[BLDG-SIM] Green Insulation Materials

Thu Aug 30 08:04:18 PDT 2007

As a point of interest, I have been conducting studies into the cost effectiveness of thermal insulation since the 1980s and practically every insulation is a green product when viewed over its life cycle.  Personally, I like mineral fiber wool insulation made from recycled slag, but there are times when foam insulation materials with a high resistance to moisture make the most sense in an envelope assembly.  The real crime is the sub-optimal utilization of thermal insulation causing the present building stock in North America to contain less than half the amount of insulation needed to attain sustainability targets. I think we should take it one step at a time.  First, properly insulate and detail the envelope for efficient and durable performance, then look for suitable insulation materials with lower environmental impacts.  An important question to ask is which approach buys us the most time and results in the least detriment.  Build well, live well.

On 8/30/07 10:15 AM, "Leonard Sciarra" <leonard_sciarra at gensler.com> wrote:

I just found out that the soy based foams are made from the scrap of the
soybean plant after the bean ( protein ) has been removed for food.
That said is using prime agricultural land for things like fuel and
building products the highest and best use of the land?  And when you
take into account conventional factory farming with its intensive use of
petroleum based fertilizers it becomes a complex issue.

Leonard Sciarra
GENSLER

-----Original Message-----
From: BLDG-SIM at gard.com [mailto:BLDG-SIM at gard.com] On Behalf Of Kevin
Lair
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 6:49 AM
To: BLDG-SIM at gard.com
Subject: [BLDG-SIM] Green Insulation Materials

This is a challenge. I don't find soy being that great of an solution
given
soybeans are not the ideal crop for sustainability, and the protein used
is
can be used for other things to make the foam. I think the best product
is
straw products such as Stramit, but there are very limited options in
the US.
Agriboard is a SIP panel with straw and is expensive upfront but will
pay off
in overall savings. Again, these are probably not the solutions you are
looking for in this large commercial project either, but that is mostly
what I
have come across.

I also don't care for foam in that it is not a product that promotes
later
reuse of the materials, or a more dynamic interactive envelop. In the
end, it
seems like it mostly a trade-off to just have good "green" by saving in
operation cost with good insulation and work for new products. If there
are
better alternatives out there I would love to know as well.

Kevin Lair
(kslair at syr.edu)
Assistant Professor, School of Architecture
Syracuse University
350 W. Fayette Street
Syracuse, NY 13202

315 443 0298
c: 515 418 1903

> Does anyone know of any insulation materials that are particularly
> environmentally friendly in terms of embodied energy and life cycle
> cost?
>
> I am familiar with a soy-based spray foam and have heard of recycled
> denim insulation being used in residential projects, but this is for a
> large commercial project in which code requires flame retardant
> insulation.
>
> Any ideas on green insulation materials that could be used in
commercial
> buildings?
>
> Thanks a lot!
>
> Kendra Tupper
> LEED(r) AP
>  FLACK + KURTZ
> "Ensuring that today's built environment preserves
> the natural environment in which we all live."
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Kevin Lair

515 418 1903

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