Finding Green Ways to Insulate Your Home

As we become more and more environmentally conscious, issues such as your home's energy efficiency and environmental friendliness are also becoming increasingly important. A huge amount of energy is wasted each year as a result of inefficient boilers and heat escaping through the walls, doors and windows due to poor insulation.

Did you know that anywhere from 40 to 70 per cent of heating energy can be lost through the walls and roof of a poorly insulated home or building?

Many people are now aware that the cost of this wasted energy is not only reflected in higher energy bills, but also in a damage done to the environment. A proper home insulation can help greatly reduce your heating and cooling costs, as well as help preserve the environment.

The question that arises next is concerned with the best materials to use? Traditional fiberglass insulation is toxic and it cannot be disposed of in landfills as it can cause breathing problems. The good news is that there are now various green insulation products that you can use to insulate your home responsibly.

Going Green with Blue Jeans

Blue jeans are an essential item in many peoples wardrobes. Now, they can also be a useful alternative for insulation. Eco friendly insulation can be made using scraps from factories that produce denim clothing. The insulation is nearly all post-industrial cotton. It is totally recyclable and treated with a non-poisonous flame retardant.

Denim

The material can be bought in rolls, and you install it in much the same way as conventional fiberglass, using staples or restraint straps</a> to hold it in place as necessary.

Another Great Use for Sheep's Wool

For centuries, people have used wool to stay warm, and it can now be used to insulate your house too. This natural material has an R value that is 15 per cent higher than fiberglass. It is non toxic, reusable and naturally flame retardant. It can be mechanically formed into batts and ropes through a bonding process that combines it with polyester.

Cellulose

The insulation batts are installed just like fiberglass, while the ropes can be used to insulate the areas between the logs of log homes. Sheep's wool insulation is very durable and reduces sound effectively. It does not lose its effectiveness when wet either. Although it is more expensive than fiberglass insulation, wool is more environmentally friendly and comes from a source that is naturally replenishing.

Recycling Offers an Excellent Insulation Option

Many great ideas come from making use of the materials available whether it is reusing furniture for shelving or putting a van vault tube on a truck to carry pipe, creative ideas can occur almost anywhere. This is true of home insulation, where discarded paper and cardboard can be be used to create excellent green solutions.

Cellulose has become a very popular product for insulation. It can either be blown dry or sprayed wet into attics or wall cavities. Cellulose insulation is more expensive than fiberglass, but if installed correctly, it can create huge savings on electricity bills. This form of insulation is fire resistant, offers very good sound reduction and can be used in areas that traditional insulation materials cannot reach. Responsible insulation solutions for the home are a great way of saving money, as well as reducing the use of fossil fuels for heating.

Date Created: 10-Nov-2010
Last Updated: 14-Apr-2014
Permalink: [link]

Directory Index Group 1

Directory Index Group 2