K I have to write a report on housing insulation. I'm trying to find out when people first starting using it. Any ideas?

I couldn't find anything online. But the earliest people who lived in caves had the best insulation. Other people have built homes of mud brick, bales of straw, etc. that provided good insulation long before modern insulation.

Also, houses made of sod.

http://www.google.com/search?q=sod+houses&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rlz=1R1GGGL_en___US321&client=firefox-a

Mud bricks are also called adobe and are still used in portions of the US Southwest, especially New Mexico.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rlz=1R1GGGL_en___US321&hs=asG&q=adobe+houses&btnG=Search

To find out when people first started using housing insulation, you can follow these steps:

1. Start by conducting a preliminary search on general historical context or technological advancements related to insulation. This will help you gain a broader understanding of the topic.

2. Visit your local library or use online academic databases, such as JSTOR or Google Scholar, to search for scholarly articles or research papers on the history of housing insulation. These sources often provide detailed information and references to help you trace the origins of insulation use.

3. Utilize reputable websites specializing in construction, architecture, or home improvement to find articles or blog posts that discuss the history of housing insulation. Look for sources that provide references or cite historical events, advancements, or product launches related to insulation.

4. Explore historical documents, such as books, journals, or architectural plans, which might mention the use of insulation in different time periods or specific buildings. Libraries, historical societies, or architectural archives can be valuable sources for such materials.

5. Contact experts in the field, such as professors specializing in architecture, construction, or historical preservation. They may have knowledge or resources that can help you track down information regarding the first use of housing insulation.

Remember, the precise origin of housing insulation may be challenging to pinpoint, as different materials and techniques have been used throughout history. The goal is to gather enough evidence to establish a reasonable timeline and an understanding of how insulation has developed and evolved over time.