Green Homes Special Series
Part Two: Home Sealing and Insulation

Sites to air seal are typically on the inside and will stop not only air infiltration but indoor humidity from getting into walls. Exterior sealing is more for keeping rain out of the walls than air leakage. Audit suggestions will be specific to your home. For example, one recent audit of an old home suggested that the owner seal: joints between outlet boxes and drywall; exterior wall penetrations such as the gas line, electrical entrance and dryer vents; and penetrations into the attic such as electrical boxes, wire and plumbing chases. Weatherstripping is suggested for attic hatches and doors. An auditor will point out areas where insulation has been inappropriately installed or is insufficient. Getting the proper amounts in the right places will block heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer and keep a home envelope healthier. That same audit suggested that owners insulate an attic to an R-value of 40 to 44 with blown-in cellulose or fiberglass, secure rigid foam to the attic side of all attic hatches and insulate side wall cavities where infrared images revealed blown-in product had settled. Finding Green Products Sealing and insulating will go a long way toward making a home healthy and comfortable. But consider going a step further by using green products. Craig Drumheller from the NAHB Research Center performs a blower door test on a PATH Field Evaluation site at Green Valley Ranch in Denver, Colorado. Photo Credit: PATH. One place to find what is available is the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI). This independent nonprofit organization oversees GREENGUARD®, a third-party product certification program based on proven emission standards. Certified products are listed in its product guide on its web site at http://www.greenguard.org. GEI Communications Manager Laura Anne Spriggs says that with GREENGUARD, "products are tested to evaluate the emissions levels of individual VOCs [volatile organic compounds], TVOCs [total volatile organic compounds], specific chemicals and particulates. More than 2,000 chemicals can be identified using this test method. The acceptable emissions levels are listed on the web site as well as on the individual certificates." GREENGUARD-certified products must be retested annually to retain certification and quarterly sample testing.

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