Comments on: Icynene® Insulation–The Ultimate Barrier to High Energy Bills http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/ Turning the Planet Green, One Conversation at a Time Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:23:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Green Talk http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/comment-page-2/#comment-8159 Green Talk Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:53:37 +0000 http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/#comment-8159 Solar Global, good point. I would think that the rebate would apply but everyone should check the rebate section. Anna Solar Global, good point. I would think that the rebate would apply but everyone should check the rebate section. Anna

]]> By: Solar Global Green http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/comment-page-2/#comment-8154 Solar Global Green Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:31:14 +0000 http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/#comment-8154 I assume that this product is eligible for the 30% tax credit from the federal government making it that much more attractive for someone looking to lower their energy bill. I assume that this product is eligible for the 30% tax credit from the federal government making it that much more attractive for someone looking to lower their energy bill.

]]> By: Gary L Maedl http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/comment-page-2/#comment-8126 Gary L Maedl Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:21:07 +0000 http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/#comment-8126 Anna, By chemical definition, the "-ene" ending on the name Icynene typically means that it is a carbohydron with at least one double bond in the molecule. Although these chemicals can be created in the lab using other base elements, they are typically derived from petroleum for sake of ease and cost. This is not to say that petroleum based products are bad. Quite the contrary. Without petroleum, we would not have any of our modern plastics, for example. However, from a chemical viewpoint, there is little difference between castor oil and petroleum. They and all oils have an organic as their foundation. For castor oil, it is the castor bean. For petroleum, it is ancient plant life. Anna,

By chemical definition, the “-ene” ending on the name Icynene typically means that it is a carbohydron with at least one double bond in the molecule. Although these chemicals can be created in the lab using other base elements, they are typically derived from petroleum for sake of ease and cost.

This is not to say that petroleum based products are bad. Quite the contrary. Without petroleum, we would not have any of our modern plastics, for example.

However, from a chemical viewpoint, there is little difference between castor oil and petroleum. They and all oils have an organic as their foundation. For castor oil, it is the castor bean. For petroleum, it is ancient plant life.

]]> By: Green Talk http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/comment-page-2/#comment-8124 Green Talk Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:58:05 +0000 http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/#comment-8124 Gary, you beat me to the punch. Icynene does have a new product, ICYNENE LD-R-50™, that the Company claims has about a seven percent castor oil base, which means that a certain percentage of the foam is not produced by using petroleum products. Anna Gary, you beat me to the punch. Icynene does have a new product, ICYNENE LD-R-50™, that the Company claims has about a seven percent castor oil base, which means that a certain percentage of the foam is not produced by using petroleum products. Anna

]]> By: Gary L Maedl http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/comment-page-2/#comment-8123 Gary L Maedl Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:53:58 +0000 http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/#comment-8123 Dear Mr. Jankord, Icynene IS a petroleum based product. Read the following taken directly from the Icynene website: "What is the Composition of Icynene®? Icynene® is a water-blown half pound plastic foam insulation that contains no environmentally harmful blowing agents like HFCs, HCFCs or HFAs. Organic chemical compounds from petroleum extract are the main source of its ingredients. VOC emission testing by Saskatchewan Research Council has revealed that there were no VOC emissions after 30 days." You can check this out yourself at: http://www.icynene.com/faqs/ You may have been in the Icynene business for almost 10 years, but this does not mean you know everything about this stuff. I have been using foam insulations since 1975 and have a degree in mechananical engineering with a minor in polymer chemistry, and I don't pretend to know everything about Icynene. As said earlier in this blog, it is all about the installation. Dear Mr. Jankord,

Icynene IS a petroleum based product. Read the following taken directly from the Icynene website:

“What is the Composition of Icynene®?

Icynene® is a water-blown half pound plastic foam insulation that contains no environmentally harmful blowing agents like HFCs, HCFCs or HFAs. Organic chemical compounds from petroleum extract are the main source of its ingredients. VOC emission testing by Saskatchewan Research Council has revealed that there were no VOC emissions after 30 days.”

You can check this out yourself at: http://www.icynene.com/faqs/

You may have been in the Icynene business for almost 10 years, but this does not mean you know everything about this stuff.

I have been using foam insulations since 1975 and have a degree in mechananical engineering with a minor in polymer chemistry, and I don’t pretend to know everything about Icynene.

As said earlier in this blog, it is all about the installation.

]]> By: Brandon Jankord http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/comment-page-2/#comment-8122 Brandon Jankord Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:26:45 +0000 http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/#comment-8122 Hi, I just read this article and wanted to point out one thing that is wrong with it. It is the part where Icynene is a petroleum base product, which is not true. I have been in the Icynene business for almost 10 years and i know for a fact that it is a water base foam. Petroleum base foams have a water absorbtion issue and it also gives off gases. Icynene is the only foam around that doesn't have a problem with any of those, plus we give a lifetime warranty that it won't ever have those problems. Thank s for letting me clear those issues up. Hi, I just read this article and wanted to point out one thing that is wrong with it. It is the part where Icynene is a petroleum base product, which is not true. I have been in the Icynene business for almost 10 years and i know for a fact that it is a water base foam. Petroleum base foams have a water absorbtion issue and it also gives off gases. Icynene is the only foam around that doesn’t have a problem with any of those, plus we give a lifetime warranty that it won’t ever have those problems. Thank s for letting me clear those issues up.

]]> By: My Advice About Geothermal Energy Ownership | Green Talk™ http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/comment-page-2/#comment-8006 My Advice About Geothermal Energy Ownership | Green Talk™ Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:09:07 +0000 http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/#comment-8006 [...] of my readers (Brian) asked the following question on the article, “Icynene-the Ultimate Barrier to High Energy Bills”: “You mentioned geothermal in the Northeast and I am curious to see how it works in this area. [...] [...] of my readers (Brian) asked the following question on the article, “Icynene-the Ultimate Barrier to High Energy Bills”: “You mentioned geothermal in the Northeast and I am curious to see how it works in this area. [...]

]]> By: Green Talk http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/comment-page-2/#comment-7848 Green Talk Tue, 26 Jan 2010 05:06:06 +0000 http://www.green-talk.com/2007/09/14/icynene%c2%ae-insulation-the-ultimate-barrier-to-high-energy-bills/#comment-7848 Joe, i am not an expert but I can't be around fiberglass. It makes me cough uncontrollably. Also, your blown in fiberglass may contain formaldehyde. Ask. Also, ask the company who makes the cellulose if you can blown in cellulose without it needing it to be covered. For example, closed cell insulation need a fire protection barrier so it shouldn't be left open in an attic. Have you considered Ultra-touch cotton insulation? They have a R-30 variety so you can do it yourself. I have it and it is like a big blue pillow. No itch or formaldehyde. Do you have recessed lights in your second floor? You can't blow insulation on top of them in your attic. Anna Joe, i am not an expert but I can’t be around fiberglass. It makes me cough uncontrollably. Also, your blown in fiberglass may contain formaldehyde. Ask.

Also, ask the company who makes the cellulose if you can blown in cellulose without it needing it to be covered. For example, closed cell insulation need a fire protection barrier so it shouldn’t be left open in an attic.

Have you considered Ultra-touch cotton insulation? They have a R-30 variety so you can do it yourself. I have it and it is like a big blue pillow. No itch or formaldehyde.

Do you have recessed lights in your second floor? You can’t blow insulation on top of them in your attic.

Anna

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