InsulationPutting in Insulation is one of the most environmentally friendly things we can do to our homes. The amount and type we use, has a direct effect on the amount of energy we will use to keep our homes warm in winter and cool in summer. For new home construction in Canada it is expected that there will be a minimum of R20 in the walls and R40 under the roof. As the cost of fuel increases we become increasingly aware of the need to insulate as much as possible. This will undoubtedly lead to new alternatives. The most commonly used product, is the bats of fibre-glass. It has been available in some form for about fifty years. It now comes in two standard thicknesses; 3.5” R12 and 6” R20. Rocksil is a newer product. See Home Depot It is a bit more expensive but it is nicer to work with because it does not shed those nasty fibres that make you itch or get into your lungs if you don’t wear a mask. Rocksil is also better for sound-proofing.
A totally natural product now available in the Canadian market is Ultra Touch Insulation Poly (urethane-urea) foam is also fairly new but it has been approved by Environment Canada. It is applied in two parts and swells up on contact and hardens almost instantly. It is commonly used on basement walls and attics. It provides a good R value and seals up any cracks, providing a good vapour barrier as well. For this reason it works very well when insulating an older home. A newer product is BioBase 501. It is a low-density, open-cell polyurethane, spray-foam insulation made from about forty percent soy bean oil and acts like petroleum-based open-cell polyurethane foam. It is installed using carbon dioxide as the blowing agent by means of specialized equipment for application. It has an R value of about 13 in a thickness of 3.5”. It is environment friendly in two ways. It has a good insulation value and is made in part from a renewable agricultural commodity. Unfortunately I am not aware of any Canadian distributers at this time. Another really interesting product that has just been introduced to the Canadian market is airKrete. It consists of magnesium oxide and ceramic talc, and it has the consistency of shaving cream. There are no toxic chemicals even in the event of fire as it is basically made up of concrete, air, and water. It can be installed easily, without mess, and without a lot of big equipment. Two other remarkable factors are that it can be used to fill an existing wall and has an R value of .9 per inch. There are other insulating products on the market but these have excellent environmentally friendly features and some really unique aspects.
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