Insulating your green home might be the most paramount thing to do when building or redesigning your home. However, some homes tend to be over-insulated in some areas of the home, whereas there are other parts that are under-insulated. The key to insulating a green home is to have balanced insulation which means getting quality eco-friendly material for a good price.
Luckily, most homeowners nowadays have the unique opportunity to choose from a variety of safe, effective, lucrative, and eco-friendly insulating options when building or retrofitting a home. No matter if your priority falls on health and safety, environment, or energy bills, here are some of the most vital, safe, budget-conscious, and energy-efficient ways to insulate a green home.
1. Wood foam
Unlike some other wood-based insulating materials, which can sink in the middle due to various temperature fluctuations, wood foam is very sturdy and robust. Many homeowners who aim to use ‘greener’ insulating materials tend to use wood foam. Wood foam is made from grinding wood into tiny, almost invisible, particles.
It’s an entirely natural product made from sustainable raw materials that undergo a specific process to turn particles into hardened foam. It looks like a slimy mass before it becomes a frothy foam, and when it’s applied as insulation it naturally hardens and retains efficiency longer than any other insulating option. Wood foam is durable, effective, sustainable, and very kind to the environment. Anybody in favor of insulating their home with wood foam would not make a mistake.
2. Cellulose
Cellulose is one of the most famous and oldest bio-based building materials and a perfect insulator. It’s a known fact that recycled materials make for brilliant insulation. Cellulose comprises thermal insulation made from recycled paper, wood fiber mass, and other materials of similar constitution. If you were to choose cellulose to insulate a green home, you would get a perfect relation of effectiveness and money.
The consistency is somewhat similar to that of wool, so most experts use cellulose insulating material as a filler to fill various cavities and spaces. Cellulose represents a green way to insulate a home as it is produced from recycled newspaper, however, it contains borates which are flammable mineral compounds. If you want to reduce heat loss, improve energy efficiency, and save money at the same time, you can click here to check out other ways to adequately insulate your home.
3. Cotton
Cotton insulation serves as a fantastic alternative to fiberglass insulating materials which are known to irritate the skin during installation. Not only that, but cotton insulation uses resources that are both renewable and recyclable – as it’s used from wasted denim, believe it or not. One of the best features of cotton insulating material is that it adequately absorbs moisture, repels numerous insects, and delivers a perfect relation to money and effectiveness.
What’s more, with cotton insulation there are fewer concerns about sound pollution because cotton also provides better sound dampening than other insulators. Also, when treated with a little boric acid, cotton gets flame retardant which is an utterly vital aspect. However, there is one disadvantage to using this option and that’s the price. Cotton insulation tends to be more expensive than any other option, so you need to note down all the benefits and your preferences before choosing this green insulating option.
4. Sheep’s wool
For centuries people have used sheep’s wool to heat themselves up and later to insulate their homes. It’s a known fact that sheep can live in some of the most daunting and harshest environments, and it’s no wonder that sheep’s wool can resist any type of frigid temperatures. Sheep’s wool is by far one of the best and greenest ways to insulate your home. This material retains heat even in the coldest, dampest, and harsh climates.
The outer layer of wool fibers is resistant to water, however, the fiber’s inner layers can absorb about one-third of its weight in moisture without ever feeling damp, which means that wool can take on a significant amount of moisture without becoming damp. Moreover, sheep’s wool is very breathable and can absorb moisture from the air without affecting its capacity to retain heat. These are all marvelous features, so it’s only logical that wool is relatively costly but totally safe to work with and lucrative.
5. Icynene
Icynene is a spray-on foam insulation made from castor oil. Even though it doesn’t sound like a green option, natural castor oil base actually makes a perfect insulator and it’s safe and eco-friendly. Icynene traps air in tiny bubbles during the foaming process and it majestically seals all air leaks. Some homeowners reported having to install ventilation to prevent the home from overheating – it’s that effective.
Not only does Icynene stop drafts, but it also muffles noise and prevents mold from forming. This amazing sponge cake-like substance needs to be sprayed on in a thin layer that immediately expands to 100 times its volume. If you were to opt for Icynene, you would be able to reduce your home’s energy bill by 50 percent. But you would also need to have enough money to afford it as Icynene is pretty expensive.
6. Cork
Cork is a great ecological installation material made of the outer bark of oak trees that have reached a minimum of 18 years. Cork is a thoroughly natural and renewable material, as removing the bark doesn’t harm the tree and it naturally regenerates over time. Those who strive to insulate a green home won’t make a mistake by choosing cork because it’s very waterproof and resistant to dampness and rot.
Most people choose it to insulate kitchens and bathrooms just for that feature. Another amazing aspect is that cork insulation is absolutely unattractive to mice and termites which is a welcoming feature. It’s an inflammable, excellent sound insulator, possesses excellent green insulating and damp-proof qualities, and above all it’s inexpensive.
Whatever green way of insulation you opt for in the end, do your best to conduct thorough research. Finding the perfect option that will deliver all the necessary insulating features and offer a good value for the money is the thing to aim at.