SOY INSULATION

Soy insulation seals a structure's thermal envelope, making it more durable, healthier, and more energy efficient than traditionally insulated homes. When used in conjunction with other energy efficient
restoration materials, homeowners will use much less energy maintaining ideal temperatures in their home. In addition to being energy efficient, Soy Insulation is made from soy bean oil, which is an annually renewable resource, making it the most environmentally responsible insulating material on the market.

Soy Insulation expands when it is sprayed into place - sealing holes, cracks, rough-in openings, perimeter joists, and other areas that conventional methods can't touch. It flexes with the building, maintains its seal, and keeps its shape so that the "R-value" remains true for the life of the building.

FIBERGLASS INSULATION
SOY INSULATION
*R-VALUE: R-3.3/inch*R-VALUE: R-5.5/inch
*contains ozone-depleting HCFCs

* contains lead and/ or fermaldehyde

* indoor air quality effects

Formaldehyde used to bind fiberglass makes this
insulation less than ideal for many because of
concerns about off-gassing. The fear that
fiberglass may cause cancer, respiratory diseases
or allergies in the long term (like asbestos) has also
been an issue although studies haven’t proven a link.
It does cause irritation with direct contact and high
levels can aggravate asthma or bronchitis. Fiberglass also contains lead.

(From: The Renewable Planet)
* No HCFCs

* No lead or fermaldehyde

* Prevents air leakage

* Doesn’t settle

* No indoor air quality effects

Soy Insulation creates a continuous air barrier
around your home or structure which allows you
to block harmful outside irritants such as mold,
pollen, or other allergens and improves indoor air quality.

(From: Bio-Based Soy Insulation)

* R-value is derived from a controlled laboratory test of insulation’s resistance to conductive heat flow.

Excerpts from:
"Soy Spray Foam Insulation",
By Deborah L. O'Mara


"That snappy little legume known as the soybean is now a force in green building.

For decades, the soybean has been a staple of the agricultural economy. Now, soy-based products shine bright in a different spotlight. Soy-based emollients have been featured on shop-at-home cable television, soy roof coatings have been used in renovating the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and soy elevator grease is doing its job in
the Statute of Liberty in New York City.

Much of the current attention garnered on the bean is on construction materials, especially in projects for clients with chemical sensitivities or allergies or who just want better indoor air quality. Soybean-based products contain no urea/formaldehyde and, while they are processed with chemicals, they release no volatile chemicals or other toxic emissions. Some of the soy-based products now on the market include carpet backings; wood and concrete coatings and stains; adhesives; roofing; and structural membrane coatings. Its latest role is as an insulating material.

Resistant to mold and mildew, soy foam insulation is sprayed on; the product expands in the wall like similar products. According to the United Soybean Board (USB), soy insulation provides insulation characteristics that are as good as or better in four-inch walls as traditional batting insulations with six-inch stud construction. And unlike traditional batting, it's free of formaldehyde. Soy-based insulation may also reduce building costs by decreasing the amount of lumber used.


The USB has a cooperative initiative known as the national soybean checkoff. Under the program, an assessment of 0.5 (one-half) of 1 percent of the net market price of soybeans is collected, and all producers marketing soybeans must pay the assessment. The funds are used to promote and educate and conduct research on soybeans, and it
seems to be working.

Safety First

Don Duffy, the owner of a company that produces soy-based polyurethane foams, says soy insulation is safer than other building products. Don says it's a natural for remodelers to offer soy-based insulation to customers, who increasingly request healthy homes. "It does not emit gases and chemicals, long or short term, like those present in many other different types of building materials. It's easy to form into shapes and lightweight."