I just returned from our final day of community service. It was definitely one of the more trying days of this trip- my group installed fiberglass insulation on the underside of a trailer home. I tried to cover as much of my skin as possible but am still incredibly itchy. I was a little reluctant to install this poisonous product, however. It’s projected that 40 percent of today’s youth will suffer from respiratory diseases, which are in large part due to poor indoor air quality. More troubling was the fact that the fiberglass company, Pink, claims to be “Green.” On the package it says “Pink is Green,” suggesting that their product is good for the environment. Their claim is not entirely incorrect, as insulation does prevent heat from escaping in the winter, which therefore means less heating is required, and thus less electricity is consumed. However, fiberglass insulation is probably the least green of all insulators. Soy foam spray, structurally insulated panels (SIPs), or to a much “greener” degree, straw bale, are far more environmentally friendly. They also have higher R-values (the unit for measuring insulation effectiveness).

It’s just a little discouraging to see non-green materials used in new construction. I realize that cost is a big concern, but their are ways to build green without spending a fortune.