Agricultural Uses

Poultry Barns

The advantages of having a well-insulated building (including floors) can be divided into three main parts:

  • Lower mortality and increased production
  • Lower maintenance costs and
  • Lower energy costs.

Each of these parts is very important and can have a direct influence on profitability.

To date over 2.5 million square feet of INSTA-PANELS have been installed in Poultry Barns. Farmers see the numerous benefits that insulated floors bring to their production.

Benefits of INSTA-PANELS in Poultry Barn Floors:

  • Reduced Heating Costs
  • Payback in less than 1 year
  • Higher bird comfort and lower bird mortality
  • No bird crowding
  • Less ammonia smell
  • 50% less bedding
  • Lower maintenance costs
  • Higher feed conversion

All these add up to higher profitability for poultry farmers. The investment is minimal and benefits are numerous.

Sample Poultry Barn Savings using INSTA-PANELS:

Research has found that producers have noticed a 3 to 5¢ difference between barns with insulated floors and barns without floor insulation. For this example, a 4¢ difference between barns was assumed.

Miscellaneous Costs for Sample Broiler Barn
Non-Insulated Floor Insulated Floor -INSTA-PANELS
Heating 5¢ Heating 3¢
Hydro 3¢ Hydro 2¢
Bedding 2¢ Bedding 1¢
Total = 10¢ Total = 6¢
42,000 kg / flock 42,000 kg / flock
Cost = $ 4,200 / flock Cost = $ 2,520 / flock
$ 24,360 / year $ 14,616 / year
SAVINGS: $9,744 / year

INSTA-PANELS provide a clear & quick payback and put money back in your pocket.

Greenhouse Uses

Benefits of INSTA-PANELS in Greenhouses:

  • Significant Energy Savings from reduced heating costs
  • Plants have increased tolerance to cooler greenhouse ambient temperatures
  • Warmer plant roots = Healthier plant
  • Less water usage
  • Most economical insulation for floors
  • Sample Greenhouse Savings using INSTA-PANELS:
  • Based on the Following Assumptions:
  • Heating season - 160 days
  • Fuel - Natural gas (35,300 BTU/m3)
  • Conventionally heated (hot water piping)
  • For a sample 200 x 200 ft greenhouse (40,000 ft2)
  • Furnace efficiency - 80%
  • Gas price - $ 0.40/m3
  • INSTA-PANELS® - $0.50/ft2

Table 1: Heat Savings From Floor Insulation

Heat Loss Through the Floor (CDN$)
Floor Temperature: 19°C Floor Temperature: 21°C
Uninsulated Floor Floor Insulated with Panels Uninsulated Floor Floor Insulated with Panels
$3,700 $930 $4,600 $1,130
Savings $2,770 $3,470

** For a sample 200 x 200 ft greenhouse (40,000 ft2)

Table 2: Costs and Payback Times for Floor Insulation

Insulation Costs (CDN$)
  Floor Temperature: 19°C Floor Temperature: 21°C
  Under Floor Perimeter Under Floor Perimeter
Materials $5,900 $1,920 $5,900 $1,920
Labour $1,000 $5,000 $1,000 $5,000
Payback 2.5 Seasons 2.5 Seasons 2 Seasons 2 Seasons

** For a sample 200 x 200 ft greenhouse (40,000 ft2)

The shape of a greenhouse also plays a crucial role in heat losses, as is seen in Table 3. The longer a greenhouse is compared to the width, the greater the perimeter area is compared to the floor area. This gives a larger area for heat to escape through the ground, with resulting potential savings from floor insulation.

Table 3: Floor Heat Losses for Different Greenhouse Shapes

Heat Loss Through the Floor (CDN$)
  Floor Temperature: 19°C Floor Temperature: 21°C
Dimensions (ft) Uninsulated Floor Floor Insulated with Panels Savings Uninsulated Floor Floor Insulated with Panels Savings
50x800 $8,450 $2,070 $6,380 $10,200 $2,600 $7,600
100x400 $4,800 $1,180 $3,620 $5,800 $1,400 $4,400
200x200 $3,700 $930 $2,770 $4,600 $1,130 $3,470