The Colorado Study
Energy Conservation vs. Fiberglass
In December 1989 and January 1990 the University of Colorado at Denver School of
Architecture and Planning studied the energy conservation efficiency of two test buildings
that differed only in the insulation systems that had been installed.
Building "A" was insulated with 5.5 inches of sprayed-in cellulose in the walls and R-30
of loose-fill cellulose in the ceiling. Building "B" received R-19 unfaced fiberglass batts in
the walls and R-30 kraft-faced batts in the ceiling.
Over the two-month period a number of different tests and measurements were performed.
Here's what the University researchers learned.
- In spite of the fact that tests showed Building "B" was about 12% tighter
than Building "A" in the uninsulated state, after insulation was installed
building "A" was far tighter than "B". Calculations showed that cellulose
tightened the building 36% to 38% more than fiberglass.
- An overnight heat loss test revealed that after nine hours (midnight to 9
a.m.), the cellulose-insulated building was 7 degrees F warmer than the fiberglass building.
- Most significantly, after three weeks of monitoring the cellulose-insulated building had
used 26.4% less heat than the fiberglass building.
In their statement of conclusions the researchers note that results suggest cellulose
performs as much as 38% better than fiberglass. The performance advantage of cellulose
in temperate climates appears to be about 26%, and the report projects that "this benefit
would become more significant in more severe climates."
Cellulose insulation benefits not covered by the University of Colorado study include:
- Cellulose contains more than 75% recycled material. In accordance with EPA Guideline 40
CFR Part 248 it is the preferred (and in some cases required) building thermal insulation
for projects involving federal funds.
- Since production of cellulose requires much less energy than mineral fiber
insulation, which is made in gas-fired furnaces, and foam plastics, which are
petrochemicals, the "embodied" energy in cellulose is much lower per "R" of insulating
value than other materials. From the national perspective these savings at the
production stage must be added to the superiority of cellulose as an insulator.
If you're serious about saving money heating and cooling your home, about recycling and
responsible use of resources, and about saving energy for our country the only insulation
to seriously consider is cellulose.
Standards
Cellulose insulation is covered by the most comprehensive legal and voluntary
standards of any insulation material. To be sold at all cellulose insulation must meet the
requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Commission Safety Standard 16 CFR Part
1209. Most cellulose producers adhere to the much more stringent and comprehensive
American Society for Testing and Materials Standard C-739 for loose-fill cellulose
insulation and C-1149 for self-supporting spray-applied cellulose insulation. The
Federal Trade Commission R-Value Rule applies to cellulose -- as it does to all residential
thermal insulation.
A number of qualified independent product testing laboratories have cellulose insulation
certification programs to assure contractors and consumers that the material they buy
and install meets or exceeds government and industry standards. The National Association
of Home Builders National Research Center certifies the quality and performance of
cellulose insulation.
The labels of underwriters Laboratories, the United States Testing Company, or other
NAVLAP-approved laboratories, or the seal of the NAHB National Research Center are
reliable indicators of safe, effective cellulose insulation.
If you want insulation that's best for the nation,
for the environment, and for your checkbook,
choose CELLULOSE!
Scientists, engineers, and contractors have realized for many years that the most commonly-used
building insulation materials are really not the best insulators. Now this "conventional wisdom" of
energy conservation has been confirmed and quantified through scholarly research.
Houle Insulation Inc.
Our Specialty is Your Existing Home!®
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