Which insulation should I insulate my house with?

Question

Which one is the best? Fiberglass, blown foam, water-based foam, nano-cells, etc. Also, what "R" values do they all have, and what is the difference between open and closed cell insulation. Which one is more eco-friendly? I am not worried about cost too much, but feel free to give me an idea if you wish. Thanks!

Answer 1

Spray foam is one of the best because it acts as a vapour barrior aswell as it seals from all air getting into your house,also it is easy to apply and can stick to pretty much anything acting as a sound barrier .  If thats not the one then I would go with blue-jean insulation because it is recycled cotton from clothes. Blue jean insulation provides a maximum R value and is also fire resistant. On exterior walls however it requires a vapour barrior. Blue jean insulation is all natural and recycled material from old jeans or cotton, there are no harmful chemicals added to ensure a safe environment. Most definatly blue jean insulation is more eco friendly.

Open Cell spray foam is also referred to as ½ pound or low density. This foam expands to over 120 times its liquid size, and requires trimming and disposal of the waste. Open Cell foam cures soft and the irregular bubbles which form during the expansion reaction are broken or open.  These cells or pockets fill with air, and as such the R-Value of Open Cell foam is close to that of dormant air, around 3.6 per inch.  The R-Value of Open Cell foam is close to that of Conventional Fiberglass and Cellulose Insulation because they all use the same principle of trapping dormant air. However Open Cell foam is more effective than conventional insulation because it is spray applied as a liquid which conforms to fit the wall cavity. Like conventional insulation Open Cell foam only slows down convection through and within the wall cavity. Open Cell foam is not a Code Approved Vapour Barrier with a permeability rating of over 400 ng. Icynene is an example of an Open Cell spray foam.  

Closed Cell spray foam is also referred to as 2 pound or medium density. This foam expands 20 to 30 times its liquid size, and seldom requires trimming with little to no waste. Closed Cell foam cures rigid and the millions of microscopic bubbles which form during the expansion reaction remain closed and intact.  This traps the reaction gases, and as such the R-Value of Closed Cell foam is close to that of the reaction gas, around 7 per inch.  The Closed Cell structure is very strong; increasing shear and racking strength by 300%.  Closed Cell foam is a Code Approved Vapour Barrier with a permeability rating of under 45 ng, as well as a Code Approved Air Barrier and Thermal Insulation.  Closed Cell foam is spray applied as a liquid to create an air-tight seal as it expands as a foam to stop air leakage. But unlike Open Cell foam, Closed Cell foam stops both convection through and within the wall cavity. Enviro Foam is a Closed Cell spray foam.