It reduces the energy required to keep a building warm in the winter and cool in the summer. About one third of the total annual energy consumption in the U.S. is for the heating and cooling of buildings. There is a wide variety of insulating products available ranging from fiberglass batt to glass beads. Fiberglass is the most common insulator, but recent reports on adverse health effects make it an unsuitable choice.
Most insulation is hazardous to handle.
Cotton Insulation Greenwood cotton insulation is an insulation product containing fibers made from recycled textile fabrics. The polyester improves strength and recoil characteristics of the product. The fabrics are treated with a non-toxic flame retardant, which is absorbed into the fibers. The product is non-toxic and biodegradable. At the Thoreau Center, Greenwood Cotton Insulation was installed in acoustical wall partitions, attics, walls, and crawl spaces.