Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

North America: A survey by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) has revealed that its members used over 0.9Mt of recycled glass to produce residential, commercial and industrial thermal and acoustical insulation in 2017. The survey included data from both US and Canadian production plants.

Producers also used over 0.3Mt of recycled blast furnace slag in the production of thermal and acoustic insulation. Since the industry’s recycling program began in 1992, NAIMA estimates that its members’ plants have diverted an estimated 26Mt of recycled materials from the waste stream.

“Our industry is tremendously proud of the substantial use of recycled content in the production of energy saving insulation products,” said Curt Rich, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of NAIMA. “These products ultimately reduce building energy use and decrease our carbon footprint. Over the long term, the fibre glass and mineral wool insulation industry expects to continue using substantial amounts of recycled content in the production of insulation products.”

US: Curt Rich has been named as president and CEO of the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA), where he will be responsible for charting the strategic direction of the organisation as it leverages the role of insulation in achieving energy efficiency. NAIMA is the association for North American manufacturers of fibreglass, mineral wool, and slag wool insulation products.

Rich was most recently vice president of Energy and Environmental Policy for United Technologies (UTC), responsible for directing government affair objectives for UTC's building and industrial systems businesses. He will assume the leadership role at NAIMA effective 1 July 2014.

"Curt has more than 20 years of demonstrated success in the energy policy arena and has been a leader in ongoing efforts to advance energy efficiency policies through congress and the administration," said Fred Stephan, chairman of the NAIMA board and senior vice president and general manager of Insulation Systems at Johns Manville. "His leadership abilities will be invaluable in guiding NAIMA's future as it expands work within the energy-efficiency policy front through efforts such as collaborating with allied trade organisations and others to encourage the development and enforcement of strong building codes that promote energy-efficiency, lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy costs."

North America: Jeff Templeton has been elected to the position of chairman by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA). He is currently vice president and general manager for CertainTeed Corporation's residential, commercial, lumber and retail insulation business. A graduate of Ball State University Templeton has 35 years' of experience in the building materials industry, holding a wide variety of key roles at CertainTeed, including in residential, commercial, industrial, sales and marketing. He is currently active within CertainTeed's government affairs efforts.

"We are pleased that Mr Templeton has accepted the position," said the CEO and president of NAIMA, Kate Offringa. "He has been an active member of the NAIMA board of governors for several years and brings a wealth of leadership, experience and insight to the table."