Home > Blogs > Ashley Berg > Ashley 's Blog

Think Pink? NO, Think Green! Healthier and Greener Insulation Choices.

By Ashley Berg

Real Estate Agent with Realty Executives BRIO

October 09, 2008 12:13 PM

We are all familiar with the pink fiberglass insulation but for the most part conventional insulation materials are synthetically produced and contain non-renewable, toxic, and often non-recyclable materials. Consumers are bombarded on a daily basis as to what is healthy and what is not. With the death of asbestos insulation and the once banned urea formaldehyde-based insulation, the focus has now turned to fiberglass. I am not an insulation connoisseur, so I am not going to go into great detail about what I believe is the best choice, but rather give you some options of what people are classifying as greener and healthier options:

Straw Bale-straw is a renewable resource that acts as an excellent insulation and has exceptional fire resistance due to the lack of air circulation that penetrates the bales.

Recycled Denim-made with post-industrial recycled denim, it saves waste from our landfills, made from cotton fibers, it is a rapidly renewable resource, holds more heat and absorbs sound, no formaldehyde or other VOC's (volatile organic compounds). Look at Bonded Logic's website to learn more.

Recycled Paper- a cellulose insulation derived from 100% recycled newsprint, doesn't have any formaldehyde, chlorofluorocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other toxic substances. It's a great alternative to blown fiberglass or bat insulation. It can be layered into walls being built, or blown into attic spaces and already sheetrocked walls for extra protection from the cold.

Sheep Wool-a highly effective insulation that is made from natural, sustainable, renewable and recyclable material, thermally and acoustically insulating and flame resistant.

Water Blown Soy-Based Polyurethane- It's easy to install and doesn't have any off-gassing, and even though it can cost a little more than other types of insulation, spray foam can actually save property owners up to 35% per year on energy bills This insulation seals your property's thermal envelope to make it more energy efficient while also blocking mold and mildew, controlling moisture, and repelling rodents and insects.

While there are many choices out there when it comes to finding a green and healthy choice of insulation, overall, look for insulation products with recycled or recyclable content, low emissions, no formaldehyde or other pollutants, and preferably made with rapidly renewable and natural resources.

Interested in touring some of Seattle's Green Homes? Contact me at aberg@briorealty.com or visit my website Live Green NW...connecting you with like-minded, healthy, sustainable, eco-friendly products, services, and HOMES.

Re-Blog

Comments(12)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Mike Hogan

The Hogan Group at Keller Williams Realty - Mechanicsville, VA

MBA

Ashley- any clue how all of these compare cost wise to the traditional pink stuff? I really like the denim and the water blown soy based stuff. We're actually considering the water blown stuff to insulate a nonvented crawlspace on a circa 1890 brick house. Id love to know how all of these compare price wise.

Oct 09, 2008 02:57 PM

Suzanne Champion

N.J. Realty - Westerville Ohio - Columbus, OH

I saw a sample of the newspaper-based stuff at a builder's model the other day. Looked like a neat product, I'm going to take a closer look at that.

Oct 10, 2008 01:12 AM

Mary Strang

Viroqua, WI

There really are a lot of choices now which are healthier to live with too.

Oct 10, 2008 01:30 AM

Anonymous

Duncan Boan

Ashley - I'm wondering whether construction/mortgage financing would be reasonably available at the moment for straw bale? All in all, I think the other choices are more realistic. In particular, the sealing qualities of Water Blown Soy-Based Polyurethane insulation is very attractive, but it's equally important to ensure adequate ventilation is engineered into the building to keep moisture and its attendant problems under control.

Oct 10, 2008 01:54 AM

ama hender

Lone Tree, CO

I need to insulate my garage so I will investigate further before I do!

Oct 11, 2008 03:45 AM

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers - Jackson, CA

REALTOR, EcoBroker, GREEN Desingnee

From a number of lenders and insurance folks that I have talked to, non-load baring straw bale houses are "wood framed, cellulose insulated, stucco buildings." no problem. Now, the appraiser needs to be talked to about living space, but that is a different thing.

Oct 11, 2008 11:22 AM

Ashley Berg

Realty Executives BRIO - Seattle, WA

Seattlenulls Green Real Estate Agent

Mike: Not sure about the price comparisons, I will have to look into that.

Duncan: Financing can be tricky with straw bale construction since it tends to be unconventional and finding comparables can be a challenge, but as Michael said, if we reframe the terms as "wood framed, cellulose insulated, stucco buildings," lenders don't tend to get so freaked out. Often times, lenders don't allow what they don't understand, so putting it in other terms can sometimes alleviate what could be a red flag to them.

Michael: Thanks for pointing out the language that can be used with lenders, it can make a difference, since people often have a hard time thinking outside of the box.

Oct 13, 2008 06:15 AM

Antonio M. Cardenas Broker Associate

RE eBroker Group - San Leandro, CA. - San Leandro, CA

"The Realtors In Motion"

Very informative post Ashley, the information is what I am looking for to do some calendars for next year about green houses, so your information is very helpfull. I appreciate that, thank you. Antonio

Oct 14, 2008 05:20 PM

Betina Foreman

WJK Realty - Austin, TX

Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY

I have only seen a few of these in real life, but I love the idea! Straw bale homes are often covered with stucco or concrete for more stability.That also prevents livestock from eating your home! LOL It seems unconventional but well worth the effort!

Betina

Oct 16, 2008 07:25 AM

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers - Jackson, CA

REALTOR, EcoBroker, GREEN Desingnee

Betina, You crack me up, but actually there is very little in the way of food in Straw, Animals will eat hey, which has some stalks but is mostly leaves and the grain part of grain plants, Straw on the other hand is almost completely the dry stalks of grain plants.

These days more and more S.B.B.'s are being plastered with local "earth plasters" and lime finish coats, due to the nice way that water vapor (water being the biggest threat to S.B.B.'s) travels through the plaster, cement is not as good in this regard. Also Portland cement is not that earth friendly. The process of making it releases lots of CO2 and uses lots of energy. Once a straw bale wall is plastered it becomes a stunningly tough shear wall.

Ain't no wolf gonna blow these down!

If you want to learn about this wonderful building technique, the people that live in these great houses are almost always willing to talk to you about them. go say "hi" and ask them about their home. You will learn a lot!

Also check out CASBA

Oct 16, 2008 08:01 AM

Timothy Butterworth

Taking a break - Portland, OR

I need to look into thsese more, some sound very interesting but I wonder what the cost would come too.

Dec 05, 2008 02:59 AM

Anonymous

Darron Haralson

Ashley,

I have to point out that as a foam contractor, you have been misled to believe that water born soy-based poly is more "green" than traditional poly foams. Let me explain; two drums of material, the A-side is all the same from product to product without fail. The other side is the resin material. Of this only 20% +/- can be vegetable based. There are also several requirements in building codes that are not met or overlooked by contractors because the manufacturers have not yet met the requirements for a prescriptive thermal barrier in attics or crawlspaces.

Here in Middle Tennessee, a contractor was involved in an incident that caused a home to be burned to the ground during an attic being sealed. Unfortunately, they did not have proper ventilation, fire watch was not in place with an approved fire extinguisher, nor had they contacted the local codes office to confirm the local requirements to seal off the attic. The product was a soy-based foam.

It is true that this can happen whether or not the foam is water born soy or petroleum based. The point is, make sure the contractor knows what is required by checking with the local codes office first. In regards to the cellulose; long term settling can leave hollow spots at the top of the wall cavities or where pipes and wires cross through cavities. For a retrofit, this is not the best option.

I also provide foam insulation for existing homes by injecting aminoplast foam insulation into the exterior walls. This is a process that has been used in Europe for decades and is perfectly safe if it is installed correctly. It does contain formaldehyde on one side of the mix. This is a low ph, acidic foaming agent that is mixed with a high ph resin that mixes to a ph neutral foam that has the ability to provide an improved thermal envelope with greater sound deadening qualities. This also requires a contractor that has more on the ball than to just point and spray. It is lower per square foot than to tear out the drywall or plaster and lathe and install other types of insulation. The cost recovery time is usually 3-5 years.

In new construction, foam insulation can cost from 2.5-3 times the cost of fiberglass, depending on where and how it is installed. Foam does not have a nutritional value for insects or rodents, but that will not prevent them from tunneling through it if they choose to. If a foam contractor says that their product repels insects or rodents ask to see their license as an exterminator. This will also require that the material be marked as a hazardous product.

Dec 14, 2009 10:59 PM

#12