Insulation is a critical part of building any structure where people will work or live. Without proper insulation, it takes a great deal of energy to keep a building warm in cool weather and cool in warm weather. Insulation significantly cuts the energy needed for this purpose and also helps to keep the cost of heating and cooling to a minimum. Unfortunately, traditional spray foam insulation has a number of environmental disadvantages. Green spray foam products are a much better solution for the health of people who will live and work in the building, for the people who will work in constructing and maintaining that building, and for the environment as a whole. Here are 5 excellent reasons to choose green spray foam materials over traditional spray foam insulation. 

Spray foam conserves energy. 

Spray foam works perfectly as insulation, and that's why it is used in so many projects. The spray foam is easy to apply, allowing workers to literally spray the product in rather than having to attach it manually. It sticks to other materials and has a high R-value, meaning that it does not let hot air through easily. Energy Star states that the higher the R-value of an insulation product, the more resistant that material is to allowing heat to escape. 

For these reasons, spray foam insulation saves energy, and saving energy is good for the environment. 

However, traditional spray foams do have other qualities that make them unhealthy. This is why the better choice is green spray foam. 

Traditional spray foam must be properly cured. 

The chemicals in spray foam must be given time to react to the polyurethane also present in the foam. Before this process is complete, the foam can give off dangerous fumes. This is why it is suggested that workers give the foam at least 24 hours to cure before returning to the work space. However, this is not always possible. 

Chemically infected dust can linger. 

When workers manipulate traditional spray foam, the product can give off dust. This is particularly true during the part of the installation process that requires workers to cut and shape the insulation. 

Dust from traditional spray foam can contain toxic chemicals, and dust easily spreads throughout a building and can be very hard to clean completely. 

Traditional spray foam gives off toxic vapors. 

During the spraying process, spray foam gives off vapors that workers or bystanders may unknowingly inhale. These vapors can linger in a space long after the foam has been installed, particularly if there is no way to get adequate ventilation. 

Removing the insulation can be hazardous. 

Once spray foam insulation has been installed and cured, it will give off minimal toxins. However, any time new construction or remodeling is done in that area, exposure to harmful chemicals becomes a problem again. 

If you are planning any renovation products at any time in the future, you risk exposing yourself and other people to these chemicals. Once spray foam insulation has been installed, it is much better to leave it in place than to ever disturb it, even to remove it as a way of making the environment healthier. 

Spray foam is an amazing insulator that can significantly reduce the amount of energy a building needs to maintain a proper temperature. However, traditional spray foam involves a number of chemicals that can be irritating and toxic to the people who live and work in the space where the insulation has been installed. Instead of traditional spray foam insulation, consider green spray foam options made from natural materials. This will allow your building to conserve energy as well as keeping people in the building safe from toxic fumes, vapors, and dust.