Green roof insulation

If you can afford the initial outlay, roof insulation is an absolute must for all houses. Roof insulation can reduce heating cost by approximately 13 percent; saving you money and greenhouse gas emissions. A well insulated roof can also substantially contribute to keeping your house cooler during the hotter months.

In one of our earlier houses, we had the standard fibreglass batts installed. They worked well, but I often felt guilty about using such a horrid, toxic substance. On one occasion when I was working up in the roof, I had troubles breathing for days afterwards and my skin was terribly itchy.

Fibreglass batts can incorporate adhesives that contain formaldehyde, a carcinogen. While fiberglass batts don't burn easily, when they do, the fumes are quite toxic. The actual production of fibreglass is also very energy intensive.

Here's some more environmentally friendly options:

Recycled cellulose fiber

In our new house, we opted for recycled cellulose fiber which is made from newspaper and other paper products. It was more expensive, but it has far better insulation quality than normal batts; therefore, over time there will be substantial cost savings - it's also a greener option.

Recycled cellulose fibre comes in sheets, but in roof applications, it's usually sprayed on using compressed air.

The insulation is treated to make it fire retardant - so fire resistant that if you scoop up a handful and apply a blowtorch to it, it won't flame, just go black and your hand won't be burned. Of course, this is something you should have the sales rep demonstrate :).

This fire retardant behavior gives recycled cellulose fibre the added value of helping to protect your house in case of a roof fire - it can slow the fire down. In most cases, as in ours, the flame retardant used is environmentally friendly (boric acid) .

Another benefit of recycled cellulose fibre is that it's treated to be a vermin repellent - no more mice and bugs in your roof! Finally, it also helps to deaden external sounds - particularly attractive if you live in a flight path.

Recycled denim

Another trash into insulation treasure is denim and cotton waste. In most of these products, the recycled content is around the 80% mark. Like recycled cellulose, the denim is treated with boric acid to give it fire retardant properties and repel vermin.

One of the advantages of the denim insulation over recycled cellulose is that it's a little easier to handle. Whereas the cellulose insulation is blown into the roof and is loose, denim insulation comes in rolls - and is totally itch free.

Soy insulation

You can eat it, wear it, create biofuel from it - and insulate your roof with soy. Is there nothing it can't do? Made from soybean oil, the insulation is sprayed into the roof area where it expands, filling cracks etc. before hardening. It will char but will not sustain a flame and will last the life of the building.

Sheep's wool insulation

Wool insulation (sheep, not mineral wool) is considered one of the best (but most expensive) insulation options.

• R-value 10 - 15 percent higher than fiberglass
• moisture doesn't affect it's insulating abilities
• it is not a respiratory irritant
• is naturally flame retardant
• has excellent sound deadening qualities
• requires the least energy in production
• is mechanically bonded, no adhesives
• acts as a filter, traps toxic substances
• has a long life and can be reused
• can be composted

Borax may be used in wool insulation to discourage moths.

While fiberglass batts have ruled the insulation roost for many years, it's great to see other more environmentally friendly options such as the above becoming more broadly available, economical and the choice of increasing numbers of builders.

Michael Bloch
Green Living Tips.com
Green Living Tips is an online resource powered by renewable energy offering a wide variety of earth friendly tips, green guides, advice and environment related news to help consumers and business reduce costs, consumption and environmental impact .

Many of us would have experienced the morning after syndrome where you awaken to find your home looking and smelling like a bombed brewery.

What to do with all those flat, warm half empty beers laying around? Well, I used to drink them, but that's another story for another time and for a completely different web site. However, I would like to state I haven't engaged in that practice for quite some years now :).

There's so many uses for beer aside from drinking it, using it in cooking or wasting it; and beer can sometimes replace more environmentally unfriendly products for a variety of applications. Here's a few ideas gathered from around the place:

Dealing with snails and slugs

Snails and slugs love beer. A beer trap can be made which is just a small dish or jar with beer poured in and then buried in affected areas up to the rim. The snails and slugs drop in but can't get out. Another interesting variation on this is to spray beer on weeds so the snails eat those instead of your plants - using a pest to control a pest. Of course, once you're out of weeds, then you'll need to still deal with the snails and slugs.

Dealing with fruit flies

To get rid of fruit flies in your compost heap or worm farm, put a little beer in a cup. Then cut the corner off of a sandwich bag and place the cut corner in the cup; folding the rest around the cup and securing with a rubber band. Place the cup in the bin. The flies go in and then cannot get back out.

Rodent trap

Mice and rats are said to be also attracted to the smell of beer. A little poured into a bucket with a ramp leading to the lip can be used as a bucket trap. Of course you still need to deal with the critters; who will also likely be drunk and possibly argumentative by that point :)

Compost booster

Sprinkle the beer over your compost pile and then turn it over - it's said to give the micro-organisms a real boost.

Plant fertilizer

A little beer splashed around the base of plants will provide them with additional nutrients; but don't drown them in the stuff.

Wood furniture cleaning

A little beer on a cloth rubbed into your wooden furniture will help remove dust and grime and revive the grain patterns.

Copper cleaner

Apply to copper items, let sit for a bit and then buff off (spot test first of course)

Gold polish

Dump your gold jewelry into the beer, then buff with a soft cloth

Bee deterrent

Places shallow dishes of beer on the outer boundary of the area where you are having a BBQ or a picnic to entice bees to those spots rather than where you are gathered.

I've seen variations on this tip bandied around as a beer trap intended to capture and kill bees. Given that bees are critical to food production and are facing enough challenges at the moment through Colony Collapse Disorder; I'd strongly recommend not trying to kill the little critters. Bees are our friends :).

Michael Bloch
Green Living Tips.com
Green Living Tips is an online resource powered by renewable energy offering a wide variety of earth friendly tips, green guides, advice and environment related news to help consumers and business reduce costs, consumption and environmental impact .

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