A New Safe and Efficient Home Insulation: Made from Soy

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Additional concerns about the endurance of the fire retardants were raised when several studies, again funded by competitors, suggested that boric acid disappeared from the insulation over time. Further research showed that this was in cases of exposure to very high temperatures, over 190°F, which does not seem to be a concern for standard housing conditions, with considerably lower temperatures. While further research on this issue is definitely needed, as Environmental Building News points out, the fact that cellulose has not been implicated in building fires inspires confidence.

Polyurethane foam insulation has been on the market for years, but with its petro-chemical base and a blowing-in process that utilized ozone-depleting CFC's, it didn't appeal much to green builders. Recently, however, SoyOyl, a soy-bean based alternative to the polyol component, was developed, which decreases the petrochemical content, making it environmentally attractive and considerably less expensive than many of its previous counterparts. Likewise, new blowing technologies eliminate the ozone-depleting byproducts of installation. These foams are very low VOC, extremely fire-retardant, and, properly installed, they should provide no health risks to homeowners or installers. They release no loose fibers or dust and are not susceptible to mold. It is perhaps for these reasons that BioBase501 was chosen by Environmental Building News as one of their top 10 products for 2003, while Healthyseal received the National Association of Builders "Green with Envy Award" award that same year.

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