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Advertising supplement provided by Owens Corning

Uses recycled materials — The category of insulation now includes products made from old newspapers and denim jeans, but even the most widely available and commonly used insulation products have substantial amounts of recycled content. Fiberglass insulation, for example, has up to 40 percent recycled glass content including both pre- and post-consumer waste.

Extruded polystyrene foam insulation — commonly used for roof and exterior insulation, sheathing, and foundation perimeter and cavity wall insulation — can have up to 20 percent recycled content. Manufacturers’ claims for recycled content are backed up by Scientific Certification Systems, a leading, independent, third-party certifier of product attributes.

Meets emission standards — The indoor air quality concern for most green building projects is the potential release of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions. Acceptable threshold levels of VOCs have been established and many product manufacturers are submitting their materials to meet third-party certification guidelines.

Formaldehyde is one VOC getting attention through marketing claims and in the media. The compound is used to manufacture a wide variety of building materials and household products, and it is ubiquitous in the natural environment. Common sources of formaldehyde in the home include pressed wood products, carpeting, cigarette smoke and fuel-burning appliances, and it is used in personal clothing and household cleaners. Within standard fiberglass insulation, the amount of formaldehyde is only a trace amount – less than 0.1 percent. At that low level, and because fiberglass insulation is oven cured during the manufacturing process, out-gassing of formaldehyde is so low that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the EPA do not consider fiberglass insulation to be a significant source of formaldehyde in the home.

Reduces pollution — Two recent Harvard studies showed that upgrading insulation levels could result in fewer deaths and reduced instances of respiratory ailments and other diseases associated with air pollution.

The study showed that with every BTU of energy produced, harmful gases such as nitrous oxide (NOx) and sulfur oxide (SOx) are released into the air, causing pollution in our communities. A well-insulated home or commercial building reduces the amount of energy required to maintain a comfortable living or working environment. Reducing energy consumption means power plants burn less fossil fuel to produce the energy and the result is a reduction in polluting gases emitted into our communities. Each BTU saved through energy efficiency means cleaner air to breathe.