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Cellulose Promoted as ‘Greenest’ Insulation
 With the unveiling of a new green weblog last fall, the Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association (CIMA) continues to step up its efforts to educate home builders, contractors and consumers about the benefits of cellulose insulation.
“Cellulose insulation is made from a renewable natural resource that diverts waste from landfills,” the association says. “This not only limits greenhouse gas emissions during the manufacturing process, but also prevents waste paper from releasing environmentally harmful gases as they decompose in landfills. This is an addition to the natural function of insulation to lower energy usage and thus save even more greenhouse gas production and emissions.”
The association says that if all of the paper currently being put into landfills were converted to cellulose insulation, it would save more than seven million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year, the equivalent of taking all of the cars off the road in Nevada and New Mexico.
Here are some key “green” points from CIMA about cellulose insulation:
- Cellulose takes less energy to make than any other insulation material. Fiberglass, the leading insulation among home owners, has 10 times more embodied energy than cellulose and foam products have even more.
- Cellulose has the largest amount of post-consumer recycled content in the industry — up to 85% recycled newspaper. Paper is the largest component of landfills and producing cellulose insulation diverts waste from the landfills, thus saving valuable space.
- Cellulose insulation can prevent the release of greenhouse gases (methane) that otherwise would have been produced by its ingredients as they decompose in landfills.
- Cellulose insulation can naturally break down after its useful life, unlike fiberglass, which does not. In the event of a natural disaster, only non-toxic, biodegradable material can have less long-term effect on the environment than a substance that will never decompose.
- Cellulose insulation can be locally produced. Using local recycling programs and independent recyclers and servicing communities close to home brings new meaning to the old slogan, “Think Globally, Act Locally.”
Currently, fiberglass is the most common form of insulation used in home construction and renovation, according to CIMA.
Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, the Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association is a member of the National Council of the Housing Industry — The Leading Suppliers of NAHB.
This feature is solely for educational and informational purposes. Nothing on this page should be construed as policy, an endorsement, warranty or guaranty by the National Association of Home Builders of the featured product or the product manufacturer. The National Association of Home Builders expressly disclaims any responsibility for any damages arising from the use, application or reliance on any information contained on this page.
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