Consider Insulating With Wool

Consider Insulating With Wool

Looking for a green solution for your house's insulation? Consider using a wool alternative instead of the traditional fiberglass based product.

For all of the many reasons that wool makes it one of nature's ideal fabrics, those traits translate to advantages for your house insulation as well.

Margaret Magruder, one of the owners of Oregon Shepherd, shares the benefits of wool insulation.

Magruder: "It is easy to use and if you wear wool you know the characteristics of wool. Wool breathes, so it keeps you warm when it is cold and keeps you cool when it is hot. It does that in your walls too. It breathes and it doesn't hold moisture, it transfers moisture as other alternative insulation often holds moistures as does fiber glass. So it has some great qualities in addition to being all natural and sustainable."

In 2003, Magruder and her business partners Joel and Kay Pynch formed their LLC, Oregon Shepherd, as a way to expand traditional markets for natural wool products. Their factory producing their insulation is located in Western Oregon.

Although it is more expensive than traditional fiberglass options, wool is a competitive alternative source of insulation. Additional benefits include being a renewable resource as sheep grow a new crop of wool each year, wool is flame-resistant, it absorbs sound waves and can break down and absorb indoor air pollutants.

To learn more about this sustainable and ag-friendly alternative, go to www.oregonshepherd.com.

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