Insulate Izyum

Insulate Izyum is a project by Insulate Ukraine that aims to design emergency home built solutions to replace damaged windows due to the socio-political situation in the country. Double or triple-glazed cellophane windows can be designed within ten minutes to be used as a temporary emergency solution to low temperatures in Ukraine.

Background

In winter, average temperatures in Ukraine drop to -8 degrees Celsius. This represents a problem for the Ukrainian population, as there are currently an estimated 50,000 shattered windows in homes around the country. People are freezing, and current solutions fall short in several respects because they do not insulate well, do not let light through, can be difficult to install, among other things.

To address this situation, Insulate Ukraine has created the Insulate Izyum project, which consists of the creation of a double and triple cellophane window.

What are the benefits of this solution?

The benefits of making a triple-glazed cellophane window are:

• Insulates like double glazing.
• Costs £3 per window.
• Lets light through.
• Can be built in 10 minutes.
• Transport 2,000 windows per truck.

Materials

• PVC piping
• 4 layers of cellophane sheet
• Connectors
• Insulating noodle
• Tape

How to build a double cellophane window

1

Design a frame

To build the frame you will use pvc pipes that are meant to be joined through the connectors.

2

Place the insulating noodles around the pvc pipes

Once the frame is built, the insulating noodles are placed around the pvc pipes. If this material is not available, it can be replaced with newsprint pages, bubble wraps or any other component that is soft at the edges.

3

Wrap it with cellophane

Place the frame on top of the layers of cellophane, tape the polymer on one side of the frame, and start wrapping until the 2 layers of cellophane cover everything. When finished, tape the remaining sides.

How to build a triple cellophane window

1

Design a frame

To build the frame you will use pvc pipes that are meant to be joined through the connectors.

2

Tape the cellophane to the frame

For this design, tape the cellophane directly to one of the PVC tubes.

3

Place the insulating noodles on the frame and wrap

Once the cellophane is adhered to the pvc tube, the insulating noodle will be placed around it, then the frame will be wrapped a first time and another insulating noodle will be placed on the opposite side to the initial one. Subsequently, the frame will be wrapped two more times until the cellophane runs out. Finally, use the adhesive tape to wrap the excess polymer, if it turns out to be too much, it can be cut.

To see more about the instructions

Check out the Youtube video.

Gallery

Plan to Insulate Izyum

Plan is to insulate 15,000 windows at £10 per window. This project relies on donation of PVC, Cellophane and Insulating Noodle. Otherwise, the cost is around £10-20.

How can you help?

Insulate Ukraine needs:

• Contacts to PVC pipe manufacturers - 20-30mm PVC pipes.
• Contacts to Polyethylene wrap manufacturers - 150 micron polyethylene.
• Contacts to Insulating Noodle manufacturers - 15-30mm wall thickness.
• To raise £150,000 to Insulate Izyum.

How to donate

Here's the link to the crowdfunder:

https://donorbox.org/insulate-ukraine

Contact details

• Charity Name: The Big Hoof
• Charity number: SCO51797