Expert Advice on Home Improvement TV Host of Emmy®-Nominated Today's Homeowner® and home expert for The Weather ChannelVideo, Green Living, Insulation Published 01/17/2008 by Danny Lipford
One of the first steps in creating a green home is finding innovative, environmentally friendly products to incorporate into the construction or remodeling process. According to Brian Welch, the publisher of Mother Earth News, green products are those manufactured from nontoxic, sustainable, or recycled materials. They also include items that save energy or can be easily recycled. Here are a few green products worth considering for your home.
Bonded Logic UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber insulation is made from recycled cotton material that has been treated with a nontoxic boron-based fire and mold retardant. It doesn’t release harmful chemicals into the air of your home and is free from the irritation caused by fiberglass insulation during installation.
BioBased Insulation is an environmentally friendly spray-on expanding foam insulation made from soybeans. Since it seals wall cavities completely, it has a high R-value. The inert material doesn’t release harmful fumes like some other foam insulations.
Solar Star attic exhaust fans from Solatube International have photovoltaic cells attached to the top of the unit and are powered by the sun. Though they cost more than traditional exhaust fans, installation is easy since no wiring is required, and there are never any operating costs.
Majestic Slate plastic polymer roofing from EcoStar is manufactured from recycled rubber and plastic. It has the look of real slate with only half the weight and can stand up to hurricane force winds. Best of all it comes with a 50-year warrenty and can be recycled again when it wears out.
HardiePlank® fiber cement siding from James Hardie Building Products is a green product that has become very popular in recent years. Made from cement, sand, cellulose fibers, and water; it is not only environmentally friendly but more extremely durable. It comes either primed or prefinished in a number of colors and is guaranteed for 50 years.
SoundStop® is a sound deadening fiberboard from Knight-Celotex that is made from recovered hardwood and sugarcane fibers. The panels are attached to the studs before the drywall goes up and reduce the transmission of sound from the outside as well as between rooms.
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February 8th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Have you ever considered adding aluminum siding and Aluminum trim products to your green message. Aluminum building products can be recycled over and over while maintaining all of it’s original properties.
February 19th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
We had the soy foam insulation installed in our kitchen remodel, and are very pleased with the results! It’s been great this winter.. one of the harshest Chicago has seen for a long time.
Ben Erickson Says:February 25th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Jay,
Thanks for your feedback about soy foam insulation. It’s good to know it works so well.
March 18th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Hey Danny, I met you at a party on Fish River a couple of years ago at Joe Hocklanders. I’m tore my old house down (just north of Joe) and i am rebuilding. My question is about foam insulation. The cost through a contractor is very expensive. Is this something that I can do myself? If so, what kind or brand do I use? (if you’d like to do a segment…)
Thanks