Homeowners are becoming increasingly aware of the impact that their home has on the environment, and a growing number are looking for alternatives to fiberglass or polyurethane insulation. Eco-friendly alternatives are available, and they are growing in popularity every year. What sort of alternatives should contractors be on the lookout for?

Recycled Denim

How many pairs of old blue jeans are in the bottom of your closet? Old pairs of denim jeans can end up in landfills, or they can be converted into insulation for new homes. Insulation made from old denim can also be a great option for buildings where sound insulation is a concern, with a higher acoustic rating than more traditional materials. 

Rubber

Walls and ceilings aren’t the only things that need insulation. Instead of opting for virgin rubber or other types of insulation, recycled rubber floor linings are becoming a popular choice. These liners reduce noise and impact while helping to prevent cracks maintaining the floor temperature. They do need to be installed before the final flooring is laid. 

Soy

Soy isn’t just a protein alternative for those following the vegan diet. Soy-based spray foam insulation is beginning to replace more traditional spray foam. In addition to meeting LEED certification requirements, this spray foam releases no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), has no off-gassing period and is completely biodegradable.

Concrete-Bonded Insulation

In traditional construction, insulation is one of the last steps before drywall is laid and the room is finished. New techniques are exploring the potential for bonding insulation directly to concrete walls. This is a form of modular construction, where the components are manufactured off-site and then trucked to their final location for assembly. This sort of concrete-bonded insulation might be more difficult to achieve for companies that are pouring and casting concrete on-site, making it a great argument for the use of modular construction techniques. 

Wool

One of the biggest tips for making a green space — be it a home, a workspace, or a commercial building — is to reuse what you already have. Wool, which is more traditionally used for clothing, is becoming a popular eco-friendly insulation alternative in the Northeast. It offers better moisture management and acoustic insulation than fiberglass without any of the negative side effects or risks.

Hemp

Hemp is a crop that’s been largely maligned because of erroneous association with the marijuana plant. They may be the same plant, but hemp doesn’t contain the psychoactive ingredient THC that is present in marijuana. What it does have is the ability to create biodegradable insulation that doesn't attract rodents or insects. The plant itself grows fast, uses less water than other options, and could potentially reduce our reliance on cotton and other similar crops.

Creating a Green Future

Insulation by itself isn’t the biggest culprit when it comes to causing harm to the planet, but it is one small piece of the puzzle. The construction industry as a whole already generates massive amounts of waste every year. If we can make small changes that allow us to make home construction more sustainable and less wasteful, it could create the green future that is necessary to protect the future of the human race.

Author Bio: Jane is an environmental writer who covers topics in sustainable construction and green building materials and the editor-in-chief of Environment.co.

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