Here is a great powerpoint on how to blow in cellulose into a wall. There is a real trick to doing this. Your generic blower rented from Home Depot does not have the power needed to dense pack to 3.5 pounds per cubic foot. But there are ways to work around this. Check out the […]
Cellulose Insulation Installation Read More »
Here is a great diagram of all the possible types of insulation, their R value and their environmental impacts. As green builders in Brooklyn we have specific needs. Doing a green renovation in a Brooklyn brownstone requires sound proofing in the walls and ceilings and lots of insulation that takes up little space on the
Types of Insulation Read More »
The book Insulate and Weatherize is published by Taunton and is part of their Build Like a Pro Series – Expert Advice From Start to Finish. It is advanced weatherization and insulation techniques for a residential home in the North and Mid East United States. This book, like all Build Like a Pro series, is
Insulate and Weatherize Book Read More »
Here is an email from a fellow green builder, Keith Winston, on the cons of spray foam. No matter how great they are for sealing, they have too many drawbacks IMO. The same sealing can be done with good tape, vapor barriers and caulk. His email: The foaming agents of small cans of foam (i.e.
In my ongoing awakening, this week it was all about fiberglass. It made me realize that I. who considers myself an advanced Brooklyn green builder, have a lot to learn (May I never forget). So here I am thinking that fiberglass is relatively harmless as long as you get out the Formaldehyde. Sure fiberglass is
Cancer and Fiberglass Read More »
All costs based on R30 for one square foot. Johns Manville Formaldehyde free fiberglass $0.60 Ultra Touch Cotton $1.57 Cocoon Cellulose $0.42 Spay Foam – $6.98 The spay foam is based on one inch thick costing $1.62 and having R7. Thus R30 is the crazy price of almost 7 bucks. Clearly Cellulose is the winner.
Cost of Fiberglass, Cotton, Cellulose, Foam Insulation Read More »
I am having a hard time finding studies for or against the health impact of fiberglass, specifically the little glass fibers in peoples’ lungs. Here is a little conspiracy theory I am thinking up as I write: The big companies that made asbestos told everyone it was safe. Then they all claimed bankruptcy when the
Is Fiberglass the new Asbestos? Read More »
When buying insulation for those tired Brooklyn and NY brownstones one of the big considerations is the embodied energy the insulation has. The May/June issue of Home Energy Magazine has a great article where they discuss the various types of insulation. In the article they lay out their findings on the embodied energy of the
Embodied Energy Of Insulation Read More »
I went by a house renovation the other day. They were doing all sorts of fancy stuff – especially a super high end radiant floor heating installation. And then they were putting in 3 1/2 inch fiberglass insulation for the exterior walls. From the perspective of a green brownstone builder that’s like ordering a really
Insulating a Brooklyn green brownstone Read More »
Spray foam insulation is good because it creates very good seals. You don’t have to worry about air leaks. The one thing it has against it is that it is petroleum based. There is a company that sells itself as a green alternative because it uses soy based oils instead. Biobased is one such company.
Soy Based Spray Foam Read More »
