Cellulose insulation forms a seamless blanket of natural fibers that provide outstanding protection from the elements. Best of all, on the hottest and coldest days, (when you need it most) cellulose insulation won’t lose R-value like fiberglass.

Cellulose insulation has an R-value of 3.8 per inch (nearly twice as much as typical blown fiberglass). The R-value is a measure of thermal resistance used in the building and construction industry.

Blown in cellulose insulation is made mostly from shredded newspaper and mixed with a variety of chemicals (up to 25% by weight) to reduce its flammability.

Chances are good that your home could benefit from adding cellulose attic insulation.

Benefits of Blown Cellulose Insulation

• Blown in cellulose insulation is treated to make it more fire retardant. If a fire occurs, the blown in cellulose insulation, combined with its fire retardants, can slow the fire from spreading and can create a “2-hour firewall”. When Blown in Cellulose insulation does burn, it generally doesn’t emit toxic chemicals.
• Blown in cellulose insulation easily flows around obstructions and penetrates odd shaped cavities and it easily conforms around wires, electrical boxes and pipes.
• Blown in cellulose insulation is 2-3 times denser than fiberglass insulation.
• A Blown in cellulose insulation vapor barrier is a must. Due to its chemical content, cellulose insulation may be more moisture resistant than fiberglass insulation. However, blown in cellulose insulation must be given the correct time to dry out after application.
• It is considered to be a green product as it’s made from recycled newspapers.

Cellulose has low embodied energy!

Embodied energy is the energy consumed in producing products. Mineral insulation comes from furnaces that gulp natural gas to melt sand, slag, or rock and fiberglass insulation comes from finely spun glass. Foam plastics are petrochemicals and are literally made out of energy!

Cellulose insulation, on the other hand, is made by processing recycled wood fibers – usually newspapers – through electrically-driven mills that consume relatively little energy when they are operating, and which can be shut down completely at the end of the day or even for lunch or coffee breaks.

Fiberglass, rock wool, and plastic insulation may have from 50 to over 200 times more embodied energy than cellulose. By choosing cellulose insulation, you are not only saving money at home but are also decreasing our overall energy demand.

Cellulose makes homes safer

Many residential structures contain large amounts of wood. Cellulose insulation is the only wood-based building material that is always treated with fire retardant. Energy Smart Inc. only uses cellulose that has been treated with non-toxic Borax and Boric acid and is U.L. listed. This makes cellulose insulation one of the safest materials used in home construction.

If a fire occurs, the dense structure of cellulose and its fire retardants slow its spread through the building by blocking flames and hot gases and restricting the availability of oxygen in insulated walls and ceilings. Air and fire roar right through fiberglass. This is due to the most flammable tar used on the paper vapor barrier and the low density of fiberglass batts which doesn’t block air movement. Several fire demonstrations have been conducted in which cellulose-insulated structures have remained virtually intact while uninsulated and mineral-fiber insulated structures burned to the ground.

Energy Smart has the expertise to take care of all of your insulation needs, please contact us today to find out how we can help you conserve energy in your home.