Add insulation to your basement
Why This is Green
Adding insulation to your basement or crawlspace can save energy costs, but it must be done carefully. If added the wrong way, it can create unintended and unwanted issues like excess moisture (which can lead to mold), increased radon (which causes lung cancer), and pest infestations (which are icky and can require toxic chemicals to remedy). Generally speaking, insulating the interior walls, as opposed to the exterior ones, costs less and is less likely to cause problems, provided that there is adequate moisture control in place.
Technically any insulation is considered green because of the considerable energy benefits. However, the materials used in some types of insulation are greener than others. For example, some are made from recycled denim, newspapers, or wool. These are generally formaldehyde-free—a good thing as formaldehyde is a carcinogen (“known” in Europe and “suspected” in the United States) that has been linked to allergies and asthma. There are even foams on the market made from rapidly renewable products that don’t use ozone-depleting chemicals.
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How To
Select the appropriate R-value for where you live—that’s the measure of the insulations’ resistance to heat flow. For basements in Florida and deep Texas it’s 0, while up in Northern Maine, you’re looking for R-15.
Assess moisture levels and complete air sealing prior to adding insulation.
Get help if you need it; an experienced contractor can review your options, determine whether radon mitigation is required, and check out humidity levels.
Recommended Products
- Thermax
- BioBased 501
- Icynene- Energy Efficient Insulation
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