Product Spotlight: Green Insulation Offerings

After reading Obama's take on insulation on our blog last week, we hope you've thought about giving insulation another chance. To help you out, we wanted to tell you about all of the green insulation offerings you can find at your local 'g' showroom. The chart below shows a price comparison of many of the options we're going to look at...

First, we can provide some insight on the forms in which insulation is offered. Most commonly, you can purchase insulation as a roll or "batt", of a thick filler that goes in between the studs of your walls. You could basically imagine placing a down comforter or thick blanket in between your exterior and interior walls. The R-value is code for the insulating factor - the higher the R-value, the more warmth the insulation will provide. In most cases of rolls or batts, the R-value is linked to the thickness of the insulation. Though this type of insulation can be squeezed and compressed a bit to fit into a tight space, your R-value may be limited by the depth of the wall cavity if you are fitting it into an existing building. One additional attraction to batts and rolled insulation is that it's fairly easy for the average homeowner to install. Typically, batts and rolls of insulation are cheaper per square foot than the blown-in options. However, blown in insulation is an attractive insulating option for existing buildings, as you do not need access to the interior of the wall. Many blown in insulation options can also be much more insulating even in a thinner space, so for existing wall cavities that are only a couple of inches thick, you can create a very tight air barrier with a blown in foam insulation.

Hopefully the above information has helped you understand the basics of insulation. Read below for more on the green options offered at 'g'.

Ultratouch. Upon first glance of this insulator, you might recognize a familiar color. Ultratouch, an insulation offered in batts and rolls, is made from recycled blue jean denim. That's right - it's composed of 100% post-consumer recycled denim. That means in addition to being repurposed into an energy-saving material, it's new life has also kept the denim out of landfills. The manufacturing process of Ultratouch also puts the environment at top priority - there are no VOCs or formaldehyde found in Ultratouch (as opposed to traditional insulation), and their manufacturing process is cognizant of conserving energy and resources. Another plus: the fibers are treated (with a non-toxic substance) such that they have superior mold, mildew and pest resistance.

Sheepswool. One of the reasons why wool sweaters and socks are so popular in the winter is that they keep you so warm, right? Well, that's the same reason why sheepswool insulation is gaining so much popularity - it's natural insulating properties do a great job at sealing up your home. And, just as wool socks and thermals are marketed as "moisture wicking", wool insulation helps protect the integrity of your home by pulling the moisture away from the structure. So, what makes it green? Sheepswool is highly renewable resource, it takes much less energy to manufacture than most other options, and also is manufactured in the absence of harsh chemical processes.

EcoBatt. A newer product on the market, EcoBatt looks most similarly to your traditional pink fiberglass...but it's brown. And why is it brown? Well, it's color is explained by it's material origins - it is made from sand (one of the earth's most abundant natural resources), recycled glass bottles, and has no dyes (hence the brown color). And, as the company likes to put it, they "didn't choose brown, it just came naturally." One additional option offered by EcoBatt is that it can be purchased with or without facing. It does have a very similar appearance to it's hazardous pink counterpart, but the glass and sand are refined such that it is not harmful to touch or work with, and again, any homeowner could install this insulation without a contractor.

Biobased. While it's not on our price comparison chart, BioBased is a blown-in foam insulation. It differs from other spray-foam insulations in that it's made with soy products, rather than petrochemical components. It also creates an extremely tight seal, which can lead to more energy savings than other options. BioBased must be installed by certified applicators, which does mean the average homeowner cannot install this themselves.

Cellulose. Another blown-in offering that isn't quite as new to the market is blown-in cellulose. Again, cellulose is a great alternative for enclosed spaces, and is made from recycled materials: newspaper.

Also, don't forget that there are still tax incentives being offered for insulation purchases as well as energy-savings you will immediately see in your energy bills. Call us or stop in to a 'g' showroom for more information and to choose the best option for your home!