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Fiberlite Technologies, Inc.
Recycling Paper Into Cellulose Insulation
800-641-4296
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Fiberlite Technologies, Inc.
Recycling Paper Into Cellulose Insulation
800-641-4296
 
 

Fiberlite - The Environmentally Friendly Cellulose Insulation

 

When choosing an insulation product, it is important to consider not only the impact of insulation on utility bills, but also its impact on the environment. It is true that all insulation products will help reduce a home's energy consumption, but this does not necessarily make all insulation products "green."

Mineral fiber insulations, such as fiberglass, require tremendous amounts of energy during the manufacturing process. Furthermore, fiberglass insulation contains no more than 40% recycled content. Foam insulation products have little or no recycled content and require even more energy to manufacture.

By comparison, Fiberlite's Cellulose Insulation contains 82% post-consumer recycled paper and takes very little energy to produce. Insulating just one 1,500 square foot home with Cellulose Insulation recycles as much newspaper as an individual will consume in 40 years! Add to that there is very little product waste during installation and with paper as the main ingredient it come from a renewable resource derived from planted trees.

These facts, combined with the energy saving benefits of a Cellulose insulated home, prove that Cellulose Insulation is truly the Greenest of the Green.

 
 

Table of Environmental Facts

Type
Installation Methods
R-value per inch (RSI/m)
Raw Materials
Pollution From Manufacture
Indoor Air Quality Impacts
Comments
Cellulose Loose-fill, wall-spray (damp), dense pack, stabilized 3.6-4.0
(21-26)
Newspaper, cardboard, fire retardants Negligible Fibers and chemicals can be irritants High Recycled content and very low embodied energy
Fiberglass Batts, Loose-fill, semi-rigid board 3.0-4.0
(15-28)
Silica sand, limestone, boron, recycled glass, PF resin or acrylic resin, ammonia Formaldehyde emissions and high energy use during manufacture Fibers can be irritants High embodied energy
Mineral Wool Loose-fill, batts, semi-rigid or rigid board 2.8-3.7
(19-26)
Iron-ore blast furnace slag, natural rock, PF binder Formaldehyde emissions and high energy use during manufacture Fibers can be irritants High Embodied Energy; Rigid board can be an excellent foundation drainage and insulator
Cotton Batts 3.0-3.7
(21-26)
Cotton and polyester mill scraps (especially denim) Negligible Considered safe Two producers so transportation pollution is higher than other insulation
Closed-cell spray polyurethane foams Spray-in cavity-fill or spray-on roofing 5.8-6.8
(40-47)
Fossil Fuels; HFC-24.5fa blowing agent; non-brominated flame retardant 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-cell, 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