Denim Insulation is So Rad

Photo by Joseph Maida for Newsweek

Never thought you’d bring more old blue jeans in your house?  The golden age of denim may have passed, but a revival of the tight-fitting stuff is at hand.  And we don’t have to worry about how they look or washing them.

Denim insulation (also known as Cotton Batt insulation) is a new wave hit for green home-building projects.  Made from recycled denim cotton fibers, the stuff is comparable to traditional fiberglass insulation, but without the health and environmental concerns.  Here’s a quick list of benefits:

Environmental Benefits versus Fiberglass

• Does not contain the toxic formaldehyde backing found in fiberglass.  Fiberglass is on the government’s list of probable carcinogens (proven in lab rodents).  Great for indoor air quality.
• The insulation manufacturing process is nowhere near as energy intensive as the mining and production process required for fiberglass.  Another small step toward energy independence is always welcome.
• It has a higher insulation value per inch than fiberglass, and is just as easy to install
• LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)–the “green building” standard for developing high performance, sustainable buildings

Purchasing

If you’re considering taking the plunge into denim for your home, check out Bonded Logic’s UltraTouch Natural Fiber Insulation. It’s made from 85% post-industrial denim (clothing manufacturer scraps) that otherwise would have ended up in the landfill.  Contact your local preferred contractor for pricing, or find a distributor through this regional listing directory.  Searching online, I’ve found a wide range of prices that are slightly more expensive than fiberglass yet very reasonable.

Where can I donate my 1980’s jean jackets?

Check with your local universities about upcoming denim drive events

Visit Cotton, Inc’s “From Blue to Green” website for information on upcoming denim drives at universities across the nation. They also give updates on how the donated jeans are recycled into insulation for families and list areas in which the insulation is utilized.

Contact Habitat for Humanity to donate jeans if you don’t see a local denim drive near you. They are using the green insulation to build homes and can direct you to the places that will accept your donated jeans.

Resources and Links

UltraTouch Natural Fiber Insulation – Bonded Logic

UltraTouch – distributor search by state

Insulation Values – Wikipedia

From Blue to Green – Cotton, Inc.

Recycled Denim – regional listing directory

Habitat for Humanity – Materials Donation