Insulation tools for comparison


With a wide array of insulation types on the market with some more sustainable than others, tools for comparison should be consulted.  Where and when to use certain types of insulation requires careful analysis for each project.  Economic, energy and environmental considerations have prompted increasing availability of alternate options.  Here, we offer a few excellent resources.


In the previous wool post, we introduced you to a few comparisons from Sierra Club and Department of Energy's Energy Savers sites.  Another good analysis is found at the Minnesota Sustainable Housing Initiative hosted by the University of Minnesota, which discusses pros and cons of the manufacturing processes of insulation materials.

Additional cost and availability resources come from suppliers.  'g' Green Design Center in Massachusetts provides a cost comparison chart (pricing as of 1/10), which includes cotton/denim, traditional fiberglass, wool, and glass-wool made from sand and recycled glass.  So I'd repeat the caveat, always check availability of products to your site and obtain updated cost information in a timeframe that will be relevant to construction.

For special areas of concern, Building Science has excellent information resources, particularly their guides on below grade spaces and slab edge insulation.  Rigid board foams are commonly used at foundations, but currently are derived from petroleum products.  Alternate rigid board products made from wood fibers are not intended for use below grade.  The HCFCs released by blowing agents in rigid foam production like extruded polystyrene (XPS) and polyisocyanurate is not present in expanded polystyrene (EPS).

Insulation Types at a Glance
trade-offs not recommended (hover over to find out why)
Loose-fill: fiberglass, cellulose
Loose-fill blown: fiberglass, cellulose
Batt: cotton, wool, fiberglass
Board/Panel: wool, extruded polystyrene (XPS), expanded polystyrene (EPS), polyisocyanurate (ISO)
Spray-in foam: closed-cell spray polyurethane (SPF), open-cell polyicenyne

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