[BLDG-SIM] Green Insulation Materials

[Leonard Sciarra]

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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