While fiberglass insulation remains popular, homeowners should consider cellulose insulation for their next home improvement project. Not only is cellulose insulation a sustainable material, but it can save up to one fifth of the energy costs when compared to fiberglass. And although it may be more difficult to install, cellulose insulation offers several advantages that make it worth a look.

Image Courtesy Cellulose.org

R-value is King

Although cellulose insulation has a very slight advantage in R-value per square inch of material when compared to fiberglass, the real gains go beyond a single number. Perhaps the largest advantage of cellulose insulation is its ability to eliminate gaps between the insulation and wall. These gaps are often a large source of energy loss, and one that fiberglass insulation cannot easily address.

In fact, some studies indicate that cellulose insulation can prevent 20% more energy loss than fiberglass due to its superior ability to reduce air infiltration.

One of the least expensive and easiest ways to reduce heating and cooling costs is to insulate your electrical outlets. While most people don't consider this to be a major source of energy loss, keep in mind that behind every faceplate that covers a light switch or electrical outlet is a hole in your wall. Adding a foam insulating gasket allows you to create a tight seal between the wall and the faceplate without altering the appearance of the socket.

Cotton insulation is a green building material that requires less energy to produce and is far more renewable than its largest competitor: fiberglass. Even those homeowners without environmental concerns are often won over by this product that has better acoustical properties and is easier to work with than its competitors.

Cotton insulation may be made of cotton grown for the purpose of insulation or from scraps of cotton cloth or scraps of recycled cotton. Cotton insulation made from the fabric scraps from denim jeans gained prominence because of its distinctive blue color. This cotton denim insulation required that the scraps be cleaned, made into fibers, mixed with a flame retardant and rolled into batts.

Insuladd is a paint additive that is guaranteed to reduce your heating and cooling bills. Developed by NASA to protect buildings located in close proximity to launch sites, "Insuladd can be mixed into cement, stucco coating, adobe mix and interior or exterior oil or latex paints. It is inert and non-reactive, so there is no smell or dust when it's poured for mixing. And, it is made largely from recycled materials. The main component of the insulating additive is fly ash, a byproduct of coal-fired electric generating plants." It can be used for interior or exterior applications and is considered safe, non-toxic and environmentally friendly. It is the only paint insulating additive endorsed by NASA. Actually, a company called Hy-Tech Thermal Solutions, a 2003 NASA Technology Spinoff Company, is the original.

Here's a little background about the product direct from the Hy-Tech and here's how it originated with NASA .

Thanks for the tip from Amanda!