Eco Friendly

Some call themselves "green" because they use recycled materials like newspaper or cotton. Some promise higher R-values and greater energy bill savings. It can get a little overwhelming weighing the pros, cons and costs of each.

There are a wide variety of materials available to help you build a green home, but when you choose Icynene®, your helping to build a home that is energy efficient, healthier and green. Icynene is an environmentally preferable product that uses no HFC’s, a significant contributor to global warming. It also contains no PBDE’s, a fire retardant that can compromise the health of the home.  For even more peace of mind, laboratory testing has been confirmed that Icynene is not a food source for mold so you can breathe a little easier.

Icynene® is a low density, semi-flexible, polyurethane foam insulation. Our foam is produced using All-Water-Blown technology, which makes our foam environmentally friendly. Made from the castor plant, our product is readily renewable and doesn't compete with other food products such as soy.

Castor Plant Fast Facts: A lot of goodness from humble,  Little Beans

• Castor bean plants are grown on land that is not in competition with food crops and rely on natural rainfall, saving scarce water supplies.
• Castor plants are classified as a rapidly renewable resource material and require no pesticides.
• Castor plants absorb carbon dioxide when grown, thereby reducing greenhouse gas accumulations in the atmosphere.
• Castor oil is a safe ingredient, commonly used in cosmetics including lip balm.
• Castor oil is 100% naturally filtered, requiring no chemical additives.

DID YOU KNOW:

Castor crops are rapidly renewable, don’t require special irrigation, pesticides or fungicides and don’t compete with food crops.

It's quickly becoming a winning choice of homeowners and builders.

• Recipient of the 2009 Most Valuable Product Award from Building Products magazine.
• Named one of the 100 Best New Products by Professional Builder magazine.
• One of Green Builder magazine's "Hot 50" green products for 2009.

Global Warming and Ozone Depletion

When used in place of air-permeable insulation, Icynene® spray foam insulation can reduce home heating and cooling costs by up to 50% and lead to a reduction in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions. With the average North American home emitting approximately 10 tonnes of greenhouse gas per year 1 – primarily due to heating and cooling; using Icynene® can make a significant difference to the environment!

Icynene® believes that being a good corporate neighbor and a responsible steward of the world’s resources means providing innovative solutions that help address issues such as global warming. As the #1 manufacturer of open-cell foam insulation for the North American construction market, Icynene® is leading the insulation industry to a new level of sustainability through its commitment to environmentally-preferred, spray foam technology that is HFC-free.

Human Health Effects of PBDEs

Recently reported on CBS News, Toxicologists from the EPA are concerned about PBDEs (Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers), a commonly used fire retardant.

PBDEs have been linked to serious health problems such as birth defects, hormone deficiencies, learning disabilities and neurological disorders. Several states (including Washington, California and Maine) have issued legislation regulating and, in some cases, banning PBDEs. It is expected that other states will soon follow suit. PBDEs are already banned in Europe.

Icynene® spray foam insulation is, and has always been, PBDE-free. Furthermore, it meets the requirements of a Class 1 fire-rated product without the need for this chemical