As temperatures continue to rise and electricity costs follow suit, companies and homeowners are keen on finding ways to cut costs while improving their energy efficiency.

That's whereIsolcork comes in. This top-of-the-line, multi-purpose, cork-based finish is sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, insulating, and durable, both for maintenance and new construction projects.

And the best part is that it's applied to the exterior only, meaning there's no need to pause or rearrange what's happening inside — whether that's manufacturing or everyday life — while the building's envelope is improved.

Isolcork has specialized in sustainable cork for the construction, operational, and maintenance industry since 2010, and is now available for residential use as well. Its products have been commercialized in 14 countries in both Europe and Latin America and used on more than 10,000 projects worldwide, including 25-plus in Arizona and Texas. All Isolcork lab tests have been conducted in U.S. labs under ASTM.

There are two options:

• Spray cork: A blend of premium granulated cork particles combined with high-grade water-based resins, mineral fillers, stabilizers, and additives. (This video demonstration goes into more detail.)
• Rubber top: Sprayable waterproofing membrane with rubber and nanoparticles for corrosion protection.

“We have a high standard of quality control for our products, and we manufacture a premium coating solution," says Isolcork manufacturer Pablo Palma. "We buy the best cork from the best producer of cork in the world, which is in the country of Portugal, and we use a unique grain size that we process manually in our manufacturing facility. I can certainly say that making spray cork is like being a master chef with a Michelin-starred restaurant. We are proud of our product, and we will keep it that way for our clients.”

American commercial buildings, especially warehouses, manufacturing, and healthcare facilities, that add Isolcork and meet certain government requirements can also qualify for a tax deduction of up to $5 per square foot, according to Section 179D.

Isolcork maintains a trusted partnership with a specialized tax firm that can build and certify the energy models for commercial buildings under Section 179D tax deduction incentives.

The global green construction is estimated to reach $774 billion by 2030, with a significant compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.8 percent from 2022 to 2032.Texas is the second-largest market in the U.S. for these type of products.

“Our success is due to three worldwide trends in the construction industry," says Isolcork's Mario Palma. "First, environmental entities are looking for natural component materials due to environmental requirements. Second, younger generations who care more about the environment are getting into decision-making positions across industries and they prefer natural products. Third, building owners, no matter what view they have, are looking to save energy and money due to the energy cost increase. Our products are 100 percent aligned with these worldwide trends.”

Companies around the world have been discovering the benefits of Isolcork — one recent example is a large manufacturing facility in Dallas. The estimated energy cost savings in heating and cooling will be between 15 and 20 percent for a standard product solution, plus the estimated tax deduction according to estimation could be equivalent to 70 percent of the total cost of the envelope improvement work.

Isolcork has proven so successful that it even holds the honor of being the first Latin American startup to be part of the Center for Innovation Program at the University of Arizona.

“With the estimated North America demand for Isolcork products being so large, the company is looking for locations and financial support of $10 million to build two manufacturing facilities in Texas and Arizona," says Isolcork USA & Canada country manager Emilio R. Armstrong.

Whether you're looking to invest in Isolcork or simply add it to your structure, the benefits of the sustainable product are immense. Learn more about Isolcork here.