Every homeowner needs to worry about insulation to ensure a home stays warm or cool. If your house has a lot of heat and air escape, it doesn’t matter how hard the appliances in your home work towards maintaining optimal temperature, it will all go to waste. When we think of home insulation, the color pink comes in the mind of most people.
However, most of us don’t know that insulation can also be green, with a lot of eco-friendly options available in the market. The problem is some people choose a material that isn’t eco-friendly, but that problem can be eliminated because there are plenty of green alternatives. In this article, I am going to highlight six green insulation options that are the most feasible and provide the best value for money.
Fiberglass
One sustainable insulation material you can choose from is fiberglass. This is especially true if the fiberglass was created using renewable resources. You’ll have to look for an eco-friendly fiberglass option, but you’ll see why this is a good option once you find some. This is one of the most economically reasonable options, and everyone wants to save a buck. You get to protect the earth and save a few bucks, which is a good deal.
Sheep’s Wool
Sheep’s wool is one of the oldest ways to insulate a place. Everyone knows how warm sheep’s wool can be, which is one reason people wear wool coats when it’s cold. This material isn’t always the cheapest, but if you are worried about making sure your insulation material is natural, then this is a good option to choose. When you compress sheep’s wool, it forms air pockets inside of it, which traps air. This phenomenon keeps houses cool in the summer and warm in the winter, making it one of the best insulation options out there. As you don’t need to use electrical appliances to regulate the temperature in summer and winter, you save a lot of money and energy. It should be pointed out that wool is fire and water-resistant, giving it a few more points in its favor.
Cotton
Another natural green insulation option is cotton. This type of insulation is made up of leftover denim and cotton from the manufacturing of clothes. The insulation isn’t going to look like clothes; it’s shredded and made to look like thick bats like any other insulation. Now, some people fear that cotton might be a little flammable, but that’s not something you need to worry about since it’s treated with borate to make it less flammable. You should also know that cotton repels insects, which could go a long way if you want to make sure your home stays free of pests.
Aerogel
This one is interesting since the insulation is mostly made out of air. Yes, it looks like some type of gel, but it’s pretty effective. The heat has a hard time passing through this kind of insulation, which makes it a good option. You’ll end up saving money since your AC won’t have to work as hard, and that’s also good for the environment since most electricity is not made with renewable energy. You should know that this is a pricey option, so make sure you are willing to spend money to insulate your property.
Icynene
Icynene is another alternative you can consider. The material is mostly made of castor oil, which tells you it’s an eco-friendly option. This type of oil is more renewable than others. The oil is made into a foam that expands. This is one reason it’s such an effective insulator. It can be used for various leaks and drafts and is better than other forms of insulation. You may also want to know that this kind of material cancels noise more effectively. If you enjoy peace at home, then this is a good choice for you. Now, this option is going to cost you a pretty penny. It may not be the most expensive option out there, but it isn’t the cheapest.
Cellulose
In my eyes, cellulose is one of the best insulation options as it is made from recycled paper, which would’ve otherwise decomposed and ended up releasing a lot of harmful gases. So, by using cellulose as an insulation material, not only are you making sure that you keep your house eco-friendly, but also ensuring that no harmful gases are emitted into the environment. According to a lot of researches, cellulose has more insulating power compared to fiberglass. Most people think that as cellulose is made from recycled newspaper, it must be susceptible to fire. However, let me assure you that through artificial treatment, the insulation material is turned into an eco-friendly and fire-resistant option for your homes.
Now, you know a few more green insulation options, but there’s more to choose from. Go ahead and talk to an insulation specialist so that he or she can tell you about other options that might work for you. Not only are these green options the best for the environment, but when it boils down to the details, they are also the best for your home being as they are easy to work and live with.
