Passive House Certified Consultant
BPI Gold Star Certified
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Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation is one of the greenest insulation products available and it's one of the products we prefer to use. It's better for a number of reasons.
Cellulose insulates extremely well.
Cellulose offers more heat transfer resistance than fiberglass insulation.
Cellulose insulation is made from new papers and wood.
Cellulose insulation has very low embodied energy.
Cellulose insulation makes homes safer by slowing the spread of fire.
Cellulose insulation makes efficient use of natural resources.
Cellulose is approved Under All Codes
Blown cellulose can be installed in new or existing structures. It's popular in attic applications because you can blow unrestricted depths of fiber to achieve an R50 or higher insulating values. One of the biggest advantages of using cellulose is its high level of thermal resistance. Because of its density, it has a higher R-rating than fiberglass insulation and outperforms many common insulation products. Its loose nature makes it easier to install into irregular spaces, creating a custom-fit monolithic seal over an entire area.
From both health and environmental perspectives, cellulose is considered a "green" product and its' more ecologically sound than competing products. It doesn't contain formaldehyde and unlike Fiberglass cancer warnings are not required on its labeling. Since there are no glass fibers, as with fiberglass insulation, cellulose does not cause itch.
What is Cellulose Insulation?
Cellulose Insulation is made of 80% post-consumer recycled newsprint. The fiber is chemically treated with non-toxic borate compounds to resist fire, insects, and mold. The Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association (CIMA) claims that insulating a 1500 ft house with cellulose will recycle as much newspaper as an individual will consume in 40 years. If all new homes were insulated with cellulose this would remove 3.2 million tons of newsprint from the nation's waste stream each year.
Low embodied energy
If you are concerned about America's energy independence and the health of our environment you need to understand "embodied energy." Embodied energy is the energy consumed in producing products. Mineral insulation comes from furnaces that use natural gas to melt sand, slag, or rock. Foam plastics are petrochemicals. This means that they are made from oil and chemicals. Cellulose insulation is made by processing recycled news papers and wood fibers through electrically-driven mills that consume relatively little energy when they are operating. They can also be shut down at the end of the shift by flipping a switch. Fiber glass, rock wool, and plastic insulation may have from 50 to over 200 times more embodied energy than cellulose. When you choose these products you will save on the amount of energy you consume, but you will be contributing to increased use of energy by producers. When you install cellulose insulation you not only save energy in your home you also reduce the amount of energy needed to manufacture the product.
For more information on Cellulose Insulation and the services we offer please call us at 201-735-7600.
