Spray Foam-Eco Conscious

Spray foam for the eco-conscious

  June 17th, 2009 in Blogs         

Rob Yagid , associate editor

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Hardworking crops. The oil from soybeans, which is also being considered to create alternative forms of energy, is replacing the petroleum in some spray foams.
Photo: BioBased Insulation

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I've gotten a lot of good feedback on an article I wrote for FHB#204 on spray foam. Many folks were concerned about the environmental impact of the foam itself and its toxicity to the resources we're ultimately trying to conserve. Below, I'll share a little bit about the make-up of the foam and also describe what makes some foam "green". For those of you interested in learning more about the various players in the spray-foam market right now, see the source list from my article toward the bottom of my post. And, of course, feel free to comment if you have opinions on the performance of spray-foam or its greater environmental impact.

Spray foam is made of a two-part mixture. The A part is isocyanate, a petroleum-based chemical made by only a handful of companies in the world. The B part contains a catalyst, polyol resin, a surfactant, and a blowing agent.

Consuming fossil fuels to make products intended to conserve fossil fuels makes little sense to a lot of people. All spray foams contain a certain level of petroleum in their A component and in their B component. Manufacturers such as BioBased Insulation, Demilec, and Icynene have created more environmentally benign spray-foam products by reducing the amount of petroleum used in their B component. They replace a portion of the polyol resin, which makes up 20% to 30% of the B component, with a renewable resource such as soybean or castor-bean oil. Apex even has a sucrose-based polyol. Manufacturers say that the transition to bean oil or sucrose doesn't alter the look or the performance of open- or closed-cell foam in any way.

The amount of soybean, castor bean, or sucrose found in foam varies by manufacturer, so identifying the "greenest" foam might not be so easy. 

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, only 7% of a spray-foam product needs to be made of a renewable resource to be labeled as a bio-based foam. This, of course, doesn't factor in the petroleum fueling the crop-cultivation process. I wonder how "green" these foams really are? Sure, they may be a bit more healthful than strictly petroleum based foams, but can manufacturers be doing more to produce a better spray foam product?

Although this is not a complete list of spray-foam manufacturers, it is representative of the larger national companies. For assistance in finding a spray-foam insulation contractor, visit the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance.

Apex Foam Industries     Fomo Products BASF                              Great Stuff BioBased                        Icynene CertainTeed                   NCFI Chemical Design            Tiger Foam Corbond                         Touch n' Seal Demilec                          Urethane Soy Systems  Foametix                        Versi-Foam Systems

Read the complete article... Spray Foam: What Do You Really Know? To get the full benefit of this superinsulation, you must understand the difference between open- and closed-cell foams, how they perform, and how they're installed by Rob Yagid

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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Roy Blunt-Political News-Worst of Washington

Morris Comes Full Circle, Poorly

It's pretty amusing to read about Dick Morris' hackery on behalf of Roy Blunt at yesterday's 9/12 rally.  That Morris is campaigning on behalf of Blunt at all is incredible, considering his previous declaration that Blunt "deserve[s] to be thrown out of leadership" for abusing his public office to benefit his family. Recall this excerpt from Morris' November 2006 column in The Hill, Oust Boehner and Blunt:

By the same token, Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) also stands for principled politics and deserves the support of those who understand what hit them on Nov. 7. Not so of his opponent. Majority Whip Roy Blunt's (R-Mo.) wife, Abigail Perlman, and his son, Andrew, both lobby for Altria, which is the newly sanitized name for Philip Morris. If Blunt is limited to the standard congressional salary of $165,500, there is no reason why he shouldn't take care of his family finances by letting lobbying firms that represent this death-dealing industry hire his son.
Blunt and Boehner deserve to be thrown out of leadership.

Quite the about face, no? 
Second, Morris' hatred for Democrats is so strong -- and intellectual integrity so weak -- that he attacked Robin Carnahan for simply being the Secretary of State.  Never mind that Roy Blunt and Matt Blunt are former SOS's, and Blunt is featuring his SOS work in his U.S. Senate campaign. 

Republican Senate hopeful Roy Blunt was allowed on stage but was kept away from the microphone as one of the day's more well-known speakers — political strategist turned conservative commentator Dick Morris — offered a campaign pitch on his behalf.
Morris, though, did not seem well-versed in Blunt's biography.
Morris derided Blunt's Democratic opponent, Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, as being "named" to a position where "they don't do anything."
Both Blunt and his son previously served as Missouri secretary of state, an elected position.
"I think that all three of us — Matt Blunt, Robin Carnahan and I — would have some disagreement," Blunt said when asked about Morris' comments.

To summarize: Dick Morris says Roy Blunt is too corrupt to serve as a leader in Congress, but ought to represent Missouri in the U.S. Senate because being the Secretary of State is a fake job.   Makes sense to me. 
Image credit: edeldoug on Flickr

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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com

5 Expensive (and Unexpected) Things That Can Happen to Your Home

by Tara Struyk
Saturday, September 11, 2010

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For most people, a home is one of the most valuable assets they'll ever own. Unfortunately, there are some major perils that can befall a house and put a serious dent in the value of that asset. Many of these perils are much more insidious than a fire or natural disaster. Read on to learn about some of the most expensive damage that can occur in your home, how much it costs and how to avoid it.

More from Investopedia: • Home Renovations That Don't Pay • 10 Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home • 6 Questions to Ask Before Refinancing Your Mortgage

Foundation
If you have bowed basement walls, cracks in walls or floors or a tilting chimney, you may be aware that these are signs of a problem foundation. But many people don't realize that difficulty opening and closing doors and windows can also be early signs that your home is shifting. And whether you have a new home or an old one, foundation problems often require major repairs -- and a big cash outlay. According to the Concrete Network, a consumer website devoted to concrete services, foundation problems can be caused by the type of soil the house is built on, an improperly laid foundation or drainage problems. Whatever the cause, a bad foundation is bad news and, depending on the severity of the problem, can cost the homeowner well over $10,000.
[Click here to check home equity rates in your area.]
How to prevent it: Assuming your home was properly built, the most you can do to prevent problems in your foundation is to ensure that your home has proper drainage. This means that gutters and eavestroughs should be kept clear and in good repair, and your yard should be properly graded to ensure that water runs away from your house.
Mold
Unlike major water damage, such as that caused by flooding, minor or hidden water damage in your home, perhaps from a defective water pipe, hot water heater or window seal, can cause just as much damage -- and you may not notice it right away. Similarly, if your home suffered through a flood in the past and did not adequately dry out, mold can also thrive. (If you live in a flood-prone area, flood insurance is a must.)
A 2005 study by the National Resources Defense Council showed that New Orleans homes that had been flooded or were even near areas of flooding showed extremely high levels of mold spores that could pose health threats to residents, even in the homes that had been repaired and treated for mold. And the more humid the area in which you live, the harder it will be for you to get rid of mold and keep it from coming back. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, if the mold growth in your home is larger than 10 square feet or was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, it's time to call in a professional. Although home insurance may cover some of the costs depending on your policy, the cost of mold remediation is about $3,000 per wall, according to Environmental Solutions Group, an environmental management company that inspects homes for mold -- and that doesn't include the cost of replacing any mold-infected materials such as drywall, carpet or ceiling tiles.
How to prevent it: Mold can't grow without moisture, so it's important that you check for and fix any leaks in your home immediately, use fans in kitchens and bathrooms to vent moisture outside and clean up any mold growth immediately to prevent it from spreading.
[Things Plumbers Won't Tell You]
Water Damage
If your home isn't water tight, this isn't something you can ignore. Beyond the possibility of mold, long-term water damage can cause rot, which can lead to all kinds of expensive repairs to the structure of your home. It's difficult to estimate the cost of this type of repair, but it can easily run into the thousands depending on how much wood needs to be replaced and how intrusive the repairs are.
How to prevent it: Be vigilant about water damage in your home; if you find leaks or areas that tend to be damp, have them repaired before long-term damage occurs. If you find rotten wood in your home, repair the problem before it gets out of hand.
Bedbugs
If you're a homeowner rather than a renter, you may think you're immune to this one. Not so. According to Bloomberg, a recent nationwide infestation of bedbugs has seen the little blood-sucking critters popping up all over the place -- including movie theaters, office buildings and hotels, making it very easy for anyone to bring the infestation home. And, because many of the most effective chemicals for killing bedbugs have been found to be dangerous, eliminating the spread is harder than ever. According to a July 2009 story in the New York Times, paying more than $5,000 to eliminate a bedbug infestation is not uncommon.
How to prevent it: Avoid bringing home used furniture, mattresses or bedding. If you travel, inspect your hotel carefully for bed bugs (even upscale hotels have suffered from this problem), and avoid placing your luggage on the floor. If you find bed bugs in your home, contact an exterminator.
[10 Hidden Hazards in Your Home]
Sewer Line Problems
The portion of the sewer line that extends out from a home and onto city property is often the homeowners' responsibility when it comes to repairs. Sewer line problems are most common in older neighborhoods, where the line may have sagged or has been damaged by tree roots. If you have slow running or gurgling drains, frequent backups in your plumbing system or sewage smells outside your home, these may be indications of a problem. Again, your home insurance policy may cover this cost, expect this doozy to cost anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 for a 100-foot sewer pipe.
How to prevent it: If you experience signs of sewer problems in your home, have a professional inspect your lines. Clogs and tree roots can often be removed at a lower cost, without complete replacement of the pipe.
The Bottom Line
With careful inspection and proper maintenance, you can avoid many of the worst perils that can befall your home -- or at least fix them before they become so expensive. Homeowners should also create an emergency fund to pay for unexpected home repairs.


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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com

HOME STAR Provides Two Types of Consumer Incentives

About HOME STAR

Consumer Incentives:

HOME STAR provides two types of consumer incentives:

1. The SILVER STAR prescriptive path provides a near-term incentive for specific energy saving investments that is simple to administer and easily introduced into the existing marketplace. Homeowners receive between $1,000 and $1,500 for each measure installed in the home, or $250 per appliance, with a benefit not exceeding $3,000 or at least 50% of total project costs (whichever is less). Covered measures include air sealing; attic, wall, and crawl space insulation; duct sealing or replacement; and replacement of existing windows and doors, furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, water heaters and appliances with high-efficiency models. The legislation will utilize existing standards for qualifying products at a level sufficient to significantly increase consumer demand for highly energy efficient building materials and mechanical systems.  SILVER STAR improvements may be implemented by any appropriately licensed and insured contractor, but all participating contractors will receive information about opportunities for accreditation and training programs.
   
   
2. The GOLD STAR performance path offers an incentive to households that choose to conduct a comprehensive energy audit and then implement a variety of measures that are designed together to provide greater total returns in energy savings. This performance path represents the future of home efficiency: state-of-the-art building science is used to identify problems, present solutions and deliver verifiable energy savings, generating confidence among homeowners and investors alike. This technology-neutral approach is based on performance, not specific products, so market forces will direct funds to solutions that achieve the best results. A certified professional with accreditation from the Building Performance Institute (BPI), the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) or an approved equivalent conducts an energy audit before work begins, and a test-out when the performance retrofit is complete. Consumers receive $3,000 for modeled savings of 20%, plus an additional $1,000 incentive for each additional 5% of modeled energy savings, with incentives not to exceed 50% of project costs. Contractors implementing the GOLD STAR performance path must be BPI accredited.

Key Provisions:

Administrative Process: The HOME STAR program must meet several overarching goals. To be successful, HOME STAR must rapidly put construction workers back to work as well as create good, living-wage jobs for American workers; generate a minimum of new government bureaucracy; provide clear lines of authority; and offer a transparent process for all participants.

HOME STAR is not dependent on whether authority rests with a particular federal agency, rather authority could reside within a number of federal agencies without compromising the program goals. The federal government must, however, provide uniform guidance to establish consistent baseline resources and procedures for all states. States will take the lead in overseeing quality assurance programs and coordinating with existing programs to avoid duplication.  The ultimate implementation of this program will be driven by market transactions and as such the program will set aside administrative funds to drive consumer awareness.

HOME STAR will provide a rebate to consumers, which can be assigned to another party including the manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or contractor who completes the work. This rebate can be credited to consumers at multiple points in the transaction process including at the point of sale or point of completion of the job. Rebate checks can be issued either by the federal government, through existing state energy programs, or some combination of these entities based on infrastructure capability. In any case, administrative procedures must be designed for speed and efficiency, to roll out the program rapidly and effectively and to provide timely payments.

Quality Assurance: The program establishes a robust system of post-project-completion quality assurance to ensure quality installations adhering to technical standards and to provide accountability, protecting against waste, fraud and abuse. This system establishes industry performance standards, ensures that a portion of all jobs are inspected by credentialed professionals, and offers an additional incentive to contractors that invest in a trained and certified workforce.

Contractors can enroll in the program by registering and presenting proof of licensing and insurance to a quality assurance provider throughBPI, RESNET,or a provider designated by the state quality assurance plans. Homeowners may be contacted by a quality assurance provider for a field inspection after job completion to make sure that work was done according to standards and as contracted.  Each homeowner will have the right both to request or to choose not to receive, a home field inspection. The program will guarantee minimum inspection rates sufficient to assure quality work and provide accountability for contractors.

Quality assurance programs managed at the state level will maintain lists of qualified inspectors, facilitate access to training and certification programs (including outreach to low-income workers and minority contractors), coordinate with existing state and local efficiency programs, and develop systems for monitoring and enforcement. To provide for the long-term sustainability of this new and growing market, states will work with the Department of Energy to bring their quality assurance oversight up to a common national standard.

For GOLD STAR projects, contractors must submit a job completion checklist and work scope for each project, along with testing data, before the incentive is disbursed. SILVER STAR contractors are only required to submit a job completion checklist. For both the GOLD STAR and SILVER STAR programs, field quality assurance is conducted within 30 days on a sample of jobs to verify quality installation.

Quality Assurance requirements in HOME STAR will involve a simple paperwork review in approving individual rebates, in addition HOME STAR will provide a minimum baseline protocol for field inspection that is sufficiently rigorous to ensure high quality installation and appropriate consumer protection.  In all cases reduced inspection rates will be offered for contractors employing a trained and certified workforce.

Program Costs: To achieve rapid near-term job creation, $6 billion should be allocated to HOME STAR during the first year, $1.8 billion of which should be set aside for GOLD STAR incentives. While HOME STAR is envisioned as a time limited program, the GOLD STAR path should be continued beyond the first year as a bridge to permanent residential energy efficiency programs established by existing federal energy and climate legislation outlined below.

Legislative and Administrative Precedents: HOME STAR is endorsed by the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board (PERAB). This proposal is based on the Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) legislation that is included in the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act passed by the House of Representatives, and in the Building Efficiency title of American Clean Energy Leadership Act (ACELA) reported out by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Additional measures are drawn from leading state and local programs. This program also builds on investments made in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and on executive actions taken as a result of the Vice President's Recovery through Retrofit program.

The HOME STAR initiative will be significantly enhanced by proposed financing tools to reduce the upfront cost burden faced by homeowners for residential retrofit projects.

The establishment of additional incentives to cover commercial and industrial property would also be very valuable components of any legislation designed to create jobs through improved energy efficiency.

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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com