Comments on: Green architecture – California Academy of Sciences http://www.robaid.com/tech/green-architecture-california-academy-of-sciences.htm Who said robots aren't fun? Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:11:48 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: gd http://www.robaid.com/tech/green-architecture-california-academy-of-sciences.htm/comment-page-1#comment-63 gd Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:43:56 +0000 http://www.robaid.com/?p=1712#comment-63 Fiberglass insulation is made of silica sand and recycled glass, both abundant resources. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that 20 percent of materials come from recycled sources, either post-consumer or post-industrial, and some products contain up to 40 percent. Producing fiberglass insulation requires melting the materials in a fossil fuel–burning furnace, which consumes substantial amounts of energy and generates greater amounts of air pollution than the manufacture of other insulation types. If installed properly, there is little danger of inhaling fibers, which are throat, eye, and skin irritants. Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration still requires cancer warning labels on fiberglass insulation products, the American Lung Association states that glass fibers are not linked to increased cancer risk, even among glass fiber manufacturing workers. Fibers can escape into the air during installation—or if duct-work is not sealed properly, and that can become a problem for the residents. Because of the concern that fiberglass emits phenol-formaldehyde, some manufacturers have switched to nontoxic acrylic binders or have had their products certified by Greenguard as low-emitting products. (A low-emitting product has half of what the EPA considers elevated formaldehyde levels.) Loose-fill fiberglass seals air spaces best since it is blown in, preventing air movement and heat loss. Low-density batts are most commonly used, but can lose up to 50 percent of their R-value in cold climates due to moisture infiltration. High-density batts cost more, but have a higher R-value; they will pay back the difference in lower energy bills, especially in cold climates. Denim insulation, unlike pure natural cotton, is made from recycled materials, thus reducing a whole lot of new pollution emissions, keeping them at current levels. The sound insulation property is absolutely true, since denim insulation found its use even in acoustic sound barrier uses (as main or secondary sound insulator and echo canceler). The warmth property depends on particular insulation types and treatment. The fire-retardant is borate based. It is a non-toxic material (used as eye-wash for newborns) that also acts as a great pest inhibitor. Hope I answered your questions. Fiberglass insulation is made of silica sand and recycled glass, both abundant resources. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that 20 percent of materials come from recycled sources, either post-consumer or post-industrial, and some products contain up to 40 percent.

Producing fiberglass insulation requires melting the materials in a fossil fuel–burning furnace, which consumes substantial amounts of energy and generates greater amounts of air pollution than the manufacture of other insulation types.

If installed properly, there is little danger of inhaling fibers, which are throat, eye, and skin irritants. Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration still requires cancer warning labels on fiberglass insulation products, the American Lung Association states that glass fibers are not linked to increased cancer risk, even among glass fiber manufacturing workers.

Fibers can escape into the air during installation—or if duct-work is not sealed properly, and that can become a problem for the residents. Because of the concern that fiberglass emits phenol-formaldehyde, some manufacturers have switched to nontoxic acrylic binders or have had their products certified by Greenguard as low-emitting products. (A low-emitting product has half of what the EPA considers elevated formaldehyde levels.)

Loose-fill fiberglass seals air spaces best since it is blown in, preventing air movement and heat loss. Low-density batts are most commonly used, but can lose up to 50 percent of their R-value in cold climates due to moisture infiltration. High-density batts cost more, but have a higher R-value; they will pay back the difference in lower energy bills, especially in cold climates.

Denim insulation, unlike pure natural cotton, is made from recycled materials, thus reducing a whole lot of new pollution emissions, keeping them at current levels. The sound insulation property is absolutely true, since denim insulation found its use even in acoustic sound barrier uses (as main or secondary sound insulator and echo canceler). The warmth property depends on particular insulation types and treatment. The fire-retardant is borate based. It is a non-toxic material (used as eye-wash for newborns) that also acts as a great pest inhibitor.

Hope I answered your questions.

]]> By: Bruce Ray http://www.robaid.com/tech/green-architecture-california-academy-of-sciences.htm/comment-page-1#comment-61 Bruce Ray Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:25:47 +0000 http://www.robaid.com/?p=1712#comment-61 I continue to be confused about green and sustainability claims for denim insulation. People who certainly appear to be intelligent and well-intentioned never bother to consider that there would appear to be no support for many of those claims. That said, let’s look at the claims in this article. - “. . . made from recycled blue jeans.” Denim insulation is made from post-industrial denim scraps, some of which is sourced from Mexico. http://www.bondedlogic.com/ultratouch-cotton.htm - “organic alternative” Just because a product is plant derived does not automatically mean that it is better. Are pesticides and herbicides used to grow the cotton? How much water is needed for the cotton and what water pollution is generated? Mexico is not known for its strong environmental laws. Nor is denim insulation “organic” unless there is substantiation that the cotton was cultivated according to well-established organic agriculture. - “formaldehyde-laden insulation materials” Johns Manville’s entire line of fiber glass building insulation is made without any added formaldehyde. Also, some denim is treated with a formaldehyde-based resin to impart wrinkle-free properties. Are there test data to confirm there is no formaldehyde added to the denim? - “holds more heat and absorbs sound better than spun fiberglass insulation.” I know of no data to substantiate this claim. - “safer to handle” How is handling safety measured and where are the data to support this claim? Remember that if a denim insulation batt weighs ten pounds, fully 1.5 pound of that is added fire retardant chemicals. - “doesn’t require installers to wear protective clothing or respirators.” Are people aware what the MSDS for this product states? In section VIII Control Measures the MSDS states the following: “Respiratory Protection (Specify Type) OSHA APPROVED AIR MASK.” See http://www.bondedlogic.com/documents/UltraTouchMSDS.pdf - “treated with fire retardants and fungicides to prevent mildew” Two claims are usually made for denim insulation – it is safe and the added fire retardant chemicals (15% by weight) are strong enough to prevent mildew and kills pests. Are these claims inconsistent? What do the data show? - denim insulation is also touted as more sustainable, but again I know of no data to support such a claim. What are the conditions of the agricultural workers (who plant, cultivate and harvest the cotton) and the textile workers. Again, Mexico is not known for its strong labor laws. What pesticides and herbicides are used in the cotton cultivation? How much water is needed and how much water pollution is generated? Much agriculture is carbon intensive, especially if chemical fertilizer is used. And do the cotton farms have strict environmental permits? What chemicals are used to dye the denim? What water pollution is generated by the denim manufacturing process? What do the data show? Full disclosure: I work for Johns Manville, which makes an entire line of Formaldehyde-FreeTM fiber glass building insulation. Our factories in the US and Canada operate pursuant to strict environmental permits and our workers are full-time employees with full benefits. Our factories operate in a culture of maximum health and safety. Fiber glass is naturally non-combustible and does not need fire retardant chemicals. JM’s insulation contains 20% post-consumer recycled content. And JM has been recognized as a Climate Action Leader. I continue to be confused about green and sustainability claims for denim insulation. People who certainly appear to be intelligent and well-intentioned never bother to consider that there would appear to be no support for many of those claims. That said, let’s look at the claims in this article.
- “. . . made from recycled blue jeans.” Denim insulation is made from post-industrial denim scraps, some of which is sourced from Mexico. http://www.bondedlogic.com/ultratouch-cotton.htm
- “organic alternative” Just because a product is plant derived does not automatically mean that it is better. Are pesticides and herbicides used to grow the cotton? How much water is needed for the cotton and what water pollution is generated? Mexico is not known for its strong environmental laws. Nor is denim insulation “organic” unless there is substantiation that the cotton was cultivated according to well-established organic agriculture.
- “formaldehyde-laden insulation materials” Johns Manville’s entire line of fiber glass building insulation is made without any added formaldehyde. Also, some denim is treated with a formaldehyde-based resin to impart wrinkle-free properties. Are there test data to confirm there is no formaldehyde added to the denim?
- “holds more heat and absorbs sound better than spun fiberglass insulation.” I know of no data to substantiate this claim.
- “safer to handle” How is handling safety measured and where are the data to support this claim? Remember that if a denim insulation batt weighs ten pounds, fully 1.5 pound of that is added fire retardant chemicals.
- “doesn’t require installers to wear protective clothing or respirators.” Are people aware what the MSDS for this product states? In section VIII Control Measures the MSDS states the following: “Respiratory Protection (Specify Type) OSHA APPROVED AIR MASK.” See http://www.bondedlogic.com/documents/UltraTouchMSDS.pdf
- “treated with fire retardants and fungicides to prevent mildew” Two claims are usually made for denim insulation – it is safe and the added fire retardant chemicals (15% by weight) are strong enough to prevent mildew and kills pests. Are these claims inconsistent? What do the data show?
- denim insulation is also touted as more sustainable, but again I know of no data to support such a claim. What are the conditions of the agricultural workers (who plant, cultivate and harvest the cotton) and the textile workers. Again, Mexico is not known for its strong labor laws. What pesticides and herbicides are used in the cotton cultivation? How much water is needed and how much water pollution is generated? Much agriculture is carbon intensive, especially if chemical fertilizer is used. And do the cotton farms have strict environmental permits? What chemicals are used to dye the denim? What water pollution is generated by the denim manufacturing process? What do the data show?

Full disclosure: I work for Johns Manville, which makes an entire line of Formaldehyde-FreeTM fiber glass building insulation. Our factories in the US and Canada operate pursuant to strict environmental permits and our workers are full-time employees with full benefits. Our factories operate in a culture of maximum health and safety. Fiber glass is naturally non-combustible and does not need fire retardant chemicals. JM’s insulation contains 20% post-consumer recycled content. And JM has been recognized as a Climate Action Leader.

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