Insulation

When was the last time you thought about what was behind the walls, ceilings, and floors of your home? It's probably been a while. For most, insulation is out of sight and out of mind. We assume it serves its function, though few have a full understanding of what that is or question how effectively their insulation actually performs. Ideally, insulation should improve a home's energy efficiency, indoor air quality and overall comfort. Most buildings in the United States are currently insulated with fiberglass. The effectiveness of fiberglass is often compromised by settlement over time and leaks left by hasty or improper installation. Furthermore, fiberglass insulation has traditionally contained formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen. Fortunately, today there are healthier alternatives that are formaldehyde free.

Insulation is often felt but seldom seen. Hidden inside your walls is your home's main defense against the outside world. Proper insulation will save on your energy bill while making your home more quiet and comfortable; by blocking the entry of unwanted air, insulation can make your home healthier. Insufficient insulation will make your home drafty, cold, potentially louder, and certainly more expensive to operate. Green building allows us to look at the whole house as a system, and to see how individual components affect the overall performance. Insulation will have an impact on many other things. If there is sufficient insulation, a home may be able to use a smaller furnace. Since furnaces are vastly more expensive than insulation, properly insulating your home can actually save you money. This is an example of how whole systems design can achieve benefits that would not be seen in non-green “value engineering.” Traditional cost/benefit analysis would have rejected the extra expense on insulation immediately, and therefore actually cost more.

Why is it important to insulate a building?

Proper wall and ceiling insulation keeps the temperature inside your home from changing quickly, which improves comfort and decreases heating and cooling costs. Using formaldehyde free products reduces indoor air problems and does not produce toxic by-products during manufacture. Sound dampening will keep street noises on the street so that you can relax in the warmth. Since you'll be using less energy, you'll reduce your home's carbon footprint.

Insulation Options

Batts: Fiberglass batts are what most people think of when they picture insulation. Batts can be made from environmentally friendly and healthy materials. A batt is essentially a rectangle that is cut into shape and fitted between the framing lumber inside a wall. It can be very effective but requires proper installation, if the insulation does not touch all six sides on the inside of the wall, its R-Value can be cut almost in half.

Cellulose: Composed primarily of shredded newspaper and fire retarding chemicals, cellulose insulation can be used as a loose fill or a wet spray. The wet spray is generally more effective as it sticks to surfaces, filling in cracks and uneven surfaces. Loose fill often settles to a point that the stud bay is not completely filled, causing an air leak. Cellulose insulation can contain 75-85% recycled paper.

Spray Foams: Spray foams come in low density open cell foam and high density closed cell foam. Spray foam expands as it dries and fills every crack, effectively sealing off the entire space. Spray foam is one of the most costly options, it is also one of the most effective.

Cotton Insulation: Natural cotton fiber insulation is made of waste fiber from denim manufactures. The waste cotton from your next pair of jeans might just end up in your walls. This insulation is environmentally friendly and better for indoor air quality. Cotton fiber insulation does not require special clothing to install, is non-toxic, and puts fewer harmful fibers in the air. It does not contain formaldehyde, does not off-gas harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and the added borates make it fire, pest, and mold resistant. Cotton fiber insulation can come in batts or be blown-in.