Cellulose Vs. Fiberglass Insulation!
Which is better for you and your home? We get this question frequently at Zerodraft when interacting with homeowners about ways of making their home more comfortable and energy efficient. Many people are familiar with fiberglass insulation because it has been in use for decades and is often used by contractors and Do-it-Yourselfers but home performance professionals, engaged in and specializing in home comfort and energy efficient home improvements, certified by the Building Performance Institute, know that the real benefits of using properly installed cellulose far outweigh the perceived benefits of fiberglass insulation. Cellulose vs. Fiberglass The following is a summary of an extensive Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) report. The NRDC is a non-profit environmental membership organization with over 300,000 members and contributors nationwide:
The NRDC Has Concluded The Following:
Cellulose insulation manufactured from recycled paper is the least polluting and most energy efficient insulation. Cellulose has the highest post-consumer recycled content. The fiberglass industry averages 35% recycled glass, while the cellulose industry averages a minimum of 75% recycled content.
It takes more than 10 times as much energy to produce fiberglass insulation as cellulose insulation. Due to air circulation and natural convection, the R-value of blown-in fiberglass insulation decreases by as much as 50% as the temperature drops from 45 degrees F to 18 degrees F.
Cellulose has better resistance to air flow and prevents the upward movement of air caused by temperature differences (the R-value of cellulose actually improves during cold weather).
Substantial and well-documented public health threats are associated with fiberglass.
No adverse health effects from cellulose insulation have been identified. Cellulose is non-toxic. Biologically, cellulose is innocuous. ~ Dr. Arthur Furst, Toxicologist
Notice in this picture of the inside of a wall insulated by both cellulose and fiberglass... the plumbing is not visible in the cellulose and the insulation fills the entire wall cavity, as insulation should - leaving no gaps or voids that would allow for air movement and energy loss.
