When purchasing an insulation material, you are able to choose it from a number of producers in the market. However, you will find key elements that you ought to put in consideration for example stability and performance of the application. The power saved from a correctly ventilated envelope is a lot more when compared to the impact on the environment during the manufacture of the insulation material. When evaluating two materials, you should think about the impact of each product on the environment.
Cellulose insulation is produced mainly from recycled paper. It is made from the waste materials and energy that is produced in the manufacture of mineral wool insulation and fiberglass. You can reuse scrap cellulose produced as a byproduct during installation to reduce waste. Cellulose insulation does not have any significant impact on the air quality in the building. It is blown into ceiling, wall cavities and attic surfaces.
Cotton insulation, as the name suggests, is made primarily from cotton, with a little boron to prevent fire as well as some polyester. Most of the cotton used in insulation is recycled from scrap generated in the manufacture of denim. The insulation does not have any formaldehyde, and cannot cause skin or respiratory problems from its fibers. You can use cotton batts in the same function as mineral wool batts or fiberglass, rolled out between ceiling joists, open roof rafters or wall studs.
Fiberglass on the other hand, is made of recycled glass and silica sand, which are abundant resources. Its manufacture requires assembling the materials to melt in a fossil fuel, which uses a lot of energy and produces a significant amount of air pollution as compared to other types of insulation. It is hard to inhale the fibers if you install them properly, which can irritate the skin, eye and throat.
The other type, which may have a greater environment impact than these is foam insulations due to its extraction, processing and transport of recyclables like oil and gas. They however have significant benefits that may override these difficulties for example greater R-values for any certain thickness plus they air seal surfaces better. Additionally, they use less due to their sturdiness and R-values.
A more environmentally preferable form of foam insulation is Polyisocyanurate. It is made of polysio, a rigid foam board, and covered with a layer of foil at the back as a radiant or vapor barrier, which can be used in almost all areas of your home. It is preferred more than polyurethane and polystyrene foam insulation because it has more than nine percent of recycled content, and flame retardants, as well as a high R- value.
Two kinds of polystyrene exist; beadboard, and blueboard. There is no minimum content for recycling polystyrene; thus, its materials might have some recycled content because of the recycling from the polystyrene itself. You will find brominated flame retardants in polystyrene that raise serious environment and health issues because some compounds are bioaccumulative.
Mineral wool is manufactured from strands of minerals. It is required by the EPA for it to have more than seventy percent of recycled content by weight. Though more costly than fiberglass and cellulose, it is more moisture-resistant and durable.
Cellulose insulation is produced mainly from recycled paper. It is made from the waste materials and energy that is produced in the manufacture of mineral wool insulation and fiberglass. You can reuse scrap cellulose produced as a byproduct during installation to reduce waste. Cellulose insulation does not have any significant impact on the air quality in the building. It is blown into ceiling, wall cavities and attic surfaces.
Cotton insulation, as the name suggests, is made primarily from cotton, with a little boron to prevent fire as well as some polyester. Most of the cotton used in insulation is recycled from scrap generated in the manufacture of denim. The insulation does not have any formaldehyde, and cannot cause skin or respiratory problems from its fibers. You can use cotton batts in the same function as mineral wool batts or fiberglass, rolled out between ceiling joists, open roof rafters or wall studs.
Fiberglass on the other hand, is made of recycled glass and silica sand, which are abundant resources. Its manufacture requires assembling the materials to melt in a fossil fuel, which uses a lot of energy and produces a significant amount of air pollution as compared to other types of insulation. It is hard to inhale the fibers if you install them properly, which can irritate the skin, eye and throat.
The other type, which may have a greater environment impact than these is foam insulations due to its extraction, processing and transport of recyclables like oil and gas. They however have significant benefits that may override these difficulties for example greater R-values for any certain thickness plus they air seal surfaces better. Additionally, they use less due to their sturdiness and R-values.
A more environmentally preferable form of foam insulation is Polyisocyanurate. It is made of polysio, a rigid foam board, and covered with a layer of foil at the back as a radiant or vapor barrier, which can be used in almost all areas of your home. It is preferred more than polyurethane and polystyrene foam insulation because it has more than nine percent of recycled content, and flame retardants, as well as a high R- value.
Two kinds of polystyrene exist; beadboard, and blueboard. There is no minimum content for recycling polystyrene; thus, its materials might have some recycled content because of the recycling from the polystyrene itself. You will find brominated flame retardants in polystyrene that raise serious environment and health issues because some compounds are bioaccumulative.
Mineral wool is manufactured from strands of minerals. It is required by the EPA for it to have more than seventy percent of recycled content by weight. Though more costly than fiberglass and cellulose, it is more moisture-resistant and durable.
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