While most people will look for more cost-effective solutions when it comes to insulation, which indeed can help people to save a lot of money on heating and air-conditioning, choosing the eco-friendly option is very important as well. The main issue is that there are some effective materials, but they could be harmful to the environment or even cause health problems.
In that matter, you should never focus only on saving money, but on a proper combination of healthy and effective materials for insulation. If you are planning to deal with insulation in your home, visit airconspares.com, where you can find affordable and effective materials that won’t cause any harm to the environment or health.
The main problem with standard materials like polystyrene is related to the process of production, with a large number of harmful gasses and other substances are being emitted. We can notice that people became more aware of the importance of implementing less harmful products and materials, which leads to the increased popularity of alternatives that we can use for insulation instead of polystyrene. Here are the best eco-friendly options for your home.
1. Mineral Wool
The great feature of this material is that it is almost wholly made up of recycling. The main advantage when we compare it to standard foam is much higher heat resistance. Also, it provides better isolation and durability, along with resistance to condensation, which makes it perfect for attics and basements. Besides the features related to isolation and heat resistance, it is also much easier to place it on the wall, and less harmful during installation. Moreover, you don’t need to worry about insects, especially termites, since they will avoid walls with this type of insulation.
2. Icynene
Even though this is also a foam made in the chemical process, it is not as dangerous as other synthetic materials. Also, there is no impact on the environment, and this option represents the most effective in terms of isolation. Since it is much stronger than other alternatives, it is necessary to install proper ventilation in the walls. This is the most expensive type of isolation, but you will save a lot of money on electricity, which is perfect if you are interested in an alternative that will bring long-term benefits. Besides that, we have to mention the excellent sound-proof ability.
3. Hemp
Many people are not aware of the wide area of use when it comes to the cannabis plant. There are many benefits of making it legal. Besides the health benefits that people could get from CBD oil, this plant can be used in many other industries as well. One of them is the construction industry, where manufacturers can use hemp in the production of building blocks, tiles, walls, isolation, and other materials.
When it comes to its features that can be used in isolation, we have to mention the safety, decent resistance, and no emission of harmful ingredients during production. The main issue is that there is still a lack of companies who are producing materials from hemp, but with the huge increase in popularity in recent years, we expect that more of them will start using it as well.
4. Sheep’s Wool
When it comes to technical features, the most important one is its resistance to heat and fire. Therefore, using it in the walls will make it much safer, especially in areas where wildfires are not so rare. Besides that, it has excellent isolating features that prevent the loss of heat in the home and preventing external temperatures to affect the inside of your home. In that matter, you can save a lot of money on your energy bills. Moreover, it won’t cause any allergic reactions, and it is completely safe for the environment. The only issue is that it can be quite expensive.
5. Fiberglass
This is one of the most common materials, with a decent level of isolation quality and lower price than most other alternatives. Since it is made in combination with glass, it has a low impact on nature and can prevent loud noises. Also, it offers higher heat resistance and can be made by recycling, which makes it an excellent eco-friendly option. On the other side, there are some disadvantages of this option, such as complicated installation and deficiencies related to loss of heat at some spots, less resistance to condensation, which makes it less efficient than other alternatives on this list.
6. Cellulose
The main advantage is that this material can be complete made with recycling, and there is no threat to nature. Also, it is more affordable since there is a large production of this material all over the world. When it comes to isolation, the blocks made of cellulose also contain boric acid, which serves as protection from mold. However, you have to be aware that it is not so good in the prevention of condensation, which means that it is not advised for areas with heavy weather conditions, and especially for parts of the house like the attic and basement.
7. Cotton
There are many features similar to cellulose, especially when it comes to recycling. Also, it is safe and there was no impact on nature during production. You can choose is in areas with colder temperatures, unlike cellulose. Still, the biggest problem is that this material is not so common in form of insulation, which can affect the price. However, with the popularity of online stores today, you can order this material from another country.
Last Words
Before you choose any of these options you should learn more about the requirements for a house in your area. First of all, determine the quality and required resistance, along with other features, to be sure that you bought the option that will be reliable and durable for a longer time. Any of these alternatives represents a much better solution when compared to standard foam, but the difference is in resistance to heat, cost effectiveness, durability, and more.