The following forms of insulation are less commonly used than fiberglass and cellulose, but this doesn’t mean they’re less desirable. Most offer unique advantages over more traditional insulation, although they may have higher initial costs or other drawbacks as well. We urge you to consider them and make the decision that works best for your home, your finances and your environmental commitment.

Structural Insulated Panels

SIPs are an insulation option for homes that have not yet been constructed. They are panels that are pre-built and designed to form the entire building envelope of your house. They are available as wall, ceiling, floor and attic panels, and your contractor can build the whole exterior of your house with them. Like foamed insulation, SIPS offer the advantage of sealing the building envelope completely and can have R-values of between 4 and 7. However, SIPs present fire safety concerns and, when they are made of foam, are potentially more attractive as dwellings for insects and rodents.

For more information on SIPs, please visit:

EERE Consumer’s Guide: Structural Insulated Panels

Toolbase Services: The Home Building Industry’s “Hybrid”

Mineral Wool Insulation

Mineral wool insulation comes in rock wool or slag wool varieties, and usually is found in its loose-fill form. Its application process is the same as that of wet-spray cellulose: the material is mixed with a small amount of water and sprayed into an open cavity. It is also available in batt form. Typical mineral wool insulation has an R-value of between 3.5 and 4.

For more information on mineral wool insulation, please visit:

EERE Consumer’s Guide: Mineral Wool Insulation Materials

A firsthand account of one user’s positive experience with mineral wool insulation

Even More Options

Beyond these insulation options, there are still further alternatives to traditional insulation. They include, but are not limited to, reflective insulation, vermiculite and perlite pellets and concrete block insulation. We invite you to do further research on your insulation options; the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Consumer’s Guide provides an excellent resource:

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