Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about cellulose insulation and why thermal protection in buildings is important. If you have further questions on cellulose insulation, please contact NatraCel staff.

1. What is Insulation and How does it Work?
2. Why is Cellulose Insulation Better?
3. Is Cellulose Insulation fire-safe?
4. Can Cellulose Insulation help reduce building air-leakage?
5. Why should a home builder choose cellulose?
6. Why should consumers ask for cellulose?
7. How can I tell if I really got the advertised "R"-factor?

1. What is Insulation and How does it Work?

Insulation is a term describing any material that reduces -- resists -- heat flow by conduction. Conduction is a physical property of all materials, and along with "radiation" and "convection" describes one of three principal mechanisms of heat transfer.

The conductance of a material is the rate of heat flow that is induced by temperature differences between one side of a specific thickness of the material and the other. A material's conductance results in the thermal transmittance -- U-value -- of a specific assembly of materials -- such a wall -- that have thickness and density, and conduct heat over specific periods of time. The "R-factor" of a material is the inverse of its U-value. These factors help engineers, architects and code officials calculate energy efficiency of buildings.

2. Why is Cellulose Insulation Better?

There are several key reasons cellulose insulation is a superior product for buildings:

• higher R per centimeter values than most bulk insulation materials;
• reduces air-leakage;
• not as subject to convective heat loss;
• lower cost relative to competing products of similar thermal efficiency;
• fire safe;
• made from over 75% recycled material -- environmentally friendly;
• approved by all major code bodies;
• and, well tested and field proven.
  

3. Is Cellulose Insulation fire-safe?

Cellulose is the only insultaion material persifically manufacted to be totally fire resistant. On many ocassions homes have been saved from seros damage simply because celluso insulation was installed in the ceiling.


4. Can Cellulose Insulation help reduce building air-leakage?

Cellulose insulation has been shown to reduce air-leakage through wall and ceilings of buildings. Colorado University found cellulose at least 36 percent better than other types of insulation in tightening buildings, which resulted in a 26%+ overall improvement in energy efficiency.

Considerable research at the US DOE Oak Ridge National Laboratory shows cellulose insulation is not as subject to convective heat loss. Convection through insulation has been shown to reduce the actual R-values of comparable bulk materials from 20 to 40 percent, in cold weather. However, Oak Ridge found no R-value erosion with cellulose.)

5. Why should a home builder choose cellulose?

Cellulose insulation is cost effective, adds to housing affordability, meets codes, is easy to install, and helps differentiate your business as an environmentally friendly member of the development industry.


6. Why should consumers ask for cellulose?

Research and cost analysis shows that cellulose insulation performs better and costs less than competing forms.

Homes with cellulose insulation are comfortable, healthy and fire-safe.

In addition since it is an environmentally friendly product -- consisting of recycled materials -- consumers know they are helping the planet.

7. How can I tell if I really got the advertised "R"-factor?

Thanks to the Federal Trade Commission R-factor rule, every insulation installer now routinely provides a fact sheet documenting the insulation value of the products put into buildings in the United States. But in the real world consumers still need to be careful about the "advertised" R-factors and the realities of installed performance of insulation in the real world. Independent university researchers have documented actual performance of cellulose insulation in real buildings can exceed energy efficiency of mineral fiber insulated walls by nearly 40%, resulting in over a 26% reduction in whole building energy use.

The conclusion: consumer beware -- not all insulation is created equal.