Buyer’s Guide to Green Insulation

Green Home Guide Staff
September 4, 2009
Energy Efficiency

This buyer’s guide compares and contrasts eight insulation materials for their environmental and health qualities, as well as including application tips. Use it to find the best insulation for your specific situation.

Insulation comes in a variety of forms. Loose fill is blown into (or sometimes damp-sprayed into) attic rafter spaces and wall cavities. Rigid foam insulation boards are usually put between the interior wall and the house’s siding, and foam is sprayed into wall cavities and used to seal air leaks. Blanket rolls and batts are used in attics and unfinished walls and cavities. Properly installed, loose fill, rolls and batts are all effective at reducing heat loss from conduction and air infiltration.

To narrow the field of possible materials for your project, begin with your climate. The Department of Energy website offers plenty of information on insulation, and our Green Home Guide materials overview on choosing the right insulation offers more details on the items in the table below.

This summary table provides application tips and pros and cons to help you make your decision.

Material Application Tips Pros Cons
Cellulose Available as loose fill. Appropriate for small to large remodels in parts of the structure with very low to no moisture. Good for wall cavities or attic floors and ceilings. Wall cavities need small holes to spray through. Can be blown in dry, or sprayed in damp to prevent gaps and settling. * Requires up to 30 times less energy to make than fiberglass and mineral wool

* At least 75% post-consumer recycled content (newspaper)

* No effect on indoor air quality (treated with nontoxic borate)		 * Can absorb moisture

* Can settle (if blown in dry)
Cotton Available as batt and loose fill. Appropriate for small to large remodels in areas with very low to no moisture. Good for wall cavities or attic floors and ceilings. Batts require open walls. * Renewable, plant-based material

* At least 70% post-industrial recycled content (e.g., denim)

* Recyclable

* No effect on indoor air quality (treated with nontoxic boron)		 * Cotton farming typically uses large volumes of water and pesticides

* Can absorb moisture
Fiberglass Available as board, batt, and loose fill. Appropriate for small to large remodels in areas with very low to no moisture. Good for wall cavities or attic floors and ceilings. Batts and boards require open walls. Boards can be used in interior basement spaces. * Made of abundant material (silica)

* Up to 40% recycled content		 * Releases eye, throat and skin irritants

* Energy-intensive manufacturing process

* Some products contain formaldehyde
Polyisocyanurate Foam Insulation Foam insulation boards. Appropriate for larger projects or new construction in areas with low to no moisture. Choose closed-cell option for higher moisture areas. Best for interior basement walls, beneath siding and attic ceilings. * No hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)

* Typically has no effect on indoor air quality		 * Made from petrochemicals

* Not recyclable
Polystyrene–Expanded (EPS) Foam Insulation Foam insulation boards. Appropriate for larger projects or new construction in areas with low to no moisture. Best for interior basement walls, beneath siding and attic ceilings; can be used below grade if coated with foil or plastic. * No HCFCs

* Recyclable

* Typically no effect on indoor air quality		 * Made from petrochemicals

* Contains highly toxic HBCD brominated flame retardant and other toxins
Polystyrene–Extruded (XPS) Foam Insulation Foam insulation boards. Appropriate for larger projects or new construction in areas with moderate to no moisture. Best for interior basement walls, beneath siding, attic ceilings or below grade. * More moisture resistant than EPS

* Typically no effect on indoor air quality

* Recyclable		 * Most products still use HCFCs (but they are to be phased out by 2010)

* Made from petrochemicals

* Contains highly toxic HBCD brominated flame retardant and other toxins
Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Insulation Spray foam is appropriate for small to large remodels in areas with moderate moisture. Good for wall cavities and attics. Sprayed through small holes in walls. * No HCFCs

* Prevents air leakage

* Doesn’t settle

* Low density SPF bio-based products are available, which use up to 33% soy oil		 * Not recyclable

* Most SPF products are made primarily from petrochemicals
Mineral Wool (AKA Rock Wool or Slag Wool) Available as batt, loose fill, and board. Appropriate for small to large remodels in areas with moderate to no moisture. Good for wall cavities and attics. Batts and boards require open walls. Can be used below grade if made for that purpose. * No additional flame retardants necessary

* Abundant materials (steel slag or natural rock)

* Moisture resistant

* Often contains 75%–90% recycled content		 * Releases some eye, throat and skin irritants

Check out our article on choosing the best insulation

Other Resources

There are other, somewhat less commonly known, types of insulation that also have green attributes. These include cementitious foam, sheep’s wool and hemp insulation, as well as radiant barriers.

Visit Green Building Advisor for a list of insulation products that are included in the GreenSpec directory of environmentally preferable building products. To find insulation products that are Greenguard Indoor Air Quality certified, check out the Greenguard product directory.

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