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Author: Candace Lord

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The Hidden Dangers of Vermiculite

Insulation, Safety

Vermiculite in atticFor those of you that know any of us here at The Green Cocoon, you know we’re passionate about what we do and how we do it.  We also aim to spread knowledge and promote safety in our beloved homes.

Today, we’re addressing a silent threat lurking within the walls (and attics and basements) of many older houses: vermiculite. While it may sound innocent, this seemingly harmless material can pose significant health risks if mishandled. In this article, we’ll shed light on the dangers of vermiculite, discuss how covering it with insulation can exacerbate the problem, and emphasize the crucial importance of seeking professional assistance in dealing with this potential hazard. 

Understanding Vermiculite:

Vermiculite, a naturally occurring mineral used in insulation and gardening, might be present in your home if it was built before the 1990s. While it served as an effective insulator due to its lightweight and fire-resistant properties, it was later discovered that some vermiculite deposits contained asbestos fibers—a known carcinogen.

The Hidden Danger:

Asbestos is a microscopic fiber that, when inhaled, can lead to severe health conditions, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. The real danger lies in the fact that vermiculite contaminated with asbestos may not be immediately identifiable. It can resemble harmless attic insulation or be concealed within walls, putting you and your loved ones at risk without your knowledge.

Covering Vermiculite – A Common Misstep:

Now, let’s discuss an often-misunderstood solution that can worsen the situation—covering vermiculite with additional insulation. While the intention may be to reduce exposure, it can have unintended consequences. Encapsulating the contaminated material can disturb it, causing asbestos fibers to become airborne and spread throughout your home, leading to a more extensive contamination issue. This inadvertent disturbance can increase the risk of exposure and exacerbate the health hazards associated with vermiculite.

The Need for Professional Assistance:

When it comes to dealing with vermiculite, our strongest advice is to leave it to the professionals. Trained asbestos abatement experts have the necessary expertise and equipment to handle the situation safely. Attempting to remove or disturb vermiculite yourself can lead to inadvertent asbestos fiber release and put your health at risk. A professional will conduct a thorough assessment, develop a safe remediation plan, and ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to minimize exposure risks for you and your family.

Your safety and well-being are of utmost importance to us. Vermiculite contaminated with asbestos can pose significant health risks, and it is crucial to approach the issue with caution. Rather than attempting to handle the situation on your own, we strongly recommend seeking professional assistance. By doing so, you can trust that experts will safely manage the removal or encapsulation process, reducing the risks of asbestos fiber release and safeguarding your home and loved ones.

Remember, knowledge is power. Share this information with others to raise awareness about the dangers of vermiculite and promote the importance of professional involvement. Together, we can create safer and healthier living environments for everyone.

Stay safe, stay informed, and never hesitate to seek professional help when it comes to protecting what matters most—your home and your loved ones.

Can’t sleep? Adjust the temperature.

Insulation

If insomnia is a problem, maybe your bedroom is too hot or too cold. Both can affect sleep in surprising ways.  Are you keeping your room too cool for comfort because your home costs a fortune to heat? Don't lose sleep to save money! Contact us to find out how you can make your home more energy and cost-efficient.

How Air Temperature Affects Your Sleep

Experts agree the temperature of your sleeping area and how comfortable you feel in it affect how well and how long you snooze. Why? “When you go to sleep, your set point for body temperature -- the temperature your brain is trying to achieve -- goes down." "Think of it as the internal thermostat.” If it’s too cold or too hot, the body struggles to achieve this set point. That mild drop in body temperature induces sleep. Generally, Heller says,“if you are in a cooler [rather than too-warm] room, it is easier for that to happen.” But if the room becomes uncomfortably hot or cold, you are more likely to wake up. He explains that the comfort level of your bedroom temperature also especially affects the quality of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the stage in which you dream.

What’s the Best Temperature for Sleeping?

Recommending a specific range is difficult because what is comfortable for one person isn’t for another. While a typical recommendation is to keep the room between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit, Heller advises setting the temperature at a comfortable level, whatever that means to the sleeper. There are other strategies for creating ideal sleeping conditions, too. Experts from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, for instance, advise thinking of a bedroom as a cave: It should be cool, quiet, and dark. (Bats follow this logic and are champion sleepers, getting in 16 hours a day.) Be wary of memory foam pillows, which feel good because they conform closely to your body shape -- but may make you too hot. And put socks on your feet, as cold feet, in particular, can be very disruptive to sleep.

Flash and Batt

Insulation

“Flash and batt” is a popular technique for insulating walls. But if you are going to use this technique, make sure to start with at least two inches of closed cell foam.  A one inch “flash” is not enough to prevent condensation!

If you need more information, contact us.

Home losing heat through roof, windows and doors

Where Is Your Home Energy Going?

Energy Efficiency, Insulation, Save Money

The largest misconception people have regarding energy is where they believe they use and waste the most.

Where is your home energy going?

Heating and cooling are the main energy consumers in buildings. Moreover, they account for two thirds of a building’s total energy consumption. However, most of this energy is wasted due to inadequate insulation.

Reduce Energy Costs with Insulation

Insulation is the most effective way to reduce energy costs. By using energy-efficient insulation techniques, 70 to 90 percent of a building’s heating and cooling need could be cut.

Call us today. Ask how you can reduce your energy waste with eco-friendly insulation!

The Green Cocoon, Top 5 in SPFA National Industry Excellence Awards

Nominated for an Award!

Awards, Energy Efficiency

In early 2017, The Green Cocoon was nominated for the SPFA National Industry Excellence Award at the national spray foam convention in Palm Springs, California. Dozens of companies enter their projects hoping to win the Award. However, only five are chosen to be publicly recognized at the awards luncheon. We we were proud to be one of the five!

Top 5 for Commercial Wall Spray Foam

Although we did not win, we were in the Top 5 for the Commercial Wall Spray Foam category. This was  for our work on the 233 Vaughan Street Project in Portsmouth, NH,  In an industry with thousands of companies, being voted in the top 5 is a testament to our company’s passion for excellence, honesty, and drive. We strive to be the best in our industry.

Read more about this project. View our photos of the Vaughan Street project.

If you have a commercial or residential insulation project, contact us for a quote.

The Green Cocoon Team Members Participated in Team Building

Team Building at The Green Cocoon

Team
Team building at The Green Cocoon is extremely important to help keep camaraderie high. Employees, managers and our owner, Jim,  are always striving to be the best they can be. We truly believe we are only as great as our weakest link and that is why we are constantly striving to empower and inspire our team members. The Green Cocoon wants our employees to not only be great employees, but great people.

Team Building Exercise

Participating in a team building exercise at The Green Cocoon with our good friends at UROCK Marketing proved fruitful. Teammates made a vision board and filled it with dreams, aspirations, and inspiration. We hope that by having a visual path to their goals, our employees will be successful in every aspect of their lives!

Watch Video

Watch our short video above of the event. To find our more about UROCK’s team building and vision board parties, check out their website www.urockmarketing.com.
Image of a passive house with insulation done by The Green Cocoon for maximum energy efficiency.

Our First Passive House

Insulation, Passive

The Green Cocoon has a passion for efficiency, not only in our daily operations, but also in the projects that we choose to work on. We have insulated every type of project. Some of the projects include small renovations and existing attics. We also love to work with energy positive and net-zero homes. But, our favorite is the Passive House.

What is a passive house?

The term passive house (Passivhaus in German) refers to a rigorous, voluntary standard for energy efficiency in a building, reducing its ecological footprint. A continuous, balanced supply of fresh air ensures unparalleled indoor air quality. Operable windows connect indoors with out. Super-insulated walls hold warmth in the winter and cool in the summer. Special windows and a snug building envelope help keep the desired warmth in the house – or undesirable heat out. This is done through a highly insulated roof and floor slab as well as exceptionally well insulated exterior walls. The results are buildings that require very little energy for space heating or cooling.

As of this writing, there are less than 100 certified passive houses in the United States. We had the privilege to be the insulation company that worked with most of them. We like to think of ourselves as the “go-to insulation company” for highly energy-efficient projects.

Learn more about this project and passive house building in general.

The Green Cocoon - Spray Foam Insulation NH

Our Foam Is Even Greener!

Insulation

When it comes to reducing our carbon footprint and making our homes more efficient, the phrase “The more insulation the better” is often used. All insulation materials reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They do this by saving energy and reducing our use of fossil fuels. But, insulating with thick layers of spray foam often results in long “payback periods” for the global warming potential of the insulation. This is mainly due to the most commonly used blowing agents. That is why our foam is even greener!

Long-Term Benefits Outweigh Environmental Impact

The long-term benefits of spray foam greatly outweigh the possible environmental impact of the initial application of the material. Companies are always trying to make the manufacturing process and installation as environmentally safe and efficient as the final product. They do this in the pursuit of energy efficiency and the reduction of green house gas emissions.

Safety Solution

Honeywell found a solution to this problem. They have created a new blowing agent called Solstice that has a GWP (Global Warming Potential) that is 99.4% less than the most currently used blowing agents. To give you an idea of ratings, the current blowing agents have a GWP of 725 and an atmospheric lifetime of 10.8 years. The new Solstice LBA has a GWP of 1 and an atmospheric lifetime of only 26 days.

The Green Cocoon is excited to use spray foams that have this new technology. You will lower your carbon footprint by having an air-tight and well-insulated home. And, you can be assured that the initial application of the product will not harm the environment.

For more information on blowing agents, visit BuildingGreen. 

Do you want to know how spray foam can help your home or commercial building? Contact us.

Recent Posts
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  • Team Members Attain Project Manager Certification at the 2023 SprayFoam Convention
  • Show Your Home Love This Valentine’s Day
  • The Green Cocoon Offers Financing Through Hearth
  • Insulation Contractor Licensing: None Required?
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