What's going on in the attic?

Belinda Kersten

Well… hopefully not a lot. Mainly a few insects, possibly rodents, a few pigeons, piping, electrical cables, dust and… insulation. Now, if you’d like to green up and AND save on heating and utility bills, it’s time you ‘CHOSE CELLULOSE!’

I had no idea one could get insulation other than the obvious pink blankets rolled out into your ceiling, but indeed there is a better option! Now… bear with me as I discuss the facts and benefits of the recycled marvel that is CELLULOSE…

Cellulose insulation is growing in popularity, in part due to being one of the most environmentally preferable insulation types available. This product, made from recycled paper, is an eco-friendly way to insulate your home. It is composed of 75-85% recycled paper fibre, usually post-consumer waste newsprint. The other 15% is a fire retardant such as boric acid or ammonium sulphate. Cellulose also has the highest recycled content of any insulation available. By example, fibreglass has a maximum amount of 30% recycled content.

See how cellulose compares to other types of insulation:
 

• Cellulose is very good at fitting around items in walls like pipes and wiring leaving few air pockets that can reduce the overall efficiency of the wall.
• It also seals walls from air infiltration while providing the density to limit convection.
• The University of Colorado School of Architecture and Planning did a study that compared two seemingly identical test structures, one with cellulose and the other with fibreglass. The cellulose structure had used 26.4% less energy to heat.
• Other surveys have cellulose performing 20-30% better at reducing energy used for heating than fibreglass.
• Cellulose's insulation qualities "can save homeowners 20 to 50 percent on their utility bills”

Now you’re wondering “…surely the critters ‘up there’ will reckon recycled paper is a special buffet laid out for them alone...?” Nope! The borates in cellulose insulation provide superior control against mould, insects, and pests such as rodents. Installations have shown that even several months of water-saturation and improper installation did not result in mould.
AND… The borate treatment also provides cellulose with the highest (Class I) fire safety rating.

Low-Toxicity and Environmental Impact of Raw Materials
 

• The non-recycled parts of cellulose insulation are still environmentally preferable to the raw materials of most other insulation types, which are often petrochemical-based (this includes foam and fibreglass)
• Cellulose does not produce significant gaseous emissions, Unlike foam insulations, many of which use blowing agents which have global warming potential hundred or thousands of times higher than that of carbon dioxide.
• Cellulose does not use formaldehyde-based glues, which are continuously hazardous, due to off-gassing of formaldehyde.
• Toxicity of the raw materials of most insulation types is typically highest during manufacture or installation. Neither is an issue with cellulose. The sole hazard for cellulose is a dust, requiring a simple dust mask during installation. This compares very favourably to the potential cancer risk of fibreglass.
• It requires 20 to 40 times as much energy to produce furnace-made insulation materials compared to cellulose. Cellulose is made by electrically powered machines while mineral insulation is made in furnaces.
• Cellulose is also made with locally available materials (other than the fire retardant), while mineral insulation factories have to ship materials and products over greater distances.
• Cellulose insulation uses borates, which are mined in Borax mines. Borax mining employs one of the cleanest mining techniques available. From a mining and natural resource perspective, cellulose is preferable to foam and fibreglass insulation.

There you have it. If you’d like to prepare for the Winter months ahead, (sooner than we think), but are undecided on your options, Cellulose is the obvious choice. Seems like a no-brainer: more affordable insulation, safer for the environment, cool in Summer and toasty in Winter. Here are a few companies realising the benefits of cellulose insulation, both for the environment and consumers, why not give them a look…

ComfiZone, Thermguard, Private Power, Eco-Insulation.