pro-duction, such as CO2, NOx and SO2 emissions. In our acquired factories, Rockwool know-how has improved energy effi ciency by 50% per produced unit, while at the same time enhancing prod-uct quality, environmental performance and delivery precision.

In 2006 energy effi ciency improvements of 10% have been obtained compared to 2002.

The good neighbour

Our environmental improvements for the many depend on a good responsible relationship with the few who have a Rock-wool factory in their neighbourhood. The new plant in Croatia is state-of-the-art built with the Best Available environment Technology (BAT). But technology alone doesn’t bring trust. The Rockwool Group always seeks open dialogue to satisfy the curiosity, and sometimes natural scepticism, of our neighbours, new and old.

Source: FORCE TECHNOLOGY/dk-TEKNIK

HOW TO!

save energy in industrial processes

Intensify energy audits, implement appropriate measures and reap large, profi table energy savings! In the Polish plant at Malkina € 200,000 will be saved each year - that’s eight times more than the investment in better en-ergy effi ciency.

Life-cycle assessment (LCA)

Rockwool insulation is one of the major energy savers. A typical 250 mm Rockwool loft insulation product – manufactured and installed in Denmark and used over 50 years - will save 128 times more primary energy than was used for its production, transport and disposal. The energy balance becomes positive only fi ve months after installation. This, however, is a conservative example. For a product that insulates hot pipes, the energy payback can be less than 24 hours - the return on invested energy is more than 10,000-fold.

Used in life-cycleSaved in life-cycle

Source: FORCE TECHNOLOGY/dk-TEKNIK

Rockwool Eco-balance: Energy

The positive impact of our products

-1 +128

Read the ISO 14000 compliant, peer reviewed LCA.

International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment,

no 9 2004, p.53-56 & 122-129

Energy and the Rockwool impact

22 Environment 2007

Summary of our Group Environment Policy

With the commitment of all the subsidiary companies, and in consultation with their managing directors, the Rockwool Group has drawn up an environment policy. In accordance with this, our companies undertake:

• to carry out an environmental analysis of all projects involving new production equipment or new products before they are initiated;

• to have an environmental management system which describes responsibility and control procedures, and to make constant improvements to this system;

• to ensure that the factories do not cause problems for their neighbours of a more serious nature than is normal in an area also housing industry;

• as a minimum, to comply with the conditions imposed on them by the regulatory authorities; if this is not happening

in any given area, then to inform the authorities immedi-ately and take steps enabling compliance;

• to maintain an open dialogue with stakeholders – customers, regulatory authorities, investors, employees, suppliers, and neighbours – in order to ensure that relevant interests and requirements concerning environmental issues are met;

• via the Group’s environment department, to carry out audits at the plants to assist the environmental work of the manufacturing companies.

The Rockwool companies have acceded to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)’s Business Charter for Sustainable Development – Principles for Environmental Management.

Environment 2007 23

Used in life-cycleSaved in life-cycle

Energy savings improve air quality. A typical Rockwool loft insulation product saves 61-162 times more air pollutants than were emitted during its production.

The impact of our products

Rockwool Eco-balance: Smog (C2H4 equivalents)

Rockwool Eco-balance: Nutrifi cation (PO43-- equivalents)

A typical Rockwool loft insulation product will, in its lifetime, save 162 times more acid rain and CO2 - and 61 times more nutrifi cation components - than the 52.7 g, 9.6 kg and 9.6 g emitted during its production. The environmental balance swings to positive four months after installation for acid rain and CO2 abatement and after 10 months for prevented airborne nutrients. Smog is also reduced, but the complexity of photochemical processes prevents a precise quantifi cation.

Rockwool Eco-balance: Acid rain (SO2 equivalents)

Rockwool Eco-balance: CO2

-1 no reliable data

+61

+162

+162

-1

-1

-1

Reduced use of fossil fuels is an important means of curbing air pollution such as smog, acid rain and nutrifi cation. World-wide 800,000 deaths a year are attributable to urban air pollution that is largely the result of the combustion of fossil fuels for transport, power generation and other human activi-ties. Particles and smog (photochemical ozone) can cause se-rious lung diseases and premature cardio-respiratory deaths. Asthma patients are amongst those most at risk.

Less waste of sulphur-rich fossil fuel also means less acid rain that can damage trees, corrode the surfaces of buildings and cars and reduce the bio-diversity in lakes.

Oil, coal and gas also contain nitrous compounds. After combustion they end up in the environment partly as nutrients that can disturb the eco-balance of water and soil, choking en-dangered plants or causing the explosive growth of toxic algae in lakes or at beaches in seawater on hot summer days.

Improving the impact of our production

The Rockwool factories use afterburner plants and other envi-ronmental equipment to minimise emissions such as CO from

the melting process, and phenol and formaldehyde from the small amounts of resin binder used to stabilise stone wool fi -bres. The combustion of CO also improves energy effi ciency. At temperatures exceeding 700°C, most of the airborneorganic remnants from the production process are burnt off.

This also includes ammonia evaporating from the binder, thus reducing the potential for nutrifi cation.

Results

The Group’s emissions of ammonia, formaldehyde and phenol, which can cause smog, have decreased since 2002, whereas CO emissions have increased. Emissions of nitrogen oxides have not changed signifi cantly.

At the same time, due to recycling, the amount of waste to landfi ll has decreased strongly. This is positive, but neces-sitates more sulphur-rich cement for the recycling briquettes. Therefore, even with improved energy effi ciency and fi lters, the total acid air emissions are status quo.

The nutrifi cation emissions per tonne stone wool have been reduced since 2002.

SOURCE: FORCE TECHNOLOGY/dk-TEKNIK

Reducing air pollution

24 Environment 2007

HOW TO!

reduce odour

In 2007 extra environmental afterburner equipment is being added to the plant in Vamdrup, Denmark. By burning off or-ganic components, emissions with a distinctive smell will be markedly reduced to the benefi t of our neighbours.

CO2 emissions

All Rockwool plants in the EU have implemented procedures for the detailed monitoring and documentation of their CO2 emissions. In 2006 the signifi cant expansion of our production made it necessary, for the fi rst time, to purchase CO2 allow-ances. Despite improved energy effi ciency, the Group has not improved its CO2 effi ciency. This is not satisfactory.

Within REACH

Safe control and handling of chemicals is a key priority. The Rockwool Group will ensure complete compliance with Eu-rope’s new chemicals regulation (REACH).

Dust from production

In 2006 dust emissions have increased by 8% compared to 2002. The Rockwool factories use fi lters to collect dust and fl y ash from the furnaces. The Group aims to recycle and re-melt as much dust as possible.

Sustainable fi re protection

Good fi re protection is vital if a building is to be safeguarded for the long-term.

Rockwool stone wool cannot burn, and can withstand heat of 1000°C. It can thus prevent the spread of fi re. Fewer severe fi res means less pollution of air, soil and water.

Environment 2007 25

In 2006 the Rockwool Group achieved the lowest frequency of accidents in its history: 11.5 accidents per million per-formed work hours, a very low level for an industrial proc-ess company. This is a 40% drop in fi ve years, and a 70% drop in 10 years. Still, every accident is one too many, so the Group’s Health & Safety organisation will continue to pursue ever safer work places.

Lowest accident frequency ever

The Rockwool Group is committed to safe products and safe workplaces. It is also our policy to inform customers how to in-stall and handle products correctly.

Safety of stone wool fi bres

The World Health Organisation concluded in 2001 that rock (stone) wool should be removed from classifi cation as a ”pos-sible human carcinogen“. This positive re-classifi cation is be-cause epidemiological studies and long-term inhalation stud-ies have provided no evidence of increased risk of lung cancer from occupational exposure to stone wool fi bres.

Skin contact

Handling Rockwool products can result in transient itching due to the mechanical effect of coarse fi bres. In 1997 the EU clas-sifi ed mineral wool products as irritating to the skin. The min-eral wool industry has made a set of recommendations about how to handle products in a way that minimises transient itch-ing of the skin.

Binder components

Rockwool products typically consist of 98% inorganic (stone) materials and only 2% organic material: a highly refi ned oil makes the insulation water-repellent and reduces dust, and to bind the fi bres we use a urea modifi ed phenol-formaldehyde compound (also used in chipboard furniture and previously in Bakelite door handles and telephones).

Before the product reaches the customer, the binder has been cured in an oven at temperatures above 200°C. This

Workplace and product safety

process virtually eliminates the release of formaldehyde from the fi nished product. Indoor climate tests demonstrate that for building use at normal temperatures, no emission problems ex-ist. Rockwool products in contact with the indoor climate qualify as M1 - the best indoor climate category according to the strict requirements used in Finland. It is also possible to buy Rockfon acoustic ceilings with the Danish Indoor Climate Label.

During production a number of chemicals are present in the phase before the binder is cured, including ammonia, phenol and formaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen and skin irri-tant. A safety system is used to prevent our employees from having skin contact with uncured binder. Ventilation and other environmental equipment help minimise air emissions and pro-tect workplace safety.

Good ventilation at high temperatures

Rockwool products have a high content of inorganic (stone) material that cannot burn or give off smoke. It is one of the safest materials when it comes to fi re or extreme heat. Like all organic compounds, the small amounts of binder and oil can release decomposition products when heated. High concentra-tions of these fumes may irritate the eyes and respiratory sys-tem. To cover the special circumstances where insulation is heated up to more than 90°C, the Rockwool Group has pub-lished a material safety data sheet recommending good ven-tilation during the initial heating phase. For instance in power plants using industrial insulation around very hot pipes. For normal temperature use in buildings, no such protective meas-ures are needed.

26 Environment 2007

The impact of our products

”I would be very pleased to buy more products that are technically safe and are environmentally valu-able, because they are using recy-cled material, for instance Rock-wool products.”

Christopher Allen, EU Environment LIFE programme

Recycling – from waste to valuable resource

Eco-Innovation

Fewer waste disposal sites and less depletion of virgin raw materials - for these two reasons the EU Environment LIFE programme supports the Rockwool Group’s recycling. Our cu-pola furnace operates at temperatures of more than 1500°C. This makes it ideal for substituting virgin raw materials, such as rock and fuel, with waste materials of a suitable chemi-cal composition: for instance olivine sand, that has been used to sand blow vessels or concrete, and some residues from the metal industry. Today, the Rockwool Group turns around 400,000 tonnes of ’waste’ into a valuable resource. In 2006 our relative use of residual materials from other industries has increased by 3% compared to 2002.

Less landfi ll waste

Today, stone wool waste and residue materials from other industries are compressed into recycling briquettes that are melted and processed into new stone wool. Three quarters of the Group’s stone wool waste is recycled - and our recycling is still growing. Waste to landfi ll has decreased by 44% from 2002 to 2006.

Stone wool residue is also used in other industries, for instance as raw material in bricks.

see the fi lm: www.rockwool.com/sw59113.asp

The EU Environment LIFE programme supports Rockwool recycling initiatives

stone wool waste to disposal sitesrecycling of secondary raw materials

source: Group environment department

Rockwool Eco-balance: Recycling

-1 +3 We recycle three times more residue materials from

other industries than we deposit ourselves

Environment 2007 27

The Rockwool Group’s headquarters and factories

Rockwool International A/SHovedgaden 584DK-2640 HedehuseneDenmark

CVR No. 54879415Tel: +45 46 56 03 00Fax: +45 46 56 33 11www.rockwool.cominfo@rockwool.com

The Rockwool Group is the world leader in stone wool tech-nology. Our Mission is to be our customers’ preferred supplier of products, systems and solutions for improved energy effi -ciency, acoustic performance and fi re safety in buildings.

The Rockwool Group has 70 years of experience. Our 8,000 employees in more than 30 countries cater for cus-tomers all over the world. In 2006, sales exceeded €1.5 bil-lion.

Stone wool improves the environment and the quality of life for millions of people. This versatile material is used to in-sulate against loss of heat and cold. By decreasing the need to burn fossil fuels, stone wool also reduces air pollution.

Made of rock, stone wool is naturally fi re resistant. It tolerates temperatures of up to 1000°C and is used as vital fi re protec-tion in buildings and for marine applications to protect lives and valuable assets.

Stone wool protects against noise pollution and is used in acoustic ceilings, noise screens, around noisy machines, in walls and roofs, under fl oors and even underneath rail tracks. Stone wool is also used as a growing medium for vegetables and fl owers, in façade cladding boards, as reinforcement fi -bres in cars and for other industrial purposes.

The Group produces stone wool products in 23 factories across Europe, North America and Asia and markets Rock-wool system solutions worldwide.

The Rockwool Group

Photos: (page 1) David Hancock/Alamy, (2 below) Alex Griffi ths/Alamy, (4) Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters/Scanpix, (5 top) Iain Masterton/Alamy, (5 below) UPI/Polfoto, (6) Joseph Sohm/Photodisc, (7 top) Paul Cooklin/Brand X Pictures/Polfoto, (7 below) Oliver Suckling/Shutterstock, (8 - 10) Rockwool Group, (11) Elfer/mauritius images/Polfoto, (12) Klaus Sletting, (13) Socrates/Dreamstime.com, (14 top) Bente Lindegaard/Polfoto, (14 middle) Tristin Hurst/Dreamstime.com, (14 below) Luke Daniek/iStockphoto, (15 top) Fanelie Rosier/iStockphoto, (15 middle) Martin Endhardt, (15 below) Tamara Lackey/fstop/Getty Images, (17 top) Thomas Tolstrup, (17 below) Henrik Bjerregrav, (19) Colourbox.com, (21) Silvia Bukovac/Dreamstime.com, (22 top) Rick Bowmer/AP/Polfoto, (22 below) Lars Horn, (23) Rockwool Group, (24) Thomas Borberg/Polfoto, (25 top) Lauren Bess Berley/BlueMoon Stock/Alamy, (25 below) HRF_photo/Alamy, (26) Rockwool Group, (27) Yanik Chauvin/Dreamstime.com, a.o.

ROCKWOOL®, BUILDDESK®, ROCKFON®, ROCKDELTA® and ROCKDELTA Green Noise Barriers® are registered trademarks of the Rockwool Group.Graphic design, production and prepress: Boje & Mobeck as | Printed by: Vivild A/S