Recycled content is the most immediately noticeable,<\/p>\n
environmentally beneficial feature of a product. <\/p>\n
Preference for a design, product or service based solely on<\/p>\n
this one attribute, however, can be misleading. The<\/p>\n
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other<\/p>\n
environmental experts recommend that a comparison of the<\/p>\n
environmental properties of competing products employ a<\/p>\n
life-cycle analysis.<\/p>\n
A life-cycle analysis is an appraisal of the environmental<\/p>\n
impacts connected with a product or service through an<\/p>\n
examination environmental traits of the product during the<\/p>\n
following stages: pre-manufacturing; manufacturing;<\/p>\n
distribution\/packaging; use, reuse, maintenance; and waste<\/p>\n
management. In other words, life-cycle is a “cradle-to-<\/p>\n
grave” assessment.<\/p>\n
Responding to the recommendation of environmental experts,<\/p>\n
the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association<\/p>\n
(NAIMA) has developed this brochure outlining the various<\/p>\n
life-cycle characteristics that specifiers should consider<\/p>\n
in determining the most relevant attributes of an<\/p>\n
environmentally preferable insulation product.<\/p>\n
An analysis of the pre-manufacturing stage should reflect<\/p>\n
environmental effects associated with all pre-manufacturing<\/p>\n
activities including raw material acquisition and<\/p>\n
intermediate processing. For example:<\/p>\n
Fiber Glass Insulation Is Made From Sand or Recycled Glass<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n always be in plentiful supply. Thus, the use of sand as<\/p>\n a raw material does not impose any impact on a non-<\/p>\n renewable natural resource.<\/p>\n secondary raw material. When used as a raw material,<\/p>\n recycled glass is transformed into a product that saves<\/p>\n energy and reduces pollution.<\/p>\n<\/ul>\n Slag Wool Insulation Is Made from Blast Furnace Slag<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n secondary source – blast furnace slag – and does not<\/p>\n deplete any natural resources.<\/p>\n<\/ul>\n Caution: Some Secondary Materials May Indirectly Deplete<\/p>\n Natural Resources<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n When a secondary raw material is used, consideration<\/p>\n should be given to whether its use may indirectly<\/p>\n accelerate the depletion of a natural resource. For<\/p>\n example, by using recycled newsprint for insulation, the<\/p>\n manufacturers of cellulose insulation have removed<\/p>\n newsprint from the recycling stream and forced printers to<\/p>\n rely upon virgin, rather than recycled, newsprint. This<\/p>\n translates into a further loss of renewable raw timber<\/p>\n resources.<\/p>\n Energy Consumption vs. Energy Saved<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n While the production of fiber glass and slag wool<\/p>\n insulation is energy-intensive, manufacturers have improved<\/p>\n energy efficiency substantially over the last decade by<\/p>\n using increasingly more sophisticated technology. It is<\/p>\n important to note that the energy used in production is<\/p>\n immediately replenished through the use of the final<\/p>\n product.<\/p>\n An evaluation of the manufacturing process should measure<\/p>\n inputs (such as energy consumption) and outputs (such as<\/p>\n air and water effluents).<\/p>\n Inputs<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n glass and slag wool producers annually to manufacture<\/p>\n insulation products; however, insulation produced each<\/p>\n year saves about 400 trillion Btu annually.<\/p>\n consumers about 12 quadrillion Btu annually or about 42<\/p>\n percent of the energy that would have been consumed with<\/p>\n no insulation in place. Twelve quadrillion Btu is<\/p>\n almost 15 percent of the total national energy used; it<\/p>\n is enough energy to supply the total energy requirements<\/p>\n of Florida for 4 years.<\/p>\n energy in its first year in place as the energy used to<\/p>\n produce it.<\/p>\n<\/ul>\n Outputs<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Most fiber glass and slag wool manufacturing facilities<\/p>\n utilize a closed-loop water recycling system making waste<\/p>\n water effluent discharges nonexistent. While manufacturing<\/p>\n facilities emit certain air pollutants, both the fiber<\/p>\n glass and slag wool industries will soon adopt maximum<\/p>\n achievable control technology (MACT) to help limit the<\/p>\n amount of air pollutants emitted into the atmosphere.<\/p>\n These new controls will supplement existing controls that<\/p>\n already substantially reduce potential air emissions from<\/p>\n the manufacturing process.<\/p>\n lutants emitted into the atmosphere.<\/p>\n PACKAGING AND TRANSPORTATION<\/strong><\/p>\n Total Product Volume<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n A life-cycle analysis should consider the total product<\/p>\n volume it takes to accomplish an assigned task. For<\/p>\n example:<\/p>\n an R-value of R-30 in the attic, and an R-13 in the<\/p>\n exterior walls, requires 2,695 pounds of cellulose<\/p>\n insulation, which is three times more material per house<\/p>\n than fiber glass.<\/p>\n than other insulation products, the packaging for fiber<\/p>\n glass products requires significantly less material. <\/p>\n For example, to insulate a typical 2,500 sq. ft. house<\/p>\n requires 30 packages of fiber glass compared with 109<\/p>\n cellulose insulation packages.<\/p>\n<\/ul>\n RECYCLABLE PACKAGING<\/strong><\/p>\n Fiber glass and slag wool manufacturers now use recyclable<\/p>\n plastic packaging as a way to conserve resources. <\/p>\n Packaging is often coded for material identification, and<\/p>\n can be recycled in areas where facilities exist.<\/p>\n LESS ENERGY USED TO TRANSPORT MATERIALS<\/strong><\/p>\n Due to the compact nature of fiber glass and slag wool<\/p>\n insulation, combined with compression packaging, the actual<\/p>\n amount of packaging material has been reduced and the<\/p>\n result is less scrap at the job site and in the waste<\/p>\n stream. Since fiber glass and slag wool insulation<\/p>\n products are so highly compressed, more insulation can be<\/p>\n shipped in each truck and the result is a reduction in the<\/p>\n energy required for transportation.<\/p>\n PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS<\/strong><\/p>\n Judging a Product’s Ability to Perform Its Intended<\/p>\n Function<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Due to the compact nature of fiber glass and slag wool<\/p>\n insulation, combined with compression packaging, the actual<\/p>\n amount of packaging material has been reduced and the<\/p>\n result is less scrap at the job site and in the waste<\/p>\n stream. Since fiber glass and slag wool insulation<\/p>\n products are so highly compressed, more insulation can be<\/p>\n shipped in each truck and the result is a reduction in the<\/p>\n energy required for transportation.<\/p>\n R-Value<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n R-value is resistance to heat flow — the higher the R-<\/p>\n value, the greater the insulating power. Thickness of<\/p>\n insulation is only one factor that determines its R-value. <\/p>\n In fact, insulation should always be specified by R-value,<\/p>\n not thickness.<\/p>\n Fiber glass and slag wool insulations are high<\/p>\n performance products that yield a high R-value per inch,<\/p>\n which varies depending on density. The overall R-value<\/p>\n installed in the building is the measurement to look for,<\/p>\n not the R-value per inch.<\/p>\n Settling<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n A product’s R-value should not deteriorate over time. If<\/p>\n an insulation product settles, the installed thermal<\/p>\n performance is directly impacted. Therefore, specifiers<\/p>\n should consider a product’s ability to resist settling and<\/p>\n maintain its thermal performance for the life of the<\/p>\n building.<\/p>\n Water Absorption<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n In general, insulation will lose R-value when wet. Some<\/p>\n insulation is made of material that does not wick up and<\/p>\n hold water, but other insulations will absorb water and may<\/p>\n mat down causing permanent reduction in the thermal<\/p>\n performance.<\/p>\n Corrosion and Flame Resistance<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Certain chemicals routinely applied as a fire retardant to<\/p>\n most cellulose insulations can cause the corrosion of pipes<\/p>\n and wires under some conditions. Flame resistance is<\/p>\n another performance feature that should be weighted in<\/p>\n selecting an insulation material. <\/p>\n combustible and remain so for the life of the product. <\/p>\n Fiber glass and slag wool require no additional fire<\/p>\n retardant chemical treatments.<\/p>\n newspaper, and wood-based products are naturally<\/p>\n combustible. To protect against fire hazards, cellulose<\/p>\n insulation is heavily treated with fire retardant<\/p>\n chemicals prior to installation. Typically, 540 pounds<\/p>\n of fire retardant chemicals are added to cellulose<\/p>\n insulation used to insulate a 2,500 square foot home. <\/p>\n The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) mandates<\/p>\n that cellulose packages carry a fire hazard warning for<\/p>\n consumers and users.<\/p>\n<\/ul>\n USE, REUSE AND MAINTENANCE<\/strong><\/p>\n Fiber Glass and Slag Wool Insulations are Reusable<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Most modern buildings are subject to expansion, remodeling, or<\/p>\n some other type of renovation during their lifetime. Because of<\/p>\n this, the reusable nature of a product is a key factor in the<\/p>\n life-cycle analysis. For example:<\/p>\n easily and actually put back in place. In other words,<\/p>\n they are reusable. This is not true of all insulation<\/p>\n materials. Certain foams or aerated concrete require<\/p>\n extensive chiseling to remove the insulation. Such an<\/p>\n operation can result in loss of building materials that are<\/p>\n damaged in the removal process and loss of the insulation<\/p>\n itself.<\/p>\n maintenance. This eliminates the expenditure of energy or<\/p>\n natural resources associated with maintenance operations.<\/p>\n the life of the building if undisturbed. A long life<\/p>\n expectancy saves money on replacements and retrofits, and<\/p>\n also ensures that no additional material is entering the<\/p>\n waste stream.<\/p>\n<\/ul>\n RECYCLED CONTENT<\/strong><\/p>\n High Recycled Content<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Not only do fiber glass and slag wool insulation products save<\/p>\n energy, they use a high percentage of recycled material which<\/p>\n further helps the environment. In addition to reducing demand<\/p>\n on virgin resources, using recycled materials saves landfill<\/p>\n space by diverting materials from the solid waste stream, and<\/p>\n reduces the energy used, and pollution emitted, during the<\/p>\n manufacturing process. Recent surveys on the amount of recycled<\/p>\n content in fiber glass and slag wool insulations include the<\/p>\n following facts:<\/p>\n Fiber Glass<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n manufacturers in 1996 was over one billion pounds.<\/p>\n million cu. ft. of landfill space at a density of 37<\/p>\n lbs.\/cu. ft. (semi-crushed glass).<\/p>\n percent recycled materials, depending on the plant in which<\/p>\n they are produced.<\/p>\n by weight than any other type of insulation used the<\/p>\n building and construction sector.<\/p>\n insulation is the largest secondary market for recycled<\/p>\n glass containers.<\/p>\n<\/ul>\n Slag Wool<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n insulation manufacturers in 1996 was more than one billion<\/p>\n pounds.<\/p>\n savings of over 16 million cu. ft. of landfill space.<\/p>\n approximately 6 percent — of the blast furnace slag<\/p>\n produced in the United States that might otherwise end up<\/p>\n in a landfill.<\/p>\n acquisition is new slag purchased directly from<\/p>\n manufacturers. The remaining 10 percent is mined from<\/p>\n waste disposal sites.<\/p>\n<\/ul>\n HEALTH ISSUES<\/strong><\/p>\n Tested vs. Untested Products<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n An important feature of a life-cycle analysis is whether a<\/p>\n product or service poses human health risks. The EPA has listed<\/p>\n carcinogenicity and irritancy as attributes that justify<\/p>\n labeling a product as a human health risk. Consumer products of<\/p>\n all kinds currently carry these labels. Just because one<\/p>\n product has been thoroughly tested for carcinogenicity and<\/p>\n irritancy (e.g., fiber glass and slag wool insulations) and<\/p>\n another has not (e.g., cellulose insulation) should not imply<\/p>\n environmental preference for the non-tested product. Indeed,<\/p>\n the failure of a manufacturer adequately to test its product<\/p>\n should be a critical factor in determining that a product is not<\/p>\n environmentally preferable.<\/p>\n When evaluating alleged health hazards of a product, specifiers<\/p>\n should distinguish: a) between products that impose potential<\/p>\n risks in the manufacturing process, but not in use of the final<\/p>\n product, and b) between those products which pose risks in both<\/p>\n the manufacturing process and the final use of the product.<\/p>\n Fiber Glass and Slag Wool Are Safe to Manufacture, Install and<\/p>\n Use<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Fiber glass and slag wool manufacturers have funded over 50<\/p>\n million dollars of research at leading independent laboratories<\/p>\n and universities in the United States and abroad. In the past<\/p>\n ten years, there have been a number of comprehensive reviews of<\/p>\n research on the health aspects of fiber glass and slag wool by<\/p>\n U.S. and international organizations. These reviews have<\/p>\n concluded that fiber glass and slag wool have not been shown to<\/p>\n cause cancer or nonmalignant diseases in humans. Indeed, the<\/p>\n weight of scientific evidence demonstrates that fiber glass and<\/p>\n slag wool insulations are safe to manufacture, install and use<\/p>\n when practical recommended work practices are followed.<\/p>\n WASTE MANAGEMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n Recyclable<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Another factor of importance in a life-cycle analysis is whether<\/p>\n the product is recyclable. As mentioned previously, fiber glass<\/p>\n and slag wool insulations are reusable after the initial<\/p>\n installation and, therefore, are recyclable. Fiber glass also<\/p>\n has the capacity to be reclaimed from demolition debris and<\/p>\n recycled into new products. In fact, fiber glass trimming at<\/p>\n manufacturing facilities is routinely placed back into the mix<\/p>\n and converted into usable products. Not all insulation products<\/p>\n possess such a characteristic.<\/p>\n mmended work practices are followed.<\/p>\n SAFEGUARDING THE ENVIRONMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n Fiber glass and slag wool insulation products make buildings<\/p>\n more energy efficient, reducing the amount of fossil fuel<\/p>\n combustion needed to heat and cool homes, businesses, and<\/p>\n factories, which, in turn, decreases the amount of sulfur<\/p>\n dioxide and carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere.<\/p>\n Because carbon dioxide is one of the principal “greenhouse<\/p>\n gases” contributing to global warming, and sulfur dioxide is the<\/p>\n major component of acid rain, insulation plays a significant<\/p>\n role in protecting the environment. For example, insulation<\/p>\n currently in place in U.S. buildings reduces the amount of<\/p>\n carbon dioxide emissions by 780 million tons each year.<\/p>\n The fiber glass and slag wool industries are also<\/p>\n safeguarding the integrity of the ecological balance by<\/p>\n manufacturing products whose components may be recovered and<\/p>\n reused at the end useful life of the product. Fiber glass and<\/p>\n slag wool insulations sustain the energy life-cycle by<\/p>\n transforming what might otherwise be waste products into<\/p>\n insulation material that can be used over and over again.<\/p>\n Indeed, from a life-cycle perspective, fiber glass and slag<\/p>\n wool insulation offer tremendous benefits to the environment and<\/p>\n complement policies which promote environmentally preferred<\/p>\n products.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Using recycled materials is just the first step.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":[55],"featured_media":0,"template":"","categories":[29],"class_list":["post-7486","articles","type-articles","status-publish","hentry","category-environmental-control","author-angus-e-crane"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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MANUFACTURING STAGE<\/h5>\n
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