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March 21, 2010  |  Login
Stuff the Walls with the Right Kind of Insulation
By Eric Corey Freed
 

The inside of your walls should be filled with insulation — and when it comes to insulation, the more the better. Although insulation lowers your energy bills, most traditional fiberglass insulation contains a phenol-formaldehyde binder, which releases harmful chemicals. In addition, the airborne fibers are a health hazard.

As an alternative to fiberglass, consider using a natural insulation made from recycled cotton. Unlike fiberglass, recycled cotton insulation has no microfibers that cause health problems. Another option is cellulose insulation, which is made from recycled newspaper and blows in easily.

Use only formaldehyde-free or recycled-content insulation. Most fiberglass insulation already has at least 30% recycled content, but ask for insulation with the highest amount of recycled content available. Be sure to insulate your attic and the edges of the concrete floor slab — most people forget them. Use as much insulation as will fit into your walls — but don’t stuff or pack it in: Insulation needs to be fluffy in order to work.

Insulation Manufactures

Some healthy insulation manufacturers include the following:

Formaldehyde-free insulation:

  • Johns Manville, P.O. Box 5108, Denver, CO 80217-5108 (phone: 800-654-3103; Web: http://www.jm.com)

Natural cotton insulation:

Cellulose insulation:

 
 

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