Summary of Environmental and Health Impacts

**Summary of Environmental and Health Impacts - Competing Insulation**
Type of insulation	Installation method(s)	R-value per inch (RSI/m)	Raw materials		Pollution from manufacture	IAQ impacts	Comments
Fiber insulation		RED = Danger		Yellow = Caution		Green = Recommended
Cellulose	loose fill, wet-spray, dense pack, stabilized	3.0 - 3.7 (21-26)	newspaper, borates, ammonium sulfate		Negligible	Nuisance dust during installation	Very High recycled content, very low energy use
Fiberglass	batts, loose fill, stabilized, rigid board	variable according to air temp range	silica, sand, limestone, boron, PF resin, cullet		Air pollution from energy use and fiber release	Fibers & chemicals may cause cancer	New Miraflex fiber has no binder - Not recommended
Mineral wool	loose fill, batts	2.8-3.7 (19-26)	steel slag, PF natural rock		Air pollution from energy use	See fiberglass	Health issues - similar to fiberglass
Cotton	batts, loose fill	3.0-3.7 (21-26)	cotton & polyest. mill scraps		Negligible	Safe	Fire retardant capability unknown
Perlite	loose fill	2.5-3.3 (17-23)	volcanic rock		Negligible	nuisance dust/irritant	Limited Application
Foam Insulation
Expanded polystyrene	rigid boards	3.6-4.4 (25-31)	fossil fuels, pentane		Pentane emissions contribute to smog	Concern only for those with chemical sensitivities	The only non-HCFC foam board
Extruded polystyrene	rigid boards	5.0 (35)	fossil fuels, HCFC-142b		Ozone depletion, global warming, energy use	Concern only for those with chemical sensitivities	Only Amofoam-RCY has recycled-content
Polyiso-cyanurate	foil-faced rigid boards	5.6-7.7 (39-53)	fossil fuels, HCFC-141b		Ozone depletion, global warming, energy use	Concern only for those with chemical sensitivities
Phenolic	foil-faced rigid boards	8.0 (55)	fossil fuels, HCFC-141b		Ozone depletion, global warming, energy use	Concern only for those with chemical sensitivities	Not currently manufactured in U.S.
Polyurethane	sprayed-in	5.8-6.8 (40-47)	fossil fuels, HCFC-141b		Ozone depletion, global warming, energy use	Concern only for those with chemical sensitivities
Icynene	sprayed-in	3.6 (25)	fossil fuels		Negligible	Unknown, appears to be very safe	Doesn't harden, good air sealing
Air-Krete	sprayed-in	3.9 (27)	magnesium oxide from sea water		Being Researched	Safe
Radiant barriers
Bubble pack	stapled to framing	depends on installation	aluminum, fossil fuels		Being Researched	Being Researched	Recycled PE foam in one product
Foil-faced paperboard	stapled, requires air space	depends on installation	aluminum, wood fiber		Being Researched	Being Researched	Often high recycled content
Foil-faced polyethylene	stapled, requires air space	depends on installation	aluminum, fossil fuels		Being Researched	Being Researched	High recycled content

**EPA Recycled Content Procurement Guidelines**
Material Type	Minimum Recycled Content Percent by Weight
Cellulose (loose-fill and spray-on)	75% post-consumer recovered paper
Fiberglass	25-35% cullet (post-industrial or post-consumer glass)
Mineral wool	70% recovered materials
Polyisocyanurate rigid foam	9% recovered material (polyol resin component)
Polyurethane spray foam	5% recovered material (polyol resin content)

Cellulose is the best example of recycled material use in insulation. Most Cellulose Insulation is approximately 75% post-consumer recycled newspaper by weight; the rest is comprised of fire and mildew retardant chemicals and--in some products--acrylic binders. There is increasing use of lower-density cellulose produced by "fiberizing" the newspaper (breaking it down into individual fibers that are fluffier). The industry switched to this process from the older hammermill process because it results in a better product--cleaner, less dust, slightly higher R-value--and, most important, because it stretches the resource base without sacrificing R-Value. Manufacturers are now offering stabilized cellulose that prevents the settling of loose-fill attic insulation and fire retardant and mildew preventive mechanisms are greatly improved, making the Cellulose of today a Better Insulation Top Choice and recommended product.

BETTER INSULATION