Simply sustainable is the PC version of our view on sustainability. What we really want to say is we are no bullshit sustainability. A review of our process is the basis for our views. It goes as follows:
Rain feeds the grass
Sheep eat grass
Sheep wool stores carbon (up to 525k tons of atmosphere derived carbon pa)
Sheep get a haircut
Wool is cleaned
Wool is packed with a 600 ton press allowing for some of the most efficient logistics in the world
Containers arrive in Oakland and are trucked to our facility in Reno
Fibers are processed using gas and electricity at <$12k per month
Finished product is packed and shipped directly to job sites
Our Fibers Are Produced Here
Mainstream Insulation Factory
That’s it; that’s all we do! We have, indeed, taken the time and spent the money to review this life cycle in the context of an environmental product declaration (EPD) with a focus on cradle to grave. What a disappointment the process and the insulation industry continue to be.
When measuring our EPD against fiberglass and mineral wool we rank lower. How is that possible? We can’t figure it out nor can anyone ‘in the know’. Likely it is just another instance of well intentioned standards getting repeatedly hijacked by big corporations that have much to lose if they can’t find a way to obfuscate the truth. On the one hand you can’t blame them; they need to protect shareholder value and this is part of the playbook. On the other, it is imperative to measure the costs on society of low grade, toxic products and ask who is footing the bill for these cheap products to remain pervasive in our lives?
At the crossroads is little ole Havelock with our notebook full of common sense. Nature gave us a fiber that has evolved across 1000s of years as an insulator. We do as little as we can to make it into insulation for you to protect yourself from the elements. Our mission consists of nothing more and nothing less.
In a rigged game we cant affect the outcome but we can at least bring more judges into the conversation and these days everyone sure has a voice……so let us know what you think. Do you care about sustainability? Are you willing to work harder to learn about better, long-lasting products and employ them in your project? And are you willing to push your builders and architects to do better? It is amazing how much positive change one person can bring to this equation – even if it is just one house at a time.
We’d love to hear what’s truly important to you. And as we continue to learn we will happily remain Simply Sustainable
Keep well friends,
-Havelock
I feel a responsibility to continually re-introduce ‘simply sustainable’ practices, choosing materials, siting homes, and scaling homes in a way that far out performs the many labels slapped on buildings to justify the increased hunger of consumption driven by big business.
Cheers to you!
The energy game is full of ways to confuse the players. I would be interested to see the rules and underlying data that support the disappointing results.
Sustainability is important to me and almost everyone I know. I’d rather have Havelock in my walls than a petroleum-based product. At a grassroots level, the efforts I and my friends and family take is what keeps me sane in what can sometimes feel like an insane world where big banks & corporations, profits and shareholder returns seem to crush environment sustainability. There’s so much that needs to be fixed for our world, but if I ever have the opportunity to build my dream home (don’t get excited, it’s just a tiny home lol) I will be buying Havelock for my insulation. The properties of wool make it so much easier and safer to work with, efficient and reliable.
We love tinyhomes! Thanks for your note!!!
More math. Maybe calculate co2 storage by square feet so each home owner can calculate their own storage
I installed Havelock wool insulation in my mother’s cabin sized house last fall. Ut was very easy to use and a Joy to work with! I am delighted that this product is available as an alternative to fiberglass and rigid foam insulation, and if I could build my own house over again I would choose Havelock wool insulation myself.
Many thanks for your support!
Havelock wool insulation is a perfect fit for anyone who wishes to distance themselves from fiberglass and rigid foam insulation. We chose to use Havelock wool insulation because of long running family allergies to many things in the standard house building industry. It was definitely a good fit for us!
We’d agree. And thanks so much for supporting what we do!
We are in the middle of a remodel and used your wool for our wall insulation. I was pushing to use it for attic and underfloor but the cost to have it installed was too much. The insulation industry is not on board unfortunately. I think the shipping cost plus installation cost make it prohibitive for too many people so it’s not widely known about. This is a sad state for our world where short term profit outweighs long term health benefits. I am glad I was able to use the wool in our walls but wish we could have used it throughout. I have told many friends about the use of sheeps wool as insulation and hope it becomes more readily available. Thank you for producing a fantastic, healthy product.
The industry is amidst a manufacturer led race to the bottom. Insulation is undervalued as a key component to the building envelope. We’ll keep driving for change. And cheaper shipping!
After retirement, I moved to an agricultural area, started a farm, and raised heritage wool sheep, among other things. I knew many old-timers in the Gulf states who used their wool to insulate barns.
When we needed to repair damage and improve function in our upstairs (5 rooms), I decided to use non-toxic materials only. I discovered Havelock wool, and it is the only choice that will function the way I want insulation to do for our air. I actually breathe multiple time each minute, so it’s pretty important! Thank you for producing this clean, versatile product. I’ll send pictures.
Wool is as good as it gets!