It's Time to Insulate

One of the most effective and economical ways to reduce energy consumption is to "cap" existing fiberglass insulation with a layer of brown cellulose in the attic.

Recent research indicates performance of fiberglass degrades in cold weather due to convective air movement. Adding a "cap" layer of blown cellulose in the attic reduces this phenomena.

As cold weather approaches and begins settling in, it's important to make sure your home stays warm for you and your family.That means avoiding the loss of heat by having the proper amount of insulation and sealing air leaks. Conserving energy goes hand in hand with being green-conscious, which is always in season, especially this winter.

Insulating your home should be a prime concern if you are worried about keeping costs down. Have you thought about the type of insulation your home needs? For most Americans, fiberglass has always been the only choice for insulation material. However, due to its many benefits and easily recognized green attributes, cellulose insulation is widely garnering more attention. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) reported on their findings of the energy efficiency for cellulose insulation vs. fiberglass insulation.

• Cellulose insulation manufactured from recycled paper is the least polluting and most energy efficient.
• Cellulose has the highest post-consumer recycled content. The fiberglass industry averages 35% recycled glass, while the cellulose industry averages a minimum of 75% recycled content.
• It takes more than 10 times more energy to produce fiberglass insulation as cellulose insulation.
• Due to air circulation and natural convection, the R-value (the standard for measuring insulation performance) of blown in fiberglass insulation decreases by as much as 50% as the temperature drops from 45º degrees Fahrenheit to 18º degrees Fahrenheit.
• In contrast to fiberglass, cellulose has a better resistance to air flow and prevents the upward movement of air caused by temperature differences (the R-value of Cellulose actually improves during cold weather). Heat flow problems associated with fiberglass make cellulose an attractive alternative.
• Substantial and well-documented public health threats are associated with fiberglass.Fiberglass insulation is required to carry a cancer warning label in compliance with OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard.
• No adverse health effects from cellulose insulation have been identified.
• Both types of insulation meet the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) fire protection standards.

A Recycled Product While many products today claim to be recycled, EnviroSmart Insulation truly is. In fact, 85% of EnviroSmart is made from recycled newspapers that might otherwise find their way to a landfill.

Other EnviroSmart Advantages While the important reasons for insulating with EnviroSmart Insulation are greater R-value, prevention of air infiltration, and enhanced acoustics, there are other benefits as well. These include:

• Non-irritating to skin
• Minimum settling in attic due to adhesive
• Non-abrasive
• Contains no asbestos, fiberglass or formaldehyde
• Extends the life of heating and cooling equipment
• Affordable
• No known health issues

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