About Cellulose Insulation

GreenFiber Insulation is Packaged and Displayed to Sell

Using GreenFiber Insulation is a great way for homeowners to insulate more efficiently. GreenFiber has a strong selection of products and accessories for your home’s needs.

GreenFiber Insulation

The bottom line for homeowners is that it is possible to achieve greater comfort and lower energy bills* at the same time, through tighter construction and better insulation. Whether it’s our loose-fill cellulose used for insulating attics, or our stabilized insulation for protecting your entire home, GreenFiber Insulation gives you a durable, safe, cost-effective solution to your insulation needs.

*Savings vary. Find out why in the seller’s fact sheet on R-Values. Higher R-Values mean greater insulating power.

Benefits

Protect Your Home—Effectively GreenFiber Insulation forms a monolithic blanket of protection—blocking air infiltration and convection currents that are both primary causes of energy loss.

Insulate Against the Seasons The R-value of GreenFiber Insulation, or its ability to stop heat transfer, remains consistent through a greater temperature and application range than that of loose-fill fiberglass, keeping heat in during the winter, and out during the summer.

Make Your Home Safe GreenFiber Insulation can increase a wall’s fire resistance by 22-57%. Cellulose insulation is non-toxic, and GreenFiber guarantees its products for the life of your house.

Insulate Your House and Preserve Your Planet GreenFiber Insulation resists moisture, reduces noise, and preserves natural resources.

Bring the Smarter Insulation to Your House  Install GreenFiber loose-fill attic insulation yourself, or have stabilized insulation installed by a Texas Home Contractor  professional.

US GreenFiber (USGF) does not provide architectural, inspection, engineering or building science services and disclaims any responsibility with respect thereto.  USGF does not guarantee, warrant or attempt to determine whether a building structure, design or the use of material therein complies with any applicable codes, standards, guidelines or standards of workmanship.  Adding insulation to any part of a home’s envelope will cause changes in air, heat and moisture flow.  The user must understand how the use of insulation will change the performance of a dwelling prior to installation.  The user maintains the full and complete responsibility to comply with all codes, laws and regulations applicable to the safe and proper use, handling and installation of the product and should consult with an architect, engineer, building scientist, and/or a rater/energy specialist for all construction, design and performance related questions.  The information contained herein is believed to be accurate as of the time of preparation.  However, USGF makes no warranty concerning the accuracy of this information.  USGF will not be liable for claims relating to the use of information contained herein, regardless of whether it is claimed that the information or recommendations are inaccurate, incomplete or incorrect.

Bring the Smarter Insulation to Your House

• Install GreenFiber™ Insulation yourself, or have stabilized insulation installed by a Texas Home Contractor Insulation professional.
• GreenFiber Insulation may be used in walls and attics of residential or commercial structures. It may be used in cathedral or flat ceilings, crawl spaces, basements and as insulation under floors. GreenFiber Insulation may be blown in horizontal applications such as attics and crawl spaces, and professionally sprayed (with carefully controlled moisture) into wall cavities and attics in new construction. 
• Calculate How Much GreenFiber Insulation You Need
• First, determine the R-value recommended for your region. R-value indicates insulating power or thermal resistance (chart at left). Once you know your target R-value, refer to the GreenFiber Insulation coverage chart (on GreenFiber Insulation product bag or see charts below). This chart will indicate, for a 1,000-square-foot area, how many bags of GreenFiber Insulation you will need to purchase and how many inches of coverage you will need. To calculate exactly how much GreenFiber Insulation you need for a specific number of square feet, you can use the following table provided by the U.S. Department of Energy Insulation Recommendations for Existing Houses.*

Gather Installation Materials

• The proper number of bags of GreenFiber Insulation for the desired R-value.
• A blowing machine and hose. Place outside your home or in garage.
• A heavy-duty 12-gauge extension cord.
• A tarp to be placed under the blowing machine to catch excess material.
• A ladder to gain access to the attic if needed.
• Safety eyewear and N95 NIOSH-approved particulate masks such as a 3M model #8210 or #8511 or equivalent for protection against nuisance dust..
• Adequate lighting in the attic for installation.
• A ruler or other measuring device to monitor the depth of insulation.
• Soffit vent chutes (if needed).
• Metal barrier material for three- inch clearance around recessed lights and other heat sources. Do not use paper, cardboard or other potentially combustible materials as a barrier.
• A vehicle to transport the blowing machine, GreenFiber Insulation and other materials.

Step Three – Prep

Be sure to place the blowing machine on a level surface and plug it in to a 20-amp, 110-volt household outlet.

Get Ready

• Identify locations of recessed lights, furnace flues, heating vents, chimneys and other sources of heat or combustion in the attic. Install barriers around heat sources with clearances of at least 3 inches from the heat source. Check local code requirements for barriers. Heat trapped by any type of insulation can be a fire hazard.
• Use baffles or vent chutes to maintain attic ventilation. Insulation should not cover attic soffit vents.
• Determine the desired installed thickness of the insulation then measure and mark the rafters as a guideline to be used during application.
• Prepare a rigid barrier around the attic access hole to prevent insulation from falling out when you open the attic door. The barrier should be as tall as your installed insulation height.
• Place the blowing machine on a level surface outside the building or in a garage.
• Plug the machine into a 110-volt electrical outlet (20 amps or greater) using the shortest, heavy-duty extension cord possible (minimum 12-gauge).
• Attach the hose to the machine. Run the hose from the machine through the attic access hole into the attic, avoiding sharp bends or kinks.
Make the proper air flow adjustment by either opening your machine’s product slide gate 3/4 of the way or, on some machines, closing the air valve to approximately 1/4 inch.
• Locate one person in the attic to hold the application hose and the other near the blower to empty insulation bags into the machine hopper outside or in a garage.
• Consider laying a knee board across the ceiling joists to provide a platform for standing or kneeling during installation.
• Open a bag of GreenFiber Insulation and carefully place its contents into the hopper (any spilled insulation should only be reused if it’s free of debris). It is important to keep your hands, feet and clothing away from moving parts inside the hopper. 

Step Four - Install

GreenFiber Insulation installs easily over any existing insulation, filling gaps and voids. To achieve the desired R-value it is important to install the correct thickness of GreenFiber Insulation. Be sure to keep GreenFiber Insulation from filling soffits. Use a soffit vent baffle as shown below.

Installation

• Put on safety eyewear and NIOSH-approved dust mask (N95)
• Turn on the blowing machine. The product will begin to flow through the hose. Adjust the product slide gate to wide open or the air setting as needed.
• Begin to insulate at the corner farthest from the attic access and work back. Be careful to step on top of and not between the ceiling joists.
• Hold the hose approximately 3 feet above the installation surface and distribute the insulation evenly.
• Do not block soffits or cover heat sources with insulation unless they are type IC rated for contact with insulation.
• Fill to the desired depth, using attic markings and rulers as guides.
• Use all the bags required to achieve your desired R-value.
• Empty the blowing machine when you are finished and clean up the surrounding area.
• Return machine to the same retail location you rented it from.

Tips

Do not fill soffits with insulation. Use soffit vent baffles to allow the soffit to stay open above the insulation for proper air flow. Insulate the inside of the access hole cover with batt or foam board insulation to complete the job.

CAUTION:

To help avoid fire: Keep insulation at least three inches away from the sides of recessed light fixtures. Do not place insulation over such fixtures so as to trap heat unless they are type IC rated for contact with insulation. Also keep insulation away from exhaust flues of furnaces, water heaters, space heaters or other heat-producing devices. To be sure that insulation is kept away from light fixtures and flues, use a barrier to permanently maintain clearance around these areas. Check with local building or fire officials for guidance on installation and barrier requirements. (US Federal Regulation 16 CFR Part 1404.4).

Retrofitting Sidewalls

Many homes built prior to 1970 have no insulation in the wall cavities. GreenFiber recommends installing GreenFiber Blow-in Natural Fiber Insulation in sidewall cavities, the second major area of energy loss in most homes. The technique most commonly used is the two-hole, double blow method.

GreenFiber Insulation forms a monolithic blanket of protection—blocking air infiltration and convection currents that are both primary causes of energy loss.

Imagine heating your home in the winter or cooling your home in the summer…and then leaving the front door open. If you add up all the possible air leaks in a typical home—cracks at the joints in the frame; small spaces around windows and doors; areas around pipes, ducts, vents and electrical outlets—it can have the same effect as an open door or window. When batt insulation is cut or forced to fit around irregular shapes, gaps can result that enable air to pass right through. That’s called air infiltration or air leakage, and it can account for as much as a third of heat loss in a home. GreenFiber Insulation, however, is blown or sprayed into place, preventing gaps and stopping air leaks better because of the way it’s applied. And GreenFiber Insulation is two to three times denser than comparable fiberglass batts. That means heated air can’t transfer through dense GreenFiber Insulation as easily as it does through typically installed fiberglass.

Installing insulation properly is the first step in making sure your home is more comfortable and energy efficient.

One important component of any home is the pressure barrier. The pressure barrier is defined as a continuous plane that separates the conditioned area of the building from the unconditioned area. Drywall is the most common pressure barrier in construction today.

Insulation should always be in direct contact with the pressure barrier of the building. This standard of effective thermal installation means that the insulation has no gaps, no voids, no compression, no misalignment and no wind intrusion.

Insulate Against the Seasons

The R-value of GreenFiber GreenFiber Insulation, or its ability to stop heat transfer, remains consistent through a greater temperature and application range, keeping heat in during the winter, and out during the summer.The U.S. Federal Trade Commission developed an insulation rating mechanism to help end the false and misleading claims about insulation that once abounded. Called R-value, this rating is based on a laboratory measurement, the R-factor, which reflects a material’s ability to stop or slow heat transfer. When you’re shopping for insulation or talking to your builder, understanding R-value can help you make intelligent choices about insulation. But, in the real world environment of your side walls and attic, there are variables that change how that insulation will perform.

While loose-fill fiberglass can lose as much as half its R-value at 20°F below zero, GreenFiber Insulation continues to perform at a more consistent R-value.

So R-value is a useful measurement of thermal resistance, but it’s important to remember that R-value is just one piece of the equation. If a house isn’t properly sealed and there are gaps in the insulation, a high R-value isn’t going to keep that home comfortable. Heat seeks cold spots in much the same way that water runs down a drain, or rain finds its way to a hole in the roof. It doesn’t matter if the rest of the roof is performing to specification if water finds the one hole. Because it forms a seamless protective blanket, GreenFiber Insulation effectively fills those gaps.

Make Your Home Safe

GreenFiber Insulation can increase a wall’s fire resistance by 22-57%. Cellulose insulation is non-toxic, and GreenFiber guarantees its products for the life of your house.GreenFiber Insulation has been proven to increase a wall’s fire resistance 22-57% and exceeds the tough fire safety standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. In laboratory fire resistance tests of wall assemblies and full-scale building demonstrations, structures with GreenFiber Insulation out performed fiberglass and uninsulated structures by 22-57%. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Underwriters Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy have all documented the permanency of fire retardants in cellulose insulation. The boric acid flame retardant used in GreenFiber Insulation is infused in the natural fibers of the cellulose. During a fire, the retardant melts and holds the heat until the cellulose fibers char. The cellulose then becomes a layer of carbon protection, because the charred fibers won’t burn. The density of GreenFiber Insulation prevents the passage of flames and hot gasses, so fire does not spread as readily into GreenFiber -installed walls or ceilings, and GreenFiber Insulation restricts the amount of oxygen available to support combustion.

GreenFiber Insulation has a Class 1/A rating (FSC 25) for flame spread, and a smoke development rating of less than 50 when tested in accordance with ASTM E84. Because of the fire retardant application, GreenFiber Insulation has been proven more effective in actual fire situations in maintaining the structural members of a home.

GreenFiber Insulation lasts.

GreenFiber Insulation has been tested by Underwriter’s Laboratory according to ASTM standard C739 to be non-corrosive to steel, copper and aluminum, as well as resistant to fungi. GreenFiber guarantees its products for the life of the structure. If installed according to manufacturer’s instructions, the insulation will be free from defects and will not deteriorate under normal and proper use.

The GreenFiber Commitment.

We firmly believe that no other insulation manufacturer can match our commitment to our product. We guarantee that GreenFiber Insulation, properly installed, will retain its thermal resistance, fire retardant and non-corrosive characteristics; provide sound control; and continue to meet current national building code standards for the life of the structure.

Insulate Your House and Preserve Your Planet

GreenFiber Insulation resists moisture, reduces noise, and preserves natural resources.

Protect your home from moisture buildup

GreenFiber Insulation fibers have a natural ability to handle moisture. Moisture vapor in the air is absorbed and released depending upon the relative humidity of the surrounding air.

Protect your home’s peace and quiet

GreenFiber Insulation has a Noise Reduction Coefficient of 0.90 (90% of sound energy absorbed). It is so effective at keeping outside noises out, that it is used as an enhanced sound control material for homes located in airport flight paths!

Protect your home planet

GreenFiber Insulation is a non-toxic natural product made from 85% recycled paper fiber, reducing landfill waste. Each 40 sq. ft. bag contains the equivalent of about 46 Sunday newspapers. It is processed by electrically-driven mills that consume relatively little energy when operating, and which can be shut down completely at the end of the production day. This lowers energy consumption, allowing GreenFiber to manufacture to meet customer demand. 

Bring the Smarter Insulation to Your House

Install GreenFiber® loose-fill attic insulation yourself, or have stabilized insulation installed by a GreenFiber Insulation professional.GreenFiber Insulation may be used in walls and attics of residential or commercial structures. It may be used in cathedral or flat ceilings, crawl spaces, basements and as insulation under floors. GreenFiber Insulation may be blown in horizontal applications such as attics and crawl spaces, and professionally sprayed into wall cavities and attics in new construction.

Energy Tax Credit

The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 permits homeowners a 10% federal tax credit of up to $500 of material cost for the addition of GreenFiber Insulation to their home. GreenFiber Insulation is an approved product for energy efficient upgrades; see the Manufacturer’s Certification Statement below. This tax credit applies to qualified energy efficient products purchased and installed between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011. This credit is applicable for the 2011 tax year. Lifetime Limitation: The lifetime limitation on the tax credit reverts to $500 total for the years in which the tax credit has been available (2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010). If a taxpayer claimed a residential energy tax credit of at least $500 prior to 2011, they would not be eligible to make a tax credit claim in 2011.

The Act states that insulation products must meet the R-value criteria established by the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The IECC does not qualify products; rather it sets standards for insulation performance in relation to climate zones. Climate zones are geographical areas of the country based on historic climate conditions; colder zones generally require more insulation. These climate zones and respective insulation levels can be found within the Department of Energy’s website. The EPA estimates homeowners can typically save up to 20% of heating and cooling costs by adding insulation and air sealing their home; this allows you to realize savings on a month to month basis. Savings vary. Find out why in seller’s fact sheet on R-values. Higher R-value means greater insulating power. For complete information on other qualified home improvements and how to save on heating and cooling costs, visit www.energystar.gov. ENERGY STAR® is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency

Offer Your Customers the GreenFiber Insulation Advantages

With effective thermal protection, ease of installation, and added safety, GreenFiber Insulation offers customers the advantages they seek. The bottom line for homeowners is that it is possible to achieve greater comfort and lower energy bills* at the same time with better insulation. GreenFiber loose-fill insulation gives your customers a safe, cost-effective, and easily installed attic insulation choice. * Savings vary. Find out why in the seller’s fact sheet on R-values. Higher R-values mean greater insulating power. A Seamless Blanket GreenFiber Insulation forms a seamless blanket of protection—blocking air infiltration and convection currents that are both primary causes of energy loss. High R-Value GreenFiber Insulation’s R-value, or its ability to stop heat transfer, remains consistent through a greater temperature and application range than that of loose-fill fiberglass, keeping heat in during the winter, and out during the summer. Safety and Durability GreenFiber Insulation can increase a wall’s fire resistance by 22-57%. GreenFiber Insulation is non-toxic, and GreenFiber guarantees its products for the life of the house. Preserving Home and Planet The fire retardants in GreenFiber Insulation allows the product to pass the stringent ASTM C-739 fungal resistance test. GreenFiber also reduces noise and is made from 85% recycled material. Easy Installation Two people can install GreenFiber Insulation in an average size attic in less than a day.

Market Your Store When You Market GreenFiber Insulation

GreenFiber Insulation is competitively priced and supported by a comprehensive marketing program. Our Dealer Co-Op Advertising Program helps you include GreenFiber Insulation in your store’s advertising.

You can use the GreenFiber Insulation ads and radio copy as provided, adding your own dealer identification, or you may use GreenFiber Insulation art, copy and logos to create your own print and radio advertising. The program can be used for specific product advertising or as part of an overall advertising program within your regular storewide advertising.

GreenFiber will refund a portion of your net cost of approved GreenFiber Insulation product advertising based on your current year’s purchases.

GreenFiber Insulation Delivers

GreenFiber Insulation’s Rental Kit gives you the expertise to answer your customers’ questions, putting all the information you need at your fingertips. As a GreenFiber Insulation Retailer, you will have all the forms and instructions you need to enable your customers to rent GreenFiber blowers for attic insulation. Our rental kit includes rental agreement forms, a trouble-shooting guide, rental instructions, and GreenFiber Lifetime Limited Warranties. Our easy to follow instruction tear-sheets make using the blower, and installing our product, a simple four-step process. Included in your rental kit are the following materials:

• Master Copy of the Rental Agreement Form
• Rental Machine Accessories List
• Blower Machine Program
• Rental Instructions
• Planogram
• Frequently Asked Questions
• The Benefits of GreenFiber Insulation
• GreenFiber Installation Instructions (which correspond to in-store customer tear-off installation instruction sheets)
• MSDS
• Fact Sheet
• Warranty

Sound

As proven by independent test results, GreenFiber insulation is extremely effective in controlling sound transmission, with our cellulose fibers proving equal, or in most cases, superior to fiberglass for both Sound Transmission Class (STC) and Outdoor Indoor Transmission Class (OITC) ratings.

Fire

Our insulation meets all test requirements of ASTM C739 (US), CAN/ULC S703 in Canada, and all FHA, VA, HUD and building code requirements including – – Corrosiveness, Critical Radiant Flux, Design Density, Flame Spread Permanency, Fungi Resistance, Moisture Vapor Sorption, Odor Emission, Separation of Chemicals, Smoldering Combustion, Surface Burning Characteristics, Thermal Resistance

Thermal

The density of GreenFiber Natural Fiber Insulation provides more consistent R-value even under extreme conditions.

Quality

GreenFiber has a comprehensive testing program to ensure that GreenFiber products meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. Our testing criteria adheres to the regulations for cellulose insulation found in the amended Consumer Product Safety Commission Standard, 16 CFR Part 1209, and the Federal Trade Commission Standard, 16 CFR Part 460

LEED Green Building Certification

To earn certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) rating system, projects must not only satisfy all LEED system prerequisites, but also earn a minimum number of credits.  GreenFiber meets four significant criteria used in the USGBC’s LEED certification ratings system:      • Improve building durability      • Conserve energy and electricity      • Reduce demand for raw material      • Improve indoor environmental quality When applied properly, GreenFiber’s natural fiber insulation products will contribute materially toward earning points in a LEED certification for LEED Green Building Design and Construction Rating System (BD + C) and LEED for Homes Rating System.  LEED for Homes Rating System Click here for GreenFiber insulation contribution points LEED BD + C Rating System Click here for GreenFiber insulation contribution points Click here for a detailed report about GreenFiber Insulation Products and LEED projects, and a case study of GreenFiber Insulation in a LEED Gold Certified Building. Report and case study by Green-Buildings.com™.