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Workshops on energy efficient technologies for house insulation in Georgia and Ukraine

Potential for house insulation with different techniques and materials adapted to local conditions was assessed during two expert workshops - as part of the project ‘Building local capacity for Development of Thermal solar and insulation technologies', financed by the European Commission

12.09.2011 |Regina Drexel & Anna Samwel

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In Georgia and Ukraine the potential for house insulation with different techniques and materials adapted to local conditions was assessed during two expert workshops. The five day workshops were conducted as part of the project ‘Building local capacity for Development of Thermal solar and insulation technologies', financed by the European Commission.

Trainers: Herbert Danner (WECF), Cyril Jarny, Romain Laminette (GERES)
WECF representative: Regina Drexel (UA), Anna Samwel (Geo)

Place and time:    
Akhaltsikhe, Georgia, 11 – 15.07.2011 (Geo)           
Tatarbunary, Ukraine, 01.-05.08.2011 (UA)

Organisators:    
Center for Social Development Akhaltsikhe (Geo)
Vidrodjennya Tatarbunary (UA)

Participating organisations:    
CSDA, RCDA, SEMA, Greens Movement of Georgia, (Geo)
Vidrodjennya Tatarbunary, NECU, Ecoclub, University of Odessa (UA)
representatives from target regions



natural insulation materials
Experts from Germany, France as well as local experts assessed available insulation materials by giving recommendations for real houses that needed to be insulated. In Georgia implementation work also has been carried out during the workshop. In Ukraine the implementation options were discussed theoretically in groups. During both workshops, excursions were to typical houses of the region to discuss their shortcomings and possibilities for improvement. In Ukraine producers of construction material were visited. As the use of natural materials is a core value of the WECF network, a major focus was on the use of natural materials.

insulation capacity
The availability of pre manufactured insulation materials in Georgia is very limited, and the only option available in most shops is styropor panels. Knowledge in the population is very limited. In the workshop straw, saw dust and sheep wool were considered, and reed mats produced in Western Georgia were also demonstrated by RCDA. The insulation capacity (R-value) and heat conductivity (lambda) of different insulation materials and combinations were calculated. Definitely, straw bales give the highest insulation value possible to achieve, and for new buildings is suitable for passive houses.
In Ukraine there are various possibilities on insulation of a private house, depending on economic possibilities of the house owners and depending on the climate. For Tatarbunary region, where our workshop took place, there are existing traditional insulation methods using reed as insulation for walls and roof, clay and straw, with final lime plaster.

The information gathered during the workshop will be used to develop a training module on insulation for Georgia and Ukraine. As the market for insulation materials in Ukraine is much more developed, for Georgia different options need to be assessed – from producing self made reed panels as a women’s business, to importing efficient wood fiber panels. For new buildings straw bale building will be further developed as an affordable, efficient and ecological building technique.



Links for download:
Detailed report on the Ukrainian workshop
Press release (Ukrainian)

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