With an abundance of building products out there, it can be difficult to know, which ones are the most suitable for your needs. Even if you narrow the field to only consider eco friendly products, the choices can still be overwhelming. One of the key building blocks for a truly energy efficient home is insulation. Good insulation prevents cold air in winter and hot air in summer from penetrating your home, therefore insulation can play a major role in reducing your heating and cooling bills. The selection of this key ingredient should be carefully considered.

When it comes to insulation, the more, the better. When you build your new house, make provisions for as much insulation as possible between exterior walls. But also pay attention to the R-Value. Insulation comes with different R-values. The R-value indicates an insulation’s resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. Some states’ building codes require new buildings to use a minimum R-Value, check with your local building code officials to find out what the minimum R-value in your jurisdiction is. Don’t forget that the roof also needs insulation.

Formaldehyde is used as a binding agent in most products, so you want to avoid that and look for cellulose, recycled-content or formaldehyde-free insulation.

Batt insulation comes in standard widths of rolls or as the name says in batts. Be sure that the insulation does not contain fiberglass which is a typical component in conventional insulation products. Instead look for insulation with natural fibers such as wool and cotton. Blue denim jeans is a popular recycled material for insulation giving it a blue color. Cellulose is formaldehyde free and a loose-fill insulation made from recycled newsprint. In order to make it fire resistant, it is treated with natural chemicals. There are also spray-in foams made from natural soy. There are a green and much healthier alternative to conventional spray foam and also do not contain formaldehyde or other hazardous components.

Now that you understand what to look for, having options is a wonderful thing. Do your research on different products and compare prices. A design or LEED AP professional can assist you in choosing the type of insulation that is just right for your small house.

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