When remodeling or constructing a home, the environmental impact of the materials that you use should be a central consideration. Insulation is no exception: some types of insulation are much more environmentally friendly than others. If keeping your building project green is important to you, you may want to consider the following types of environmentally friendly insulation in your attic or other areas of your home.

Wool

Wool insulation is exactly what it sounds like: wool that is either from sheep or that has been recycled from old clothes and fabrics. Wool is able to absorb moisture easily, and will not clump or change position due to heavy humidity. This means that it can work well in both hot and cold climates, and will prevent any sort of heat exchange into or out of your home throughout the year.

Cotton

Just like wool insulation, cotton insulation is usually made from recycled denim scraps, which gives it a distinctive blue color. Cotton insulation is both natural and renewable, and does not involve any sort of animal (as wool does), which can be important for homeowners who are sensitive to animal issues as well as environmental ones. Cotton insulation is usually treated with chemicals to make it both pest repellent and fire resistant, but does also come with a fairly hefty price tag when compared to other types of insulation, which is an important consideration for projects with tight budgets.

Aerogel

Aerogel is made out of silica that has had all of its moisture removed, resulting in an extremely lightweight and easily installed gel that is also extremely resistant to heat exchange. It comes in large sheets which can be easily nailed into place, which helps speed up the installation process. Aerogel is also completely fire resistant, unlike cotton and wool, which must be treated with chemicals. However, aerogel is an extremely difficult material to make, which means that its material costs are extremely high when compared to more traditional insulation materials.

Polystyrene Foam

Polystyrene is a type of insulation that comes either in large boards, which can be easily installed on flat surfaces, or in spray foam, which can be more easily installed over larger areas and areas that do not have a uniform shape. Polystyrene is a type of plastic that degrades extremely slowly over time, and can be recycled over and over again – which means that you can sustainably source your insulation. However, polystyrene is not moisture absorbent, which means any water in the walls will simply sit on your insulation if there is not proper ventilation, which can cause water damage over time – making polystyrene less than ideal for humid climates. 

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