What are VOCs and How Do They Affect Homeowners?

What are VOCs and how do they affect homeowners? Posted: 28 Mar 2017 05:00 AM PDT VOCs – otherwise known as volatile organic compounds – are defined as gases that are emitted from certain materials, whether they are solid or in liquid form, and can include a variety of chemicals. According to the EPA, VOCs can typically have higher concentrations indoors, in some cases up to ten times higher, than outdoor concentrations. These emissions can have varying degrees of short-term and long-term health effects.  Nowadays, consumers are increasing becoming aware of VOCs and their effects on humans. As a result, consumers have become savvier in understanding the various types of products available in the market and selecting products that identify as low VOC. While VOCs do not sound appealing, there have been significant developments by manufacturers of chemicals and building materials that reduce the exposure to building occupants. Where are VOCs found? The EPA states that VOCs can be found in an array of household products and materials from paints, waxes, aerosol sprays, cleaners, pesticides, craft materials, office equipment, furnishings and building materials including insulation. You may find many of these everyday household materials and products after a quick search through your home.  Effects from exposure to VOCs can vary between individuals depending on the chemical as well as length of exposure and level of VOC emissions. Effects can include irritation of the nose and throat, nausea, dizziness and headaches among other effects. Although the presence of VOCs and their effects are not pleasant, there have been steps taken by many manufacturers to reduce our exposure to VOCs. For example, the paint industry has been very active in developing paints and varnishes that are considered low VOC. These active steps by manufacturers are helping to ensure that consumers are aware of what VOCs are and how they can reduce their exposure to such emissions. How to reduce exposure to VOCs The EPA offers consumers an array of recommendations to reduce exposure to VOCs.  There are several recommendations including: Do not mix household products together Increase ventilation when using a product Only purchase in quantities that will be used immediately Avoid storing open containers Meet or exceed label precautions Keep out of reach of children and pets How is the spray foam insulation industry responding to VOCs? Like the paint industry, the spray foam insulation industry is responding to VOCs and developing products are considered low VOC. As the spray foam insulation industry leader, Icynene has been committed to the responsible development of spray foam chemistry for over 30 years. Icynene’s leadership position in the category has seen the development of several spray foam insulation products including Icynene Classic Max, Icynene Classic Max Select, Icynene ProSeal and Icynene ProSeal LE. Each of these spray foam products is identified as a low VOC spray foam insulation material. And it doesn’t stop there; chemists and building scientists at Icynene continue to develop spray foam innovation to meets the ever changing requirements of modern commercial and residential construction as well as the demands of architects, builders and homeowners alike. Icynene has gone further to ensure that their spray foam insulation products are evaluated by UL Environment to gain and GREENGUARD Gold certification.  Icynene Classic Max, Icynene ProSeal and Icynene ProSeal LE have received GREENGUARD Gold certification. Furthermore, Icynene spray foam insulation products meet the criteria set by the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS). As a result of Icynene’s low VOC innovation, building occupants are able to re-occupy a home or building after just two hours and in some cases 1 hour after the spray application following active ventilation as prescribed. What is GREENGUARD? GREENGUARD Certification has been widely adopted as a trusted standard for low-emitting products. More than 400 green building codes, standards, guidelines, procurements policies, and rating systems recognize or reference GREENGUARD Certified products. The GREENGUARD Gold Certification standard includes health based criteria for additional chemicals and also requires lower total VOC emissions levels to ensure that products are acceptable for use in environments such as schools and healthcare facilities. What is CHPS? CHPS is a collaboration to address energy efficiency in schools. The program covers all aspects of school design, construction and operation. CHPS develops tools that help make schools energy, water and material efficient, well-lit, thermally comfortable, acoustically sound, safe, healthy and easy to operate.  CHPS sets a specific set of criteria that must be met by building materials to allow for use in the construction of schools. Where does LEED fit in? Low emitting materials  are addressed in LEED v4 with the intent to reduce concentrations of chemical contaminants that can damage air quality, human health, productivity, and the environment. Architects can receive credit toward LEED certification in addressing low emitting materials including interior paints and coatings, flooring, interior adhesives and sealants as well as ceiling, wall, thermal and acoustic insulation. How can architects and builders help? Architects, designers and builders can all take steps to encourage the adoption of a low VOC approach in design and construction. Through educating and working with their clients in understanding what VOCs are, how they affect building occupants and the low VOC options that are available in the market, architects and builders can create high performance, energy efficient and positive spaces to live, work and play.  For More Information Call Therma Seal- 561.775.9703 or visit us at www.thermaseal.net

Importance of creating an air barrier in an unvented attic

Creating an air barrier in your unvented attic can lead to serious savings in energy costs and create a healthier living environment for you and your family.  Basic insulation provides R-value, which is the materials ability to slow down heat transfer across a membrane such as a roof or attic deck.  This R-value helps with heat conduction but does not prevent the accumulation of heat by convection, which is air passing through cracks, crevices, and other openings of an attic trying to create equilibrium between the house temperature and the outside heat and elements.  The cold air being pumped through your vents is constantly being sucked into the attic and leaked into the atmosphere.  With Therma Seal's Icynene Spray Foam System you can reduce energy costs by creating R-value but ALSO eliminate heat build up through convection.  Any cold air pumped into your house would be encapsulated within your house and attic without any waste.  You wouldn't go to the beach with a cooler of ice and not put the lid on it right?!  Contact Therma Seal Insulation Systems at 561-775-9703 or visit our website www.thermaseal.net for more information about our energy saving solutions.

Summer has kicked off to be a hot one: Icynene, Sustainably COOL!

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3 Years after Icynene application, homeowner still overjoyed!

[To the Therma Seal Insulation Team]

"I am ecstatic with our Icynene job performed by Therma Seal Insulation Systems.  My 4 bedroom home electric bill averages just over $100 per month since the application 3 years ago!

~Daniel Cameron
Boynton Beach, FL

Customer Response

Hi Therma Seal!
The insulation is helping a lot.

There is definitely a sound-proofing effect.

And the temperature and humidity inside the house are great.

Overall, with the new roof and the insulation, the house feels 100% better than before.

Thank you!!

-Amir

Icynene Synopsis

Simply put, installing Icynene to your home or business is not just insulation but a complete Insulation System.  Batt and Blown In Fiber Insulation products offer an R-Value (R is an indication of heat conduction) benefit only.  The thicker the application the higher the R-Value. The negative effects of these products are that they compress over time and they allow airflow, both of which reduce its R-Value and effectiveness as insulation.

Therma Seal Insulation Systems creates an “unvented attic” assembly, which prohibits the intrusion of heat, humidity or pollen into the attic space.  More importantly, the cool air you produce; which in the past seeps through the conventional insulation and dispersed out into the environment, is now retained in the attic space.  The result is a home, which cools quickly and then retains this temperature significantly longer

The benefits you gain by adding this system include air quality and sound absorption and improved energy efficiency. 

As indicated, Icynene is an insulation system that beyond its thermal attributes (R Value) is an Air Barrier system.  This envelope over the conditioned space, is also known as “Unvented Attic System” (http://www.thermaseal.net/images/stories/design-notes/benefits-of-unvented-attic.pdf)

The system provided by Therma Seal retains this cooler air inside the attic envelope.  The ducts and handlers now work in a comfortable environment without a dew point (preventing mold/mildew).   Visit www.thermaseal.net to meet the Therma Seal Team and a complete viewing of the application, case studies and more.

jfinck@thermaseal.net

561.775.9703

Moss Construction achieves improved sound absorption and air quality in exposed application of Icynene Spray Foam by Therma Seal

An eclectic use of office space is provided by Therma Seal to the Moss & Associates Construction Headquarters.

Therma Seal sprayed the Icynene Classic Max Insulation System to the underside of the top floor roof, providing an air barrier envelope for superior cooling and humidity control.

Moss Construction left the foam application exposed and coated with DC315 plus and additional layer of gray paint to accommodate a progressive aesthetic appearance.

Beyond the value benefits of the air barrier is the sound absorption provided in this open space layout.

Does spray foam insulation cost more than fiberglass and cellulose?

-Icynene Corp

Although behind the wall, insulation is one of the most important investments in any residential or commercial project that your client can make. More often than not, the argument for or against spray foam insulation is affected by cost. While spray foam insulation does cost more than fiberglass and cellulose, it’s important to recognize the return on investment that Icynene spray foam insulation offers.

An article in the Chicago Tribune identifies spray foam insulation as a more complex system that is applied as a liquid that can fill in every crack and seam consistently while fiberglass need to be cut carefully to fit the cavities. This can leave gaps which allow vast amounts of air to escape. 

It’s these gaps in the inconsistent coverage of fiberglass that can have a significant impact on the daily energy consumption, and therefore the building’s heating and cooling costs.  It’s believed that all the gaps left by fiberglass insulation allows enough air escape an average American home to fill two air blimps – every day.  This kind of inconsistency in performance also applies to cellulose since it can impacted by gravity and moisture which hinders its performance.

Does spray foam insulation cost more than fiberglass or cellulose? When you consider the amount of air escaping from poorly insulated fiberglass buildings (and the costs associated with an overworked HVAC system) together with the factors that can affect performance such as moisture, mold potential and gravity against the performance consistency and return on investment value of spray foam insulation, then the cost of spray foam insulation is a wise investment for any building owner.

                             

Remember that variables such as spray foam type, labor and quantity do have an impact on the initial investment price, your clients have the opportunity to use an energy efficient product that provides savings as much as 50% on every monthly heating and cooling bills. No other insulation product can provide such a saving.

Therma Seal Insulation Systems
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What South Florida Homeowner Need to Know...

9 Tips for our South Florida homeowners looking you use spray foam to increase energy efficiency and air quality.

Fire Safe Attic System and Icynene Classic Max

Introducing Icynene Classic Max and the safest attic available.  From protecting your loved ones to creating the most energy efficient insulation system on the market, you can rely on Therma Seal for your energy solutions!

Richard Branson Thinks He's Found A Better Way To Pay For Energy Efficiency

The billionaire entrepreneur talks to us about his very unsexy, but very important new project: How to make it affordable for property owners to retrofit their houses to make them more efficient.

Even people who don't believe in climate change would probably acknowledge that improving the world's energy efficiency makes sense. Using less power saves money and reduces pollution--and, in many cases, the investments are easy. Years of upgrades show that property owners usually make their money back within a few years.

A report last year by Deutsche Bank Climate Change Advisors and the Rockefeller Foundation found that investing $279 billion in energy-efficiency retrofits across the country would produce a return of more than $1 trillion. The problem is unlocking the investment in the first place. What's needed, the report said, is new types of finance models that knock down the initial barriers.

Energy-efficiency upgrades haven't been taken up more widely because the property owner has had to bear the full burden.

According to Richard Branson, the British entrepreneur, that model is something called Property Assessed Clean Energy. PACE allows property owners to get funding for retrofits and not pay a cent upfront. They can put in energy-efficiency upgrades (or anti-hurricane measures and renewable energy systems) and then pay back the sum through their property tax bill over 20 years. The amount they save hopefully will be more than what they must pay over that time.

"Energy-efficiency upgrades haven't been taken up more widely because the property owner has had to bear the full burden of upfront cost and associated financial risk," Branson told Co.Exist in an email. "The PACE model turns all this upside down. By providing 100% financing, no upfront costs, and long-term, nonrecourse pay-back, it creates immediate financial incentives for property owners to upgrade their building today."

Currently, 32 states and the District of Columbia have legislation allowing PACE financing for energy efficiency, with another five or six looking at it (the idea originated in California eight years ago, though other types of public projects have been financed this way for up to 40 years). Importantly, the agreement stays with the property, passing from one owner to the next. That means the owner can sell, and not get left with the upgrade cost before seeing any benefits.

The public benefit of not having buildings blow off their foundations is really high.

Branson is championing PACE through his environmental nonprofit, the Carbon War Room, which is helping to bring the financing together through a partnership with Ygrene Energy Fund. Ygrene strikes exclusive arrangements with municipalities to do energy-efficiency upgrade work in their area. It then markets the improvements to commercial and residential owners, and arranges short-term funding for the projects. Those loans are then bundled into a municipal bond, and sold on as low-risk investments. The government pays the money back through tax receipts.

Ygrene recently launched projects with the cities of Miami, Cutler Bay, Miami Shores, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, and South Miami (its "Clean Energy Green Corridor") to offer retrofits in those areas. Under Florida law, owners can also get financing for hurricane resilience (like tougher windows and water barriers), though the emphasis is on efficiency and renewables, like solar panels.

"In Florida, the state is the insurer of last resort, so the public benefit of not having buildings blow off their foundations is really high," says Stacey Lawson, Ygrene's CEO. "For the owner, it allows them to reinvest the money in a way that doesn't keep them out of pocket. It opens up a whole new vein of capital for them that is only related to energy efficiency."

Ygrene is also working with Sacramento, California. In August, it agreed a $3.16 million retrofit of the city's Metro Center Corporate Park--the biggest energy-efficiency deal to date. The investment, which will pay for things like a new building management system and better lighting, is expected to produce savings of $140,000 a year--which is a 27% decrease in costs for the owner, Metzler Real Estate. Lawson says rates between 25% and 30% are "very typical."

PACE is not the only energy-efficiency financial fix. On-bill financing, in which owners and tenants repay through their utility bills, is also growing popularity. But PACE does seem to have momentum, particularly among commercial projects. Ygrene is only one of at least 10 funds using a similar model.

As usual, Branson has no doubt: "The implications of PACE for the scaled retrofitting of buildings across USA are huge, and couldn't come at a better time for everyone--tenants, owners, financiers, and the planet."

-fastcoexist.com

Custom home builders: Educating new homeowners of energy efficient building methods.

Understand the advantages of Spray Foam Insulation in Custom Built Homes

While your clients may have heard about spray foam, they may not realize the advantages of spray foam insulation in custom built homes. When building a new home, it’s the best time to have spray foam installed. Homeowners are typically ahead of the curve in pursing energy efficient solutions for their home. Spray foam not only addresses a key concern for homeowners but can noticeably reduce their monthly heating and cooling costs. The many advantages of spray foam insulation in custom built homes versus traditional insulation types includes:

• Significant savings on heating and cooling bills every month
• Design flexibility
• Reduced amount of pollutants and allergens entering the home
• Quieter indoor living environments
• Greater comfort

With spray foam, you can insulate hard-to-regulate temperature zones such as basements, crawl spaces, bonus rooms and attics. Your clients will never have to experience cold floors again! Exceed your client’s expectations on comfort by building them the home of their dreams with a comfort level beyond their imagination, only delivered with spray foam.

Therma Seal's team of experts can help you with a whole home analysis. The analysis will evaluate your homes building envelope and identify cost savings from products or materials that are downsized or eliminated with spray foam insulation. This is an important step as it significantly reduces the price gap between spray foam insulation and conventional insulation.

So, why use spray foam insulation in custom built homes? To provide your clients with continual comfort, energy efficiency and significant monthly savings. The comfort they will experience will reinforce to homeowners the quality their builder has put into their home and the excellence of the builder they have chosen.

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Improving building performance with open-cell spray foam: Energy Efficiency | Icynene

Open-cell spray foam can be used to successfully deliver sustainable, high-performance results. Incorporating open-cell spray foam, such as Icynene’s LD-C-50, into a sustainable building can have a tremendous impact on achieving the core sustainable strategies of energy efficiency, moisture management and whole building design. Today we take a look at how quality open-cell spray foam aids in the energy efficiency performance of a home.

It’s believed that up to 40% of a home’s heating and cooling costs are caused by air leakage. To curb such expenses as well as minimize air leakage and excessive energy waste, the use of an effective, continuous air barrier is recommended. Both open-cell and closed-cell, such as Icynene’s MD-C-200, can help reduce energy costs by up to 50%.

A quality open-cell product has the added benefit of longevity in that 100% water-blown foam does not release emissions that would degrade the material and, ultimately, degrade its performance over the long-term. As a permanent solution that offers longevity, open-cell spray foam insulation helps minimize operating costs and also significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Selecting a product that provides longevity also eliminates the need for re-installation of additional materials in the future. Furthermore, open-cell spray foam insulation cures soft and remains flexible allowing it to expand and contract within the substrate helping ensure a reliable and permanent air seal. The flexibility of open-cell spray foam maintains integrity of the air seal for the life of the building.

Contributed by Icynene Corp.
Improving building performance with open-cell spray foam: Energy Efficiency | Icynene

Therma Seal Resolves Mold Issues Throughout Palm Beach County, Florida This Summer.

Everyone knows moisture problems can lead to the presence of mold and mildew, destroying a homes physical integrity and overall health of a home.  Mold and mildew begin to form where moisture is left to stagnate in a closed, warm environment.  A  common cause of moisture in South Florida typically occurs where HVAC ducts or registers sweat due to "hot attic syndrome."

Therma Seal's unvented attic system with Icynene spray foam provides both a solution and a prevention from mold and mildew.

James Finck

If your home was a cooler...

     Picture a beautiful, hot beach day in sunny South Florida.  You have a cooler for your refreshments and another for your hot sandwiches.  The logic of a cooler is to keep your cold stuff colder for longer and vise versa for warmth.  Obviously a cooler is a lot more effective when there is a tight seal and the lid is all the way shut.  You are essentially trapping in the coolness to maintain a consistent temperature within.
      Now equate this cooler concept with your home energy usage.  Wouldn't you like to shut the lid on your home to maintain consistent temperature and prevent energy hemorrhaging? This is where the Icynene Insulation System comes into play, creating an effective seal and "shutting the lid on your cooler."
     Icynene spray foam mitigates any air leakage within your attic system and ultimately renders all your soffit venting useless.  By creating an unvented attic system, you can expect a dramatic decrease in attic temperature, the new temperature will be roughly 6-8 degrees higher than the temperature in your living room.  Put all the pieces together, you have decreased the temperature of the environment in which your a/c mechanicals and duct work are operating, and you can expect your a/c to be running a whole lot less, keeping you more comfortable and cutting cooling costs in half.
    Therma Seal Insulation are the experts in commercial and residential energy solutions, serving the Sunshine State.

Let us shut the lid on your home cooler!
561.775.9703

By:
William Finck
 

Great programs for home energy enhancements.

Throughout the state of Florida, there are more and more programs offering finance tools encouraging upgrades to home energy efficiency.  With constantly rising energy costs and higher costs of living, homeowners are beginning to do everything they can to keep their multiplier as low as possible.

One of the programs we employ essentially takes the cost of the upgrades and amortizes a loan over the course of 5, 10, or 20 years depending on the homeowners payment preference.  The payment is made through a non ad valorem property tax to create a savings that will exceed your payment.  This makes it possible for the homeowner to relish in the savings and comfort starting day one, without any out-of-pocket expenses.

Therma Seal specializes in the application of the Icynene Spray Foam System because of its superior air barrier qualities, commitment to the environment, and the long term solution to home insulation.  Utilizing Icynene will  reduce cooling cost by half when compared to traditional insulation, and will retain its true form for the life of the structure, and is also warranted by Icynene.  Spray foam is becoming the standard in new custom homes because more people are learning about the evolution in building science and the huge benefits of the unvented attic.

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Beyond the ceiling...Smart Insulation

INSULATION IS REQUIRED TO HELP YOUR HOME MAINTAIN COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE.

The added benefit is lower cooling and heating costs by using material which not only slows heat transfer (R-Value) but stops air flow out of the home.

During Florida's blazing summer the heat gain to a home without a proper insulated assembly is tremendous.

As Florida homeowners, we are well versed in the heat and humidity effects on our comfort in this beautiful and tropical surrounding.  The correct insulation system helps to protect our home in windstorms, while drastically lowering our indoor humidity level and all while saving us $$$ each and every day.

I use "insulation system" with the purpose to share a quick lesson in building science. If we use an Air Barrier insulation product (Icynene) to provide an unvented air barrier envelope over our conditioned home, we stop the conditioned air leakage which easily escapes through minuscule passageways.  40% of lost energy costs in the average U.S. home is due to air leakage.

Therma Seal(TM)  provides these solutions to your home or building. A properly sealed home will cool quickly and retain that coolness for a long time. 

                The HVAC systems do not operate within a 140* attic space, working in overdrive.

                The lack of introduced humidity to the home offers a dryer and more comfortable environment.

                The air quality is improved and without humidity and heat the chances of mold/mildew drop to zero.