Before I get into this week's post, I would like to take just a quick look back. For those who may not have been following along, several months ago, I decided to start a series on how to go off grid and build a homestead geared specifically for anyone who might not know the first thing about how to go about it. I figured this would be a good series to do for the simple reason that I, myself, knew very little about homesteading before doing some in depth research. So far, I've covered temporary housing, alternative/renewable energy sources, and green building styles that pretty much anyone can do. In line with the green building styles, I've also covered foundations and roofs. That catches us up to this week. So, let's talk insulation.
Now, depending on the building style you choose to go with, and where you are building, your insulating needs are going to differ. Most of the building styles we've looked at over the past few weeks, will not necessarily require any additional insulation beyond what is put into the wall itself as you are building. You can always double a wall to add an insulating layer if you are choosing to go with a building style that focuses more on thermal mass than insulating properties. But that's not an absolute must, as we have seen. But you will need to have some sort of insulation, at the very least, in your foundation and roof. Seems pretty obvious, right? So, what are your options here? It is something that may seem like an easy choice, but there are a lot of things to consider. And it is important to have as much information and planning already in mind before you ever start building anything. You don't want to get half way through your build only to find you've completely forgotten about something so important as insulation.
The most common types of insulation used today in traditional building is either fiberglass or polyurethane. While it is very common, and on the less expensive side (particularly fiberglass), it is not exactly a healthy choice. Neither of these options are sustainable or eco-friendly. Fiberglass can irritate your skin and lungs. Polyurethane is an oil based product. Both are loaded with chemicals. And there is a lot of debate out there as to whether there is off-gassing once it has been put into place. What is not in debate, however, is the vast number of people who have severe reactions to these products: from skin irritations, to asthma and other breathing issues. Not exactly a glowing welcome for anyone who wants to go green. But the good news is that there are options to those.
I'm sure you've probably already heard of using recycled denim as an insulation. Well, truth be told, there are differing opinions as to how green that really is. Supporters will say that it is great because it is not only recycling something that would otherwise go into a dump, and it is made of cotton, which is a very good insulator. Opponents say that while it is recycling a good insulator, the cotton itself, if not organic, will still be loaded with chemicals that were sprayed onto the plant before it was ever even harvested. And if you purchase denim that has already been prepared for a second life as insulation, it has more than likely also been treated with fire retardants, mold resistance, and who knows what else. In the resource list at the end of this post, you will find links to both sides of that story.
But there is more than just denim on the market. In my post on cordwood as a building style, we saw that one method of building is to include an insulating layer of sawdust or similar material. And in my post on foundations, we saw a builder who utilized red lava rock. There are many many more. There are a lot of people out there looking for and testing green options for housing insulation. Most of these are focused around some sort of plant fiber. Hemp and kenaf are the two most common at the moment. Plant fibers have a natural insulating quality to them. It's just the nature of plants. Not all plants will work, but many woody varieties will, to one extent or another. The center of the plant is generally separated out and broken down into individual fibers, and then bound together to form sheets, spray, or a loose insulation. If you choose to use one of these plant based insulators, keep in mind that while the main ingredient may be green, it may be mixed with not-so-green binders, retardants, etc. So please do your research.
Cellulose is another alternative that you will likely hear a lot about. It is, at it's most basic form, recycled paper, transformed into one form or another. It can be a great insulator, but again, it is one with a lot of debate surrounding it. Being that it is paper, should you ever have a water leak, you might be in for a nasty surprise. There is also the concern of what type of paper has been used to create the cellulose. Most modern papers made today utilize some form of chemical treatment. That can be the case no matter if it's plain white paper, or a printed newspaper. Again, do your research, especially if you are sensitive.
Wool, soybeans, and even aerogel are proposed alternatives for a greener insulation. Ok, so aerogel isn't really "green", so to speak. But I came across it as an alternative, so I decided to go ahead and throw it in there. It does have some qualities I like in so much as being able to insulate windows without losing light. But in all honesty, it's not all that green, and if not sealed up properly, can have just as many irritating effects as fiberglass. So the pros on that one, for me at least, are definitely outweighed by the cons.
So there you have it. There are some really good green alternatives to traditional insulation for your homestead. What you use will be as personal a choice as any other aspect of your home. Look around, do some research, weigh the pros and cons, and find what truly works the best for you. Good luck, and happy researching!
https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=132778
https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr80.pdf
https://www.scribd.com/document/268336631/Natural-Fiber-Reinforced-Building-Materials
http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/building-materials?sort_by=field_latin_name_value
http://www.energiaus.com/news/2015/2/12/denim-insulation-an-alternative-option
http://www.ecobuildingpulse.com/products/four-green-alternatives-to-spray-foam-insulation_t
http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/greener-alternatives-spray-foam-insulation.html
http://www.qualifiedremodeler.com/pros-and-cons-of-installing-alternative-insulation/
http://inhabitat.com/lets-talk-about-insulation-baby/
http://www.finehomebuilding.com/2009/06/29/why-i-dont-use-cellulose-or-blue-jean-insulation
http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/construction/green/5-green-insulation-options.htm
http://activerain.com/blogsview/4236757/soy-beans--shredded-denim--and-wool-will-keep-you-warm-this-winter-
http://www.naturalbuildingblog.com/affordable-lava-rock-insulation-for-the-far-north/
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