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<TITLE>Re: [BLDG-SIM] Green Insulation Materials</TITLE>
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<FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>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.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
On 8/30/07 10:15 AM, "Leonard Sciarra" <leonard_sciarra@gensler.com> wrote:<BR>
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I just found out that the soy based foams are made from the scrap of the<BR>
soybean plant after the bean ( protein ) has been removed for food.<BR>
That said is using prime agricultural land for things like fuel and<BR>
building products the highest and best use of the land? And when you<BR>
take into account conventional factory farming with its intensive use of<BR>
petroleum based fertilizers it becomes a complex issue.<BR>
<BR>
Leonard Sciarra<BR>
GENSLER<BR>
<BR>
-----Original Message-----<BR>
From: BLDG-SIM@gard.com [<a href="mailto:BLDG-SIM@gard.com]">mailto:BLDG-SIM@gard.com]</a> On Behalf Of Kevin<BR>
Lair<BR>
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 6:49 AM<BR>
To: BLDG-SIM@gard.com<BR>
Subject: [BLDG-SIM] Green Insulation Materials<BR>
<BR>
This is a challenge. I don't find soy being that great of an solution<BR>
given<BR>
soybeans are not the ideal crop for sustainability, and the protein used<BR>
is<BR>
can be used for other things to make the foam. I think the best product<BR>
is<BR>
straw products such as Stramit, but there are very limited options in<BR>
the US.<BR>
Agriboard is a SIP panel with straw and is expensive upfront but will<BR>
pay off<BR>
in overall savings. Again, these are probably not the solutions you are<BR>
looking for in this large commercial project either, but that is mostly<BR>
what I<BR>
have come across.<BR>
<BR>
I also don't care for foam in that it is not a product that promotes<BR>
later<BR>
reuse of the materials, or a more dynamic interactive envelop. In the<BR>
end, it<BR>
seems like it mostly a trade-off to just have good "green" by saving in<BR>
operation cost with good insulation and work for new products. If there<BR>
are<BR>
better alternatives out there I would love to know as well.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Kevin Lair<BR>
(kslair@syr.edu)<BR>
Assistant Professor, School of Architecture<BR>
Syracuse University<BR>
350 W. Fayette Street<BR>
Syracuse, NY 13202<BR>
<BR>
315 443 0298<BR>
c: 515 418 1903<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
> Does anyone know of any insulation materials that are particularly<BR>
> environmentally friendly in terms of embodied energy and life cycle<BR>
> cost?<BR>
><BR>
> I am familiar with a soy-based spray foam and have heard of recycled<BR>
> denim insulation being used in residential projects, but this is for a<BR>
> large commercial project in which code requires flame retardant<BR>
> insulation.<BR>
><BR>
> Any ideas on green insulation materials that could be used in<BR>
commercial<BR>
> buildings?<BR>
><BR>
> Thanks a lot!<BR>
><BR>
> Kendra Tupper<BR>
> LEED(r) AP<BR>
> FLACK + KURTZ<BR>
> "Ensuring that today's built environment preserves<BR>
> the natural environment in which we all live."<BR>
> 405 Howard Street 415.398.3833 Main<BR>
> Suite 500 415.402.5840 Direct<BR>
> San Francisco, CA 94105 415.433.5311 Fax<BR>
> <a href="http://www.flackandkurtz.com">http://www.flackandkurtz.com</a> kendra.tupper@sf.fk.com<BR>
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<BR>
Kevin Lair<BR>
<BR>
515 418 1903<BR>
<BR>
Steering Committee GDRC(Green Design Research Collaborative)<BR>
<a href="http://gdrc.iastate.edu">http://gdrc.iastate.edu</a> <a href="http://gdrc.iastate.edu/"><http://gdrc.iastate.edu/></a><BR>
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Affiliate Center for Crops Utilization (CCUR)<BR>
<a href="http://www.ag.iastate.edu/centers/ccur/">http://www.ag.iastate.edu/centers/ccur/</a><BR>
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Advisory Board Member Center on Sustainable Communities<BR>
<a href="http://www.icosc.com/">http://www.icosc.com/</a><BR>
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Principal Westbrook Design <a href="http://www.westbrookdesign.com">http://www.westbrookdesign.com</a><BR>
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Director Westbrook Artists Site (WAS) <a href="http://www.westbrookartists.com">http://www.westbrookartists.com</a><BR>
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Board Member Ghana Education Project (GEP)<BR>
<a href="http://www.ghanaeducation.org/">http://www.ghanaeducation.org/</a><BR>
<BR>
Founder/Principal MOD-ECO Architecture <a href="http://www.mod-eco.net">http://www.mod-eco.net</a><BR>
<a href="http://www.mod-eco.net/"><http://www.mod-eco.net/></a><BR>
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