The Best Insulation for Your Home
New insulation options are less toxic and more energy-efficient.
November/December 2006
By Susan Lahey
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UltraTouch insulation, made from recycled natural cotton/denim fibers, doesn’t itch and can be installed without protective clothing.
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Installing insulation is one of the most environmentally friendly things a homeowner can do. About 65 percent of U.S. houses are poorly insulated, a 2005 Harvard study estimates. Fortunately, you can cut heating and cooling bills by about 30 percent with proper insulation.
These days, insulation is made with everything from newspaper and sheep's wool to cotton and chemical foams. Many are far more "green" than their predecessors-including formaldehyde-free and recycled-content insulation. Even fiberglass, that old standard, has improved environmentally.
When choosing insulation, most homeowners contemplate R-value, which measures resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation material is at reducing energy consumption. Another important consideration should be where the insulation will go. The attic is the easiest place to insulate and the most important in terms of saving money and energy. Sealing large air leaks is next, followed by insulating the basement.
A federal energy tax credit can help homeowners recoup their insulation investment if they complete the improvements by the end of 2007. A tax credit is actually a dollar-for-dollar reduction in taxes equal to 10 percent of the cost of insulation (up to $500). For more information see www.SimplyInsulate.com.
Fiberglass: The pink stuff
The most common type of insulation, fiberglass is made with glass fibers that can break off and be inhaled, causing lung damage, especially to professional installers. Most of it contains phenol-formaldehyde, a substance the Environmental Protection Agency has pegged as a probable human carcinogen. Fortunately, manufacturers have developed ways to eliminate formaldehyde-used as a binder-and to create fiberglass insulation from 30 to 40 percent post-consumer recycled-glass content.
Foam: Tiny bubbles
Spray foam insulation is an effective insulator with an R-value that ranges from about 3.2 to 7 per inch. It starts as a liquid that's sprayed or poured into a wall cavity and then expands to fill every nook and cranny. Some foams can be blown only into new walls; others are appropriate for retrofitting. It must be installed by professionals.
Foam insulation stops air leaks and can be used where other insulations can't, such as in foundations. However, the presence of polyurethane, a plastic, means spray foam insulation isn't all natural. Another problem has been that ozone-damaging chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were used historically as blowing and foaming agents.
A new, greener generation of vegetable-based spray foams uses small amounts of oils from soy, sugarcane, corn fructose and other botanical sources, plus a minimum of 5 percent recycled content. Vegetable-based foams are blown with water, carbon dioxide or hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which don't damage the ozone layer.
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