While people may debate the question of global warming, it is just common sense to use products that have the minimum impact on the environment.
Insulation, by its very nature, is environmentally friendly by decreasing the amount of energy used to heat and cool a building. But don’t be fooled into thinking all insulating materials are equal. There is plenty of “green-washing” that takes place to make products look more beneficial to the environment than they really are.
Cellulose Insulation is one of the greenest products in the world.
Made from a renewable natural resource which diverts waste from landfills, Cellulose insulation not only limits greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing, but also prevents waste paper from releasing environmentally harmful gases as it decomposes.
If all the paper currently being put into landfills was converted to Cellulose insulation, it would save approximately 7,030,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year. That is the equivalent of taking all the cars off the road in New Mexico and Nevada each and every year. 1(Sources: National Auto Dealers Association; Paper Industry Assoc.
Green Facts
Cellulose takes less energy to make than any other insulation material. This is often referred to as “Embodied Energy” and calculates the total energy required to transport raw materials, manufacture and distribute the product. Fiberglass has up to 10 times more embodied energy than cellulose and foam products have even more.1
Cellulose has the highest level of post-consumer recycled content in the industry - up to 85% recycled newspaper. Paper is the largest component of landfills and producing Cellulose insulation diverts waste from the landfills thus saving valuable space. Fiberglass has a maximum of 40% recycled content and foam products 0%.
Cellulose insulation prevents the release of greenhouse gases (methane) as newspapers decompose in landfills.
Cellulose insulation can be locally produced. Using local recycling programs and independent recyclers and servicing communities close to home brings new meaning to the old slogan “Think Globally, Act Locally.”
Table of Environmental Facts for major types of insulation materials
The table below is a summary of information taken from the January 1, 2005 Environmental Building News and highlights some of the key environmental impacts of selected insulation types.
Please note that there is no “generic” R-value for the different type of insulations. Each manufacturer has different R-values so check the label on the packaging for specific R-values. We have included a range of R-values to provide you with the relative of comparison of the various insulation R-values.
High energy use during manufacture; global warming potential from HFC blowing agent
Quite toxic during installation (respirators or supplied air required); allow several days of airing out prior to occupancy
Very High embodied Energy
Open-celled, low-density polyurethane foam (Soy)
Spray-in cavity-fill
3.6-3.8 (25-27)
Fossil Fuels and soybeans; water as blowing agent; non-brominated flame retardant
High energy use during manufacture
Quite toxic during installation (respirators or supplied air required); allow several days of airing out prior to occupancy
Very High embodied energy
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