Cellulose insulation is the green solution when it comes to insulating your home. This type of insulation is made primarily from recycled material, about 80% being newspaper and cardboard, about 20% being a fire retardant. Applied in either its wet or dry form, cellulose insulation comes with many benefits: being the green option, it reduces the carbon footprint; it does not contain fiberglass and thus is better for the occupant’s health; it is cheaper than the standard insulation; and it comes with less risks of fire and insect infestation. Let us take a more in depth look at some of the benefits of this insulation option.
If you are not building a home from the ground up, but want to install insulation into a home that is already built, cellulose insulation is the way to go. Because it is installed using loose-fill material, this option is ideal for filling large spaces that are already built and enclosed. Rather than needing to tear down the entire wall, cellulose is installed by merely drilling a few holes into the wall and blowing the loose-fill in. Cellulose insulation will not only save you in wall repairs, but it is also the least invasive option for those who are currently living in the home.
When compared with other insulation materials such as wool and fiberglass, cellulose is on the cheaper end of the spectrum. Using this insulation will save you in costs, and the bigger the space you are filling, the more you will save. This option is thus especially encouraged when filling large spaces, such as attics. Being an insulator, cellulose will also save you money when it comes to your energy bills. It will keep cold drafts out during the winter and keep heat out during the summer, so that your heating and air conditioning system will not have to work as hard.
Finally, cellulose is the healthiest insulation option for both the occupants and the environment. Being made of mostly recycled materials, there are no harmful chemicals that are used in the insulation. Other insulation options are known to cause health issues such as respiratory problems, and if you are trying to keep your inhabitants healthy, cellulose is the best option. Cellulose also has the lowest carbon footprint of all the insulation options, and thus is also the most environmentally friendly.