US demand for insulation is forecast to rise 7.8 percent annually to $8.9 billion in 2016. Advances will be stimulated by a rebound in building construction expenditures from a depressed 2011 base. Further growth will be fueled by changes in building codes and continuing consumer interest in reducing energy consumption and utility bills. Homeowners and building owners will add or upgrade insulation to achieve these goals.
Residential market to post double-digit advances
The residential market will post the most rapid gains through 2016, advancing at a double-digit pace as housing starts rebound. Moreover, builders will construct homes with larger amounts of insulation to make them more desirable to potential buyers. Residential insulation demand will also be supported by the attic reinsulation and improvement and repair markets. The nation's large stock of older homes -- many of which are underinsulated -- will offer growth prospects as homeowners add insulation to attics, walls and basements to lower utility bills. Insulation demand in the nonresidential market will also see advances. Rebounding nonresidential building construction expenditures, particularly in the office and commercial segment, will promote gains. Continuing interest in environmentally friendly construction practices will boost insulation use, as building codes and "green" building standards will call for the use of more insulation to reduce energy consumption. Industrial insulation demand will be supported by rising industrial construction spending.
Fiberglass insulation to remain dominant material
Fiberglass insulation accounted for the largest share of insulation demand in 2011 with about half of the US market. Fiberglass insulation will remain the market leader in 2016, with demand rising 8.1 percent annually to $4.4 billion. Growth will be spurred by the rebound in the residential market. Fiberglass insulation remains a popular choice with builders and contractors because of its low cost, favorable insulative properties and ready availability. Demand for foamed plastic insulation, which accounted for the second largest share of the market in 2011, is expected to rise 7.3 percent per year to $3.9 billion in 2016. Advances will be driven by the rebound in building construction spending. Further growth will come from building code changes that call for structures to be better sealed against air leaks. Foamed plastics are well suited for sealing hard-to-reach areas, such as crawl spaces and between walls. While small in value terms, cellulose insulation is forecast to see the most rapid demand growth through 2016, rising over 15 percent yearly. A rebound in new housing spending -- the primary market for cellulose insulation -- will drive gains. Demand will also be boosted by consumer interest in this product type because of its perception as an environmentally friendly building material. Demand for radiant barrier and reflective insulation is forecast to rise 8.7 percent per year through 2016. The rebounding housing market will boost demand, with further gains supported by increases in industrial and nonresidential building construction spending. Growth will be concentrated in the South and West regions, as structures in those regions are more often exposed to sunlight, and thus best benefit from the use of radiant barriers and reflective insulation.
