Fourteen tubes of polyurethane sealant and an older suburban Western Pennsylvania home made for a perfect fit to seal in noteworthy energy savings. More than a do-it-yourself weekend project, this endeavor was part of a polyurethane sealant lifecycle assessment (LCA) to demonstrate the benefits of polyurethane sealants. An LCA is a holistic evaluation of the environmental impacts from all stages of a product’s life, from raw material acquisition to end-of-life, according to ISO 14040/44.
It is well known that the envelope of a home or other type of building needs to be sealed to minimize heat or cooling loss. Indeed, a typical home loses as much as 20% of heat through ventilation and drafts, according to the UK-based National Insulation Association.