Whether you use electricity, natural gas, oil, or another energy source, at least half of the fuel consumed goes for space conditioning - in other words, heating and cooling. That’s because some of the indoor temperature leaks outside, and the outside temperature leaks in. To gain better control over your indoor atmosphere and reduce your energy costs, make sure you have the right kind of insulation, and enough of it in the right places.
When most homeowners think about insulation, they picture fiberglass batts. This makes sense, because fiberglass insulation is practical, affordable, and relatively easy to handle. By comparison, loose fill insulation involves more effort and sometimes more expense. Once the insulation is installed, however, loose fill has several advantages that make it worth the trouble. The first of these is recycled content. Loose fill insulation can be made from
Loose fill is either blown in to confined areas such as attics and crawl spaces, damp-sprayed into wall cavities, or poured into areas where access is easier. Moisture is sometimes added to the loose fill to keep the material from blowing where it doesn’t belong. This evaporates quickly once the insulation has settled.
One weakness of cellulose insulation is that it can absorb more moisture than most other types of insulation. If it doesn’t have a chance to dry out again, it will lose some of its effectiveness and perhaps become a place for mildew to grow.
In some ways, loose fill is only on par with fiberglass batts. For example, they all have roughly the same fire ratings, and cost about the same for the amount of R-value they provide. Factor in the recycled content, and the balance tips toward loose fill. Then take into account the potential health hazards, and the recycled products look better still. For the greatest number of environmental benefits, consider cellulose insulation.
Not only is cellulose insulation made from up to 80 percent recycled fiber, it can be recycled again. By using cellulose loose fill, you keep unwanted air and sound out of spaces in your house, and keep cardboard and paperboard out of landfills.
Made from paper products and wood fiber, cellulose insulation fills in spaces large and small. It can be packed into tight places, such as the points at which the roof decking and rafter ends meet the ceiling joists. It can be laid down in thick blankets where there’s more room, and gravity is on your side. The insulating value of cellulose loose fill is about R-3.7 per inch. It guards well against sound transfer, too.
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