looking for greener insulation.

[mopinko]

still holding out hope that i will be able to build a little barn on my farm. want to be a model of green building. i have a basement half full of of windows and doors. i know where i can get most all that stuff recycled and very cheap.

anyway, i have been wracking my brain for a green form of insulation. it will have thick walls anyway with reclaimed lumber for the framing.
i refuse to use pink. i know if i dig i can find hemp.
but a thought occurred to my just now, and i wonder what folks think-
what about cardboard? cut used cardboard to the width you need, and put in a bunch of layers. i will be finishing the insides w old galvanized roofing.

would also like to come up with something good for insulating the stone walls that will be foundation. hoping to get the stone from said recyclers, who are taking down 2 limestone houses up on the north shore.
they are standardized blocks, 4"x10". so, it would need to be double coursed. maybe i can leave a gap in there and also fill it was several layers of cardboard.
hoping to hit r40-50.

what sez the brain trust?

eta- mostly it is my steel roof that will need insulation.

[Kali]

1. Barns don't really need insulation.

They need good VENTILATION, but NOT drafty. Other than that, I would say straw/straw bales.

[mopinko]

2. not an animal barn.

its an urban farm, so it is a bit different. i prolly shouldnt even call it a barn, but i lack a better word.
i need it to be insulated enough for a grow space on the second floor. (a half floor, actually)
i will have some baseboard type heat, but hope that it is more occasional back up than full time heat.

the first floor will be a couple parking places and equipment storage, maybe winter some crop storage. maybe some aquaponics. so preferably kept from freezing.

might occasionally have some chickens in there, but mostly not.

[Kali]

3. ah an "out building"

not sure about cardboard, what is wrong with fiberglass? I know there are some cellulose products that are supposed to be "green" I would worry about cardboard and moisture.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. What's wrong with the cellulose you can get at Homer's?

It's made from recycled paper and treated to be fire resistant. Last I checked they were rening the machine for free if you bought 20 bags.