One of the most common and cost effective insulation options, batt insulation comes in rolls or lengths of fiberglass, cotton or stone wool blankets; fiberglass being by far the most common type. It is good basic insulation for attics, walls, crawl spaces, ceilings and basements.
Batt insulation is easy to use and can be installed quickly and affordably by professionals. It can come with or without facing, which must be placed per specifications to resist transfer of water vapor. Most insulation today has at least some recycled content, and sand, which is used to make fiberglass, and is considered an environmentally friendly content source.
| Fiberglass Batt Insulation | Other Batt Insulation | |
| Composition | Very fine glass fibers | Plant- and stone-based fibers, such as treated newspaper, cotton and basalt |
| Recycled Content | 25 to 50% | Up to 80% |
| R-Value | R-8 (3″) to R-38 (12″) | R-11 (3-1/2″) to R-30 (9-1/2″) |
Remember, the higher the R-value, the higher the resistance to heat flow, the greater the insulation power. The R-value for your home is based on regional recommendations from the U.S. Department of Energy. For better R-values, consider blown-in insulation.
