Blown-in cellulose insulation now offered by Northern Windows

GOSHEN — Blown-in cellulose, an environmentally friendly way to insultate buildings, is now being offered by Northern Windows, Siding, Roofing and Insulation of Orange County. The new division at the showroom, located at 537 Route 17M in Goshen, expects to employ additional technicians this year. "Blown in cellulose insulation helps save on energy costs, keep you warm in winter, cool in summer, is enviro-friendly and typically done from outside your home, without disturbing interior walls." said Mike Furman, president of Northern Windows. "The product is literally made from newspaper, just like the one you're reading now." Northern uses a premium quality cellulose product made from over-issue newsprint (daily newspapers that went unpurchased), paper drive paper, and other high-quality recycled paper, all refined to cellulose fiber. For example, if a newspaper prints a million copies but sells only 750,000, the vendor buys the remaining 250,000 in bulk and turns them into insulation. First, the newspaper is reduced to tiny pieces in a machine called a hammermill, pieces just big enough to make out one letter from the original newspaper. In the next step, these tiny pieces are "fiberized," another process that breaks them down to the component fibers of the original tree from which the newsprint was made. At this point, there’s no resemblance to the original newspaper. Then borate, a naturally occurring mineral, is added for fire, mold, and pest control. Lastly, a tiny amount of mineral oil is added for dust control. The product is packaged in 25-pound bags. The insulation is then dense-packed (blown) into new or existing walls, floors, and ceiling cavities by trained technicians from Northern. Furman said the product has a very high insulation value, great resistance to air, fills in all gaps and voids, and protects against fire, moisture and mold. Now in its 25th year, Northern Windows, Siding, Roofing and Insulation is an independent, locally owned service company. The showroom is open Monday through Friday. For more information, visit http://northernwindows.com/products/insulation, or call 294-4444.