Green Insulation

Insulating Your Home With Green Materials

Insulating your home is an easy way to cut down on energy usage, protect the environment, and create a more comfortable living space. Using green materials to insulate a home promotes sustainability for the planet, while protecting your living space from the elements.

There are many forms of green insulation which each have their various pros, cons and benefits for the environment. Learn about different varieties of green insulation and choose what is best for you!

Sheep’s Wool Insulation: Sheep’s wool is a naturally fire resistant form of insulation and is considered green as it is sustainably harvested from animals. Pockets of air are created by the concentrated wool threads, creating breathable moisture absorbent insulation which is then combined with borate for pest resistance. Sheep’s wool has an R-Value of R-3.0 to R-4.0 per inch.

Cellulose Insulation: This type of green insulation is composed of recycled paper and news print, which if not used for insulation, could have been put into a landfill. Installing cellulose insulation decreases toxins in your home, reduces landfill waste, and is easy to install. Cellulose insulation comes as a loose fill, which can be blown into open attic floors and small holes in existing walls. Cellulose insulation is mixed with boric acid which is used as a pest repellant and fire retardant. It also has an R-Value of about R-3.5 per inch.

Denim Insulation: Scraps of fabric left over during the production of cotton denim jeans are combined with the pest repellant and fire retardant borate, which creates denim insulation. The denim is then rolled into batts for installation. Denim insulation is considered green because the cotton plant it comes from is sustainable, renewable, and natural. Also, by using scraps of denim jeans for insulation, landfill waste is reduced. Denim insulation has an R-Value of approximately R-3.4 per inch.

Icynene Insulation: Created sustainably from castor oil, Icynene is a green variety of spray foam insulation, which expands to 100 times it’s volume. Icynene naturally provides a sound barrier, while efficiently sealing drafts and air leaks. Spraying Icynene foam creates miniscule air bubbles which remain when the foam is solidified, allowing room for water vapor to evaporate and preventing mold. The insulating properties of Icynene are so effective that a ventilation system must also be installed. While this form of green insulation may have higher cost upfront, Icynene insulation lowers energy consumption up to 50% and has an R-Value of R-3.6 per inch.

With many green options to choose from, insulating your home and protecting the environment has never been easier. Call Rockford Insulation Pros today for a free estimate!

References:

β€œEco-Friendly Insulation.” Hinkle Insulation & Drywall, 26 July 2021, https://www.hinkleinsulation.com/eco-friendly-insulation/.

β€œThe Complete Guide to Eco-Friendly Insulation.” Elemental Green, 19 Apr. 2020, https://elemental.green/the-complete-guide-to-eco-friendly-insulation/.

Perritano, John. β€œTop 5 Green Insulation Options.” HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 15 Feb. 2011, https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/construction/green/5-green-insulation-options.htm.