About Blown-In Cellulose Insulation
Blown-in cellulose insulation consists of 75 percent shredded recycled newspapers and 25 percent fire retardant chemical additives. As an alternative to fiberglass insulation, cellulose eliminates the concerns of injuries from both skin contact with the fine glass fibers and the inhalation of the fibers during installation. Cellulose dust particles, considered a nuisance dust, require only a dust mask to control. Made from natural wood fibers, cellulose is more environmentally friendly and poses relatively few hazards. Does this Spark an idea?
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Installation
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Cellulose insulation requires an insulation blower available at equipment rental facilities, but does not require protective gear other than a dust mask. Blown through a hose, it easily fills areas around wires, pipes and other obstructions and reaches small crevices in out of the way places.
Insulating Value
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Cellulose doubles or triples the density of traditional fiberglass insulation, making the insulation value greater with a higher R-value. R-value reflects the insulating properties of construction materials, and higher values create a more effective barrier against heat loss. Because blown-in cellulose fills cracks and crevices traditional insulation may not reach, it reduces the amount of air filtration around pipes and other penetrating fixtures. According to a 1989-90 Colorado study on two newly built identical houses insulated with the same R-values, the house that received blown-in cellulose insulation required 26.4 percent less energy to operate and performed 38 percent better in insulation efficiency than the house that received fiberglass insulation.
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Fire Retardant
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Cellulose provides the added benefit of creating a 2-hour firewall in the event that your home catches fire. The fire retardant chemicals increase the resistance to fire by 22 to 55 percent. In the event that cellulose does catch on fire, it does not release toxic chemicals.
Ecological
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Environmentalists consider blown-in cellulose insulation a "green" product because it poses no health risks, does not contain formaldehyde or carcinogens and is free of dangerous vapors. Made primarily from recycled newspapers, it requires 200 times less petro-energy than the manufacture of fiberglass insulation. A 1500 square foot house insulated with cellulose recycles the amount of newspaper consumed by one person in 40 years. Insulating all new homes with cellulose would prevent over 3 million tons of newspaper from filling landfills each year.
Sound Barrier
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Cellulose provides an excellent sound barrier with its densely packed material. Sounds from the outside like traffic and aircraft are filtered and inside noises like television, radios and conversations are subdued, creating a peaceful atmosphere inside the home.
Cost
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Cellulose insulation costs considerably less than traditional fiberglass insulation. Doing it yourself requires a day's work, but reduces the cost to approximately $200.
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