Green Insulation

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Double Your Impact: Use Green Materials To Boost Your Energy Efficiency
To be honest, even traditional pink fiberglass insulation makes your home more energy efficient: it prevents heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer. But that type of insulation also leaves many unprotected gaps, particularly in more inaccessible places in your property like attics, crawlspaces, and basements. Not only that, but its commonly treated with a variety of chemicals. There are several companies who are now offering spray insulation to better cover these small gaps and cracks as well as insulation composed of recycled materials without harmful toxins and chemicals that can then off-gas into your property. They include:

	Recycled Paper or Cellulose Insulation Most cellulose insulation contains about 85% recycled newsprint with a minimum of 80% post-consumer paper. Fire- and mold-retardant chemicals make up the remaining 15%. And since it only takes about 750 BTUs per pound to create cellulose (as opposed to 6,000-15,000 BTUs per pound to make fiberglass insulation) this is truly one of the greenest choices around for insulation. Add to the fact that this type of insulation can reduce your heating and cooling bills by 15-20% in your annual heating and cooling bills and you’ve got a great way to make your property even more energy efficient. Here are some popular brands of recycled paper insulation: – U.S. GreenFiber’s Cocoon Cocoon, a natural fiber insulation composed of 85% percent recycled newsprint and around 15% percent ammonium sulfate and borate flame-retardants, improves indoor air quality because it doesn’t use formaldehyde in its binder. – Warmcel Recycled Paper Insulation Warmcel, a cellulose insulation derived from 100% recycled newsprint, doesn’t have any formaldehyde, chlorofluorocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other toxic substances. – Procell Procell’s 100% recycled newspaper insulation is treated with adhesives, fire resistant chemicals, and chemicals to repel mice and insects while also preventing mold, mildew and fungi.
	Cotton Fiber Insulation Composed of 85% recycled cotton, cotton fiber insulation is usually treated to be fire- and mold-resistant, but since there’s really no off-gassing this type of insulation doesn’t pollute indoor air quality. – UltraTouch Natural Fiber UltraTouch Natural Fiber Insulation from Bonded Logic contains 85% post-industrial recycled natural fibers like scraps from denim jeans factories. Cotton fibers, which are a sustainable resource, are treated with a boron-based fire retardant. This fire retardant also prevents fungus and mold growth while repelling rodents and insects. Bonded Logic’s product is free of VOCs and formaldehyde, so it doesn’t contribute to poor indoor air quality. As an added benefit, UltraTouch’s 3-D structure captures and controls sound waves to reduce noise pollution.
	Spray Polyurethane Foam A popular insulation choice for green builders is low-density spray polyurethane foam insulation. Its easy to install and doesn’t have any off-gassing, and even though it can cost a little more than other types of insulation, spray foam can actually save property owners up to 35% per year on energy bills. Most of these spray foams need to be installed by professional contractors. – Icynene Foam Icynene, a water-blown policynene foam insulation, adheres to your home’s structure, which mean there are no air gaps. The tight seal prevents pollutants, mold and mildew spores from entering the property and heat and air-conditioning from escaping. Plus, Icynene contains no VOCs or foam or formaldehyde. – BioBased Insulation BioBased Insulation is a water-blown foam derived from soybean oil-based polyurethane. This insulation seals your property’s thermal envelope to make it more energy efficient while also blocking mold and mildew, controlling moisture, and repelling rodents and insects. – Heatlok-Soya This polyurethane foam insulation is composed of 40% recycled plastic and soya oil. Heatlok-Soya creates a thermal envelope that seals your property from pollution and moisture while keeping heat and air-conditioned air from escaping.
	Formaldehyde-free & Recycled Fiberglass Manufacturers of traditional fiberglass insulation are starting to get the hint that property owners don’t really want products laden with dangerous chemicals in their home. To that end, they’re starting to offer insulation products with recycled content with low emissions, no formaldehyde or other pollutants. These types of insulation may not be the greenest choice out there, but they’re certainly a step above the traditional pink products of the past. – Johns Manville’s EasyFit EasyFit’s glass fibers use 20% recycled glass bonded with an acrylic formaldehyde-free binder.