We all know a home must be well insulated to keep it warm and cozy in the winter and cool in the summer. The better insulated your home, the less you pay to heat and air condition it and the more energy you save.
That means insulation is a green building product…but is it really green insulation?
The old vermiculite insulation is usually contaminated with asbestos and can cause mesothelioma and other diseases.
You won't find a more natural green building product than sheep wool insulation
Traditional fiberglass insulations are filled with chemicals that emit harmful volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). Health consequences are varied and widespread, ranging from irritating respiratory ailments, to nausea, headaches and dizziness. Long-term exposure to VOCs has been linked to even more serious consequences, such as loss of coordination, damage to the kidneys, liver and central nervous system, and even cancer. Yes, it is sold as a green building product–even though it doesn’t really meet the standards of a truly green insulation.
An alternative is sheep’s wool insulation. Although this type of insulation has been available in England and other countries for quite some time, it has only recently begun being produced in the United States.
Margaret Magruder of Oregon Shepherd in Clatskanie, OR, said that when the wool market began to decline, local sheep farmers began looking for new ways to productively use their wool. They discovered that not only was sheep wool insulation a viable option for sustaining their livelihood, it was also an excellent way to help humans minimize their carbon footprint.
Why Sheep’s Wool is a Natural Choice for Insulation
Sheep have adapted to all kind of climates for many centuries. They live where it’s hot, cold, dry and damp. One of the main reasons they are so adaptable is that wool is a natural insulator. A unique trait of wool is its breathability. Because of the crimped nature of wool fibers, when packed together, these fibers form millions of minuscule air pockets. These pockets trap warm air in cold temperatures and release it in warm weather. It’s also able to absorb moisture from the air, then release it, and still maintain thermal efficiency.
Wool insulation is 100% sustainable, recyclable, and biodegradable. It can be used in all the same ways fiberglass insulation is used, helping keep homes and other buildings warm in the winter and cool in the summer, but in a safer, more environmentally friendly manner.
Sheep Wool Insulation Is Fire Resistant
Wool is a fire resistant material. When wool insulation is manufactured, a borate treatment is part of the process. Natural borate salts make the wool even more flame repellant and an added bonus is that borate is a natural pest and vermin control.
Sheep’s wool presents no health hazards. It repels mold and fungus, and it is not necessary to wear protective equipment when installing it. You can touch it and not suffer irritation to skin or eyes and wool fibers don’t irritate the lungs. Because of its breathability, wool is able to absorb and break down indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, helping keep the air in our homes cleaner and safer.
Green Living with Wool Insulation
There are many benefits to wool insulation, including the fact that it requires much less energy to produce the wool batts and loose-fill products used in both new construction and remodels. This green insulation can be manufactured with up to 80% less energy than other manmade alternatives.
Besides helping to maintain their profession, an additional benefit for the sheep farmers is that they can use all the wool they shear, even the part that isn’t up to snuff for traditional uses in clothing and other items. Before, these scrap pieces had to be discarded, so using wool for insulation helps the farmers to eliminate waste.
Insulation made from sheep’s wool is an idea created by Mother Nature. It is natural, sustainable, recyclable, and biodegradable and is free of VOC’s. It works efficiently to help heat and cool our homes and is now available in the U.S. It is still pricier than traditional fiberglass insulation, so that may play an important role when you are choosing what insulation to use in your home, however, sheep wool insulation is truly green and treats the planet as gently as a lamb. You can check out Oregon Shepherd’s wool insulation at local Oregon events, such as the Better Living Show in Portland.
Originally posted 2010-04-28 09:00:42. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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