The leader of the green movement and winner
of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for Climate Change, Al Gore insulated
his personal estate with airkrete in October 2007.
Articles http://www.austinenergy.com/Energy%20Efficiency/Programs/Green%20Building/So
urcebook/insulation.htm
Cementitious Foam insulation is made from magnesium oxide
that is derived from sea water and blown in place with air.
No CFCs or HCFCs are used. Because of its inorganic composition,
it has very low VOC emissions, is totally inert, and non-combustible.
Cementitious foam insulation is available commercially in
one product: Air-Krete. There is one installer of this type
of insulation in our region. This type of insulation is considered
the most benign from an indoor air quality standpoint; it
is also more costly.
http://www.greensage.com/SLCH-INSULATION/SLCHInsulationsumm.htm
Cementitious Foam Insulation, including Airkrete, is made
from inert materials and considered non-toxic. It's a professionally
installed foamed-in (injected) product and a very effective
insulator. More often used in commercial buildings.
http://www.harmonyhomeconstruction.com/insulation.htm
Silicate foam or Air Krete is cementious foam insulation made
of magnesium oxide extracted from seawater plus calcium and
silicate. It is one of the least toxic insulating materials
on the market, though still a bit costly. Higher initial costs
are off set by higher R-values and tight fitting draft prevention.
http://www.hhinst.com/ArtEEBAdemo.html
A cementitious foam insulation made from magnesium silicate
is being marketed as a non-toxic alternative for chemically
sensitive people
http://www.iq-home.com/HVAC/types_of_insulation.htm
Made from material extracted from seawater. Its non-toxic
attributes make it very popular with chemically sensitive
individuals. Since it is not temperature sensitive, it can
be installed indoors under any weather conditions. This insulation
is also non-flammable. Air-Krete has an R-value of about 3.9
per inch
http://www.mesotheliomaresource.org/articles/asbestos-exposure/asbestos-exposure-article-6485.htm
Another excellent alternative to fiberglass is Air-Krete,
a non-toxic foam made from atmospheric air captured in magnesium
oxide - tiny bubbles, in other words. "Magnesium oxide
is a natural mineral used for hundreds of years to make fire
brick," says Carmen Palmer, vice president and co-owner
of Air-Krete maker Palmer Industries. Air-Krete costs more
than fiberglass, but Palmer says homeowners will recoup their
investment in just a few years, because of its 3.9 "R"
value (a measure of thermal resistance) and minimal air filtration.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Homes/2002-12-01/Insulation-Options.aspxn
Introduced in the late 1970s, Air Krete, a cementitious foam
product containing magnesium oxide, is one of the few insulation
products that chemically sensitive individuals seem to tolerate.
Like other spray-in foam insulation materials, Air Krete is
stable and does not shrink or settle after being applied.
It supplies about R-3.9 per inch, but must be applied by people
trained in its application.
http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/good_wood/nont_bld.htm
A non-toxic insulating foam called 'Air-Krete', is now marketed
in the U.S. as an alternative to fibreglass insulation. Air-Krete
is made from tiny magnesium oxide bubbles which encapsulate
atmospheric air. Magnesium oxide is a natural mineral used
for centuries to make fire bricks. Its higher cost is offset
by its superior thermal qualities.
http://alcor.concordia.ca/~raojw/crd/essay/essay000265.html
Air Krete has been on the market since 1983. It is a foam
product that must be installed by trained applicators. It
is roughly the consistency of shaving cream when it is put
in place, then it quickly becomes more rigid. While it is
easier to install it in an existing wall by injecting it into
holes drilled in the siding, it can also be used in new construction.
Costs range from $.80 to $1.30 per square foot for installing
it in a 3 1/2" thick wall. Unlike other synthetic foam
products, Air Krete is a cementitious material. This means
that it is more closely related to concrete than to plastic.
As a result it is almost completely odor free. In fact, it
is being promoted as being non-toxic, since it contains "no
formaldehyde or any other known toxic substances." While
a very few sensitive people do find it somewhat offensive,
it is generally quite inoffensive. Since Air Krete must be
installed by licensed applicators, it is not available is
all parts of the country.
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?2524&src=(05/15/2005)
While newer and less well known, Air Krete is a thermally
efficient and non-toxic spray insulation that is easily foamed
into open or closed cavities in walls, roofs and ceilings.
The product's basic raw material components are air, water
and cement which, when combined, create a cost-effective,
safe and high performance product. The National Audubon Society
installed Air Krete in its New York City headquarters as part
of an overhaul designed to "green up" that organization's
entire operation.
http://www.bobvila.com/ArticleLibrary/Subject/HVAC/Insulation/BlownInOptions.html
Cementitious foam is a magnesium-based product that is derived
from seawater. Because of its consistency, foam is the most
effective product for retrofitting into existing walls. Foam
will work its way around any obstacle, providing a near-100
percent wall fill (cellulose, for example, may not fill completely
around bundles of wires or pipe runs and leave random voids).
Unlike bottled foam insulation used to seal small gaps around
pipes and wiring, it does not shrink or expand. In new construction,
foam can be installed after drywall is hung, but taping and
texturing drywall joints should be completed after the foam
has completely dried (usually about 48 hours). Cementitious
foam is the most costly insulation to retrofit, but is the
most benign in regards to indoor air quality; when it is being
applied into a wall there is no dust. http://oikos.com/esb/29/insulation.html
It sounds like the perfect insulation. With an insulating
value of 3.9 per inch, it would exceed R-21 in a 2x6 wall.
It completely seals the cavity preventing air leaks. It doesn't
shrink. It won't burn or attract pests. It's non-toxic and
popular with "hyper-sensitive" people.
http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/article.cfm?fileName=040101a.xml
Air Krete has gained a following both for environmental and
health reasons. It is an inorganic foam produced from magnesium
oxide (derived from sea water). It is foamed under pressure
with a microscopic cell generator and compressed air; no CFCs
or HCFCs are used. Because of its inorganic composition, Air
Krete has very low VOC emissions, is totally inert, and non-combustible.
It is foamed in place in closed wall or masonry block cavities,
or behind mesh in open cavities to form a lightweight and
rigid, but very friable, foam.
http://www.thorpewood.org/about/green.html
Air krete is 100% non-toxic, free of CFC's and formaldehyde,
free of asbestos and all other carcinogenic fibers. It is
odor- free, has a high R-value, has no loss of R-value over
time (non-shrink, non-settling), fireproof, with no by-products
of combustion.