So you’re building a new home, or adding an addition, and you want to pursue the most sustainable options available. Surprisingly, soy and bio-based materials have recently been spotlighted by the green building industry as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional insulation like fiberglass. Home and Garden TV recently featured a home being sprayed with white goop in between the 2-by-4s of the new walls that expands as it dries. Soy insulation is apparently safer for human health and for the environment. It might even cut back on the amount of wood needed for construction, as the substance’s insulating properties are so great. And, as a biopolymer, soy won’t support the growth of mold or attract hungry critters living in your basement.
With bio-based building products, there is no risk of coming into contact with formaldehydes or VOCs (volatile organic compounds). It has proven very effective for people with severe allergies. As far as energy efficiency, it has a high thermal insulation capacity to keep heating bills down and fewer resources used for energy generation.
The United Soybean Board is working hard to promote the application of soy in industrial and building projects. Currently, BioBased Insulation is one of the leading manufacturers of the soy foam insulation that is used in new construction projects. The product is sprayed on in liquid form, dries and expands up to 100 times its original size, completely filling in all holes and giving your home air-tight protection.
If you’re looking to build up LEED credits, the soy-foam insulation can count significantly towards your certification. Apply it towards a number of different LEED categories: Energy Efficiency, Low-Emitting Materials, Rapidly Renewable Materials, or Innovation in Design.
Another word about safety—bio-based insulation is virtually fireproof. It has a class I rating according to the National Fire Protection Association, meaning that it won’t go up in flames.
