By now you’ve probably heard the phrase, “go green” more than you can count. Everywhere you look there are green initiatives. Green eating. Green recycling. Green cars. And now… green building.
That’s right, the recent push to make our world more environmentally friendly is green building performance and it is becoming more and more common. The U.S. Green Building Council has developed a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System and though it’s not the only method, the rating system covers a variety of associated factors with green building. Included are: energy efficiency, site selection and sustainability, material and resource use.
So, how does a building score well with these green standards? One solution many projects are utilizing is closed-cell spray polyurethane foam (ccSPF) insulation. This material is a two-component, self-adhering system that is spray-applied on site. It is also a rigid system that will fill gaps and cracks once cured to bond to many construction materials including metal, wood and plastic.
The ccSPF is a superior product for green building for many reasons. First, it has a superior R-value in comparison to its competition. The product eliminates air infiltration and acts as a complete air barrier which helps to control the indoor environment better. Also, ccSPF improves building durability as it reduces water and moisture intrusion to improve building strength. Finally, ccSPF is credited by the LEED system for energy performance and recycled content.
Although we do not produce or sell ccSPF, we encourage individuals to explore a wide population of foam insulation since there are often complementary benefits in using more than one type, depending on the application. Overall, the closed-cell spray polyurethane foam has a favorable life-cycle analysis because of the reduced manufacturing energy used, up to 40 percent operational energy savings, and minimal waste.
