Cellulose Insulation

According to the EPA, paper takes up roughly 27% of our landfills in the United States. Paper products alone are taking up more space than glass, plastic, and metals combined. Cellulose insulation is made up of roughly 85% recycled paper. People across the United States have primarily been using fiberglass insulation because of its price, fire resistance, consistent R values and sound absorption. Surprisingly these two types insulations are very comparable in terms of performance. Cellulose insulation came into general use around the 1970's although most homeowners and contractors use fiberglass insulation today. There are many advantages of using cellulose insulation over other types of insulation along with some disadvantages. Cellulose insulation is non-toxic and safe, while also being completely mold, insect, and rodent resistant. It is more fire resistant and uses only 10 inches of insulation to achieve R-38 rather than using 15 inches of fiberglass insulation. Some of the disadvantages of using this form of insulation that is that it needs a vapor barrier installed, and in some cases, it has been known to sag and absorb moisture when it is used reducing R value over time. Considering these facts and closely looking at the features of the most commonly used insulation across the United States, cellulose insulation could be the better alternative for not only performance but for reducing landfill use and preserving our environment we live in.