Go Green: Home Insulation
Would you like to go green and have home insulation that won’t kill your lungs, your wallet or the environment?
You probably know that insulating your home properly will help you save on electricity/gas bills. It is a sure way to keep energy bills down in the winter and be kinder to the environment. And,
In the winter proper insulation reduces heat loss; in summer heat gain. Less energy is expended in warming or cooling a living or working space.
If you spend 1000 dollars on insulation that will last, lets say, 10 years (just to make the math easy) and you save 200 bucks a year on heating and cooling costs you can see that in the end you save 1000 dollars.
Would you spend a dollar to get two?
You must also consider the fact that the money you spend on insulating your home will also raise the value of your home if you wish to sell it at some future point.
There is also the future cost of energy to think about, if you spend X amount of dollars a month heating and cooling your home, in 5 years from now its a good bet you will be spending X+(a lot) more on those costs.
What insulation options are available?
There are all sorts of insulating materials, and their green credentials vary.
The most common – pink fiberglass batts – are not the worst from the environmental perspective. But they aren’t the best, either. Fiberglass itself is Ok, but the glues and backing materials that provide structure to the batts can release fume.
And there is some concern that minute particles of fiberglass can filter into living spaces, presenting a health risk.
I was wary of using fiberglass insulation because of its notorious itch inducing particles that will irritate not just your skin, but your lungs as well!
If the particles ever become loose and get into your ventilation system, this can mean big trouble for your internal organs and cancer fighting immune system.
Rigid polystyrene panels,that are popular too, are made from petrochemicals. They are flammable and emit toxic fumes when burned.
There are several “ go green” options of home insulation that you might consider: Cellulose, recycled denim, sheep’s wool, mineral wool, cementitious foam, hemp insulation, as well as radiant barriers.
The first is blow in cellulose insulation ( recycled newspaper). This is just what you think it is, chopped up newspaper with an anti-insect and anti-fire agent added (both non-toxic).
You just blow it in where you need the insulation. Cellulose is readily available, reasonably priced and relatively easy to install.
It’s made from 80% recycled newspaper, and the chemicals that hold it together do not use formaldehyde.
“It was one of the first of the green insulation materials, and it’s still highly popular,” says Kris Knutson, a program associate with Build It Green, a Berkeley group that promotes sustainable construction methods.
“We like it because it is sourced almost completely from recycled materials, mainly paper and cardboard. It can also be made locally for nearby markets, meaning it can have a comparatively small carbon footprint.”
You can’t be wrong if you go green with this home insulation.
Want to know more about home insulation?
Post a question or a comment below, please.
Yours truly for going green with home insulation,
Michelle, green living advocate
September 25 2009 06:26 pm | Green Living