Press Releases
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
James Coler Receives Certified Green Professional Designation and Gold Star Accreditation from BPI
Honeoye Falls, N.Y. (May 10, 2010)— Jim Coler,
owner of Coler Natural Insulation, has earned the Certified
Green Professional designation from the National Home Builders
Association. In addition, Coler Natural Insulation as earned
the Gold Star Accreditation from the Building Performance Group
(BPI). These credentials are evidence of a continued commitment
to excellence and professionalism in the building industry.
Coler was founded in 2004 and distributes a line of soy-based
and other green, energy-efficient insulation products to clients
in all of Upstate N.Y.
For more information about Coler Natural Insulation’s products
and services, visit http://www.coler.com, call 585-624-2499
or e-mail jim@coler.com
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Industry Product Stewardship Efforts
(BioBased Insulation - September 30th, 2009) The polyurethanes industry, working through the American Chemistry Council's Center for the Polyurethanes Industry and the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance, has launched an enhanced product stewardship program to further understanding within the industry about the benefits of spray polyurethane foam and its continued safe use and handling.
Product stewardship requires that everyone involved in a product’s lifecycle – from the manufacturer to the installer to the disposer – share responsibility for the products they use.
Governmental agencies, including the Environmental Protection
Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and
the Federal Trade Commission, raised concerns early this year
that many in the spray foam industry are not as well informed
as they should be about some product stewardship issues including:
• Hazard Communication – Including proper usage, personal protective
measures and hazards from misuse.
• Effective Workplace Practices – Best practices to ensure that
installation and safety measures are met every time.
• MDI/PMDI Exposure – Safe handling procedures and exposure
protection measures.
• Supply Chain Outreach and Communication – Making sure that
safety and hazard information is communicated throughout the
supply chain.
• Do-It-Yourself Applications – Safety and health concerns involving
one-component and froth foam systems.
• Marketing Claims – Making sure that green/environmentally
friendly/renewable claims do not imply that the product is safer
than it is.
• Qualified Emissions Testing – Additional research to determine
the safety of emissions for workers and occupants.
Work groups comprised of representatives from both SPFA and CPI members have been established and are focused on each of these areas. Chris Porter, BioBased Insulation® building science and codes manager, is serving on the effective workplace practices work group. Jennifer Wilson, BioBased Technologies® brand manager, is serving on the marketing claims work group.
So What Does This Mean To You?
First, BioBased Insulation® will regularly communicate with
you in order to keep you informed about changes in the industry.
We’ll distribute communications via e-mail and snail mail, but
we’ll also post them to the Certified Dealer Web Site, the password-protected
dealer portion of our Web site. This site is available 24-7
for your reference. If you don’t have a dealer login, contact
Jay Carpenter or Tausha Barbaree to get one.
Next, we’ll be reviewing, updating and supplementing our installation and product safety communications with new information as it becomes available. Also, we’ll be reviewing and updating our marketing materials as needed to ensure we are addressing the industry issues that have been raised by these agencies. As you see safety and marketing changes implemented, be aware that these should be included in your materials and processes as well.
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Consumers Are Searching for Effective,
Sustainable Building Products
BioBased® Insulation’s Recent Recognition Shows
Interest Continues Even in Current Market
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Nov. 11, 2008) – In today’s housing and
construction market, consumers are becoming increasingly interested
in building products that contribute to the energy efficiency
of their structure.
Many consumers look to green building and construction magazines
to find new products and to compare products. BioBased® Insulation
recently has been recognized by three leading industry publications.
BioBased® 1701s, a second-generation soy-based, spray polyurethane
foam insulation product from BioBased® Insulation, was named
a Green Product Award winner by Building Products magazine.
Building Products magazine started the award competition this
year to help sort through the many products claiming to be eco-friendly
and to recognize products introduced between January 2007 and
January 2008 that offer substantial and substantiated environmental
benefits.
Submissions were reviewed by four judges and evaluated based
on energy, water or resource conservation; contributing to indoor
air quality; reducing a home’s carbon footprint; or contributing
to a more durable, high-performance home.
BioBased® 1701s, a closed cell spray foam insulation, incorporates
Agrol®, a soy-based polyol, as a replacement for a portion of
the petroleum that’s used in the production of traditional spray
foam insulation. BioBased® 1701s is applied using water instead
of a chemical blowing agent, which also increases its sustainability.
BioBased® 1701s was the first spray foam insulation to attain
the stringent indoor air quality certification, GREENGUARD for
Children & Schools. The certification program takes into
account the special sensitivities of children and other populations,
so indoor products must meet strict chemical emission levels
based on established health criteria from various public health
organizations.
In addition to green attributes, judges were asked to assess
each product’s level of innovation and its value to the magazine’s
audience, professional builders or installers. In other words,
does it solve a common problem, make installation easier, boost
profits or impress a professional?
“This product solves the few remaining problems with spray-in-place
foam insulation,” a judge said. “Having third-party certification
is wonderful.”
BioBased® 1701 s also was one of the top lead-generating products
for Environmental Design+ Construction magazine for 2008. The
publication targets builders, architects and specifiers with
information about sound building design and construction. Because
of readers’ interest in BioBased® 1701, it will be featured
again in the December issue of the publication.
BioBased® 501w has been recognized by Qualified Remodeler magazine
as one of the Remodelers’ Choice 100 Products. These products
generated the most interest from the homebuilders and remodelers
that make up the magazine’s readership. BioBased® 501 ranked
24th in the listing and was the only spray foam insulation to
make the list this year, which was dominated by energy-efficient
products.
BioBased® 50 1w, an open cell, water-blown spray polyurethane
foam insulation was the company’s first product in 2003. It
uses soy technology to replace a portion of the petroleum that’s
traditionally used in the production of spray foam insulation.
BioBased® 501w was the first soy-based and water blown spray
foam insulation to earn a rating from the International Code
Council, a third-party certification organization for building
products.
Both BioBased® Insulation products are only available from certified
dealers who have been trained in product application as well
as building science. To find a dealer in your area, or for more
information about BioBased® Insulation, visit www.biobased.net.
About BioBased® Insulation
BioBased® Insulation is committed to making the world’s structures
more sustainable by developing and marketing performance-tested,
environmentally responsible spray foam insulation products through
a global network of certified dealers. Our goal is to reduce
dependence on petroleum products by correctly sealing buildings
to make them more energy efficient while utilizing the latest
technology to incorporate renewable materials into our products
and sustainable practices into our business. Based in Fayetteville,
Ark., in a new corporate headquarters that will be LEED-certified,
BioBased® Insulation is a member of the region’s Green Valley
Network, U.S. Green Building Council and is an ENERGYSTAR partner.
Jennifer Wilson, brand manager
1.800.803.5189
jwilson@biobased.net
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BioBased® Insulation Featured on Planet Green’s Greenovate Show Episode Shows How Easy It Is To Build Green On a Limited Budget
ROGERS, ARK. (Sept. 1, 2008) – BioBased® Insulation is one of
the products being featured on an episode of Discovery Planet
Green’s Greenovate show.
The episode follows the construction of Cynthia Brown’s east
Austin home. Brown wanted to build the most energy-efficient
home she could afford, and she succeeded. Her home earned a
five-star rating from the Austin Energy Green Building Program.
“One of the misconceptions a lot of people have about building
green is that it’s going to cost a lot of money,” Brown said.
Brown chose to build on an infill lot in a 1960’s neighborhood.
After completing the Austin Energy Green Building Program’s
Green by Design workshop where she learned green-building basics,
Brown hired Wayne Jeansonne, a long-time, passionate advocate
for green building, as her builder.
“Green building is not about doing just one thing, it’s the
way you put everything together,” Jeansonne said. “By starting
with the design and budget, and working closely with Cynthia,
we were able to make the right choices.”
Brown’s 1,480-square-foot home looks like others in the neighborhood,
but it’s very different in the way it was built. Brown and Jeansonne
chose BioBased® Insulation, a soy-based spray polyurethane foam
insulation, to seal the building envelope. According to ENERGYSTAR,
sealing a home’s envelope or shell is often the most cost-effective
way to improve the home’s energy efficiency and comfort. BioBased®
Insulation was spray applied to the home’s walls and the roof
deck.
A metal roof, low-E double-paned windows, two-foot wide eaves,
right-sized air conditioning, a tankless on-demand water heater,
recycled materials, no-VOC paints, locally mined limestone and
bamboo floors are just some of the other features Brown chose
to decrease her utility bills and increase the value of her
home.
Crews from Greenovate filmed construction from the ground up.
The show follows the same format as the popular Flip This House,
which was developed by the same production company. It takes
viewers through the complete construction process and highlights
green features in the design, materials, techniques and workmanship.
If you missed the premier of the episode on Aug. 22, it will
air periodically throughout the fall. To find Planet Green on
your local cable network visit http://planetgreen.channelfinder.net.
You also can view clips from the show at www.sollunabuilders.com/
greenovate.htm.
BioBased® Insulation is available through a network of certified
dealers. To find the dealer in your area or for more information,
visit www.biobased.net or call 1-800-803-5189.
About BioBased® Insulation
BioBased® Insulation is committed to making the world’s structures
more sustainable by developing and marketing performance-tested,
environmentally responsible spray foam insulation products through
a global network of certified dealers. Our goal is to reduce
dependence on petroleum products by correctly sealing buildings
to make them more energy efficient while utilizing the latest
technology to incorporate renewable materials into our products
and sustainable practices into our business. Headquartered in
Northwest Arkansas, BioBased® Insulation holds the exclusive
rights for the use of the Agrol® family of soy-based polyols
in spray foam insulation applications. This same Agrol® also
is found in EnviroCelTM and BioCelTM carpet backing from Universal
Textile Technologies, in AstroTurf products and is currently
being used by the automobile industry to make head and arm rests
for select
models of Toyota, Honda, Ford and Chrysler. www.
biobased . net
Jennifer Wilson, brand manager
1.800.803.5189
jwilson@biobased.net
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Save Money and Energy with Home Insulation:
Educational Seminar to Focus on Natural Insulation Options
Ithaca NY, Worried about the rising costs of heating your home
this winter? Want to make sure your heating dollars don't slip
through the cracks of your home? Interested in finding an insulation
system that uses healthy and environmentally safe products?
The Green Resource Hub of the Finger Lakes and Tompkins County
Cooperative Extensions Energy $mart Communities Program will
present Save Money and Energy with Home Insulation's on Thursday,
December 13 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Home Green Home, 215 The
Commons, Ithaca. There is a $5 suggested donation, and light
refreshments will be provided. With rising energy costs and
concerns around global climate change, many people are interested
in improving their home insulation. Most of the older houses
in the Finger Lakes region were built with very little insulation,
which allows a significant amount of heat to escape from the
walls and attics of homes. This wasted heat can cost homeowners
hundreds of dollars a year. This consumer education program
will review the many options for insulating your home that can
help reduce energy costs.
Mark Pierce, Project Manager for the Consumer Education Program
for Residential Energy Efficiency at Cornell Cooperative Extension,
will provide an overview of how to buy and properly install
home insulation. All homeowners should understand that the single
most important factor in increasing a homes energy efficiency
is the creation of continuous, contiguous, and complete thermal
and air barriers surrounding the homes living spaces said Pierce.
Jim Coler of Coler Natural Insulation, Alwyn John of Performance
Systems Contracting, and Sarah Highland of Holistic Homebuilders
will discuss the many different types of home insulation materials
now available from renewable and recycled resources including
cotton, soy-based foams, cellulose, and straw bales. These alternative
solutions to traditional fiberglass insulation offer many benefits
to homeowners and to the environment. Ice damming and mold/mildew
issues related to insulation and vapor barriers will also be
discussed.
The Green Resource Hubs winter seminar series also includes
classes at Home Green Home on heating with biomass (November
29) and on small hydropower systems for rural landowners (January
17).
The Green Resource Hub of the Finger Lakes is a non-profit organization
that aims to expand the regional marketplace for sustainable
living through consumer education and workforce training in
green building, energy efficiency, renewable energy and green
purchasing.
Press Release
Contact Information:
Gay Nicholson, Ph.D.
607-533-7312 (home office)
607-279-6618 (cell)
1 Maple Avenue Lansing, NY 14882
gaynicholson@aol.com
Sustainable Tompkins Program Coordinator
www.sustainabletompkins.org
Natural Insulation firm hires alumnus Carr as project manager
Coler Natural Insulation of Ionia recently hired Gil Carr '06 to provide project management and estimating services. The company, founded in 2004, distributes a line of soy-based and other green, energy-efficient insulation products to clients in Upstate New York.
Carr, originally from Allegany, N.Y., graduated with a B.A. after double-majoring in architectural studies and environmental studies and minoring in history. He was among a group of students and faculty who proposed installing a geothermal heating system in the Finger Lakes Institute quarters on South Main Street.
He also worked on a project to convert used cooking oil into a clean-burning alternative fuel “biodiesel,” organized week-long activities leading up to Earth Day, and worked as a counselor for the Environmental Science Summer Youth Institute, an interdisciplinary summer program run by HWS for rising high school juniors and seniors.
Carr, who lives in Geneva, was also a member of Campus Greens, volunteered for America Reads, worked as an admissions senior intern and tour guide, and led trips for the Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Program. He studied in Denmark and received a Melley Scholarship and the Ashmun Prize.
Details on the company are available by visiting
Coler calling (585) 624-2499 or e-mailing jim@coler.com.
Press Release
Contact Information:
Contact: Cynthia L. McVey, APR
Cindy Lee Associates; 585-746-4154
mcveycla@earthlink.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NYS Certifies Coler as Woman Owned Business Enterprise
Ionia, N.Y. (October 20, 2006)— Coler Natural Insulation has
been certified as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise. The company’s
application for that status was reviewed and approved by the
New York State Department of Economic Development, Division
of Minority and Women’s Business Development (DMWBD). Coler
was founded in 2004 and distributes a line of soy-based and
other green, energy-efficient insulation products to clients
in all of Upstate N.Y. In its first year, it had net sales exceeding
$200,000 with projections to triple that figure this year. Among
the products Coler distributes is BioBased, a natural soy-based
spray foam insulation. The product can be installed as either
an open- or closed-cell foam, unlike the more common petroleum-based
spray foam products. Coler also has recently purchased a ultraviolet
(UV) camera for use in identifying voids in wall cavities that
indicate a lack of insulation – and a place for heat to escape
a home. For more information about Coler Natural Insulation’s
products and services, visit http://www.coler.com,
call 585-624-2499 or e-mail jim@coler.com.
Press Release
Contact Information:
Contact: Cynthia L. McVey, APR
Cindy Lee Associates; 585-746-4154
mcveycla@earthlink.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Coler Natural Insulation Gets BCB Award of Excellence
Ionia, N.Y. (October 20, 2006)— Coler Natural Insulation has
earned the “Award of Excellence” from the Better Contractors
Bureau, Ltd (BCB). Coler was founded in 2004 and distributes
a line of soy-based and other green, energy-efficient insulation
products to clients in all of Upstate N.Y. In its first year,
it had net sales exceeding $200,000 with projections to triple
that figure this year. “We were so happy to be notified about
this award because a founding principle of Coler Natural Insulation
is that we treat our customers as we’d want to be treated while
providing them with a unique and quality product for their home
or business,” says Jim Coler, president of Coler Natural Insulation.
“Having the BCB, who seeks to protect consumers, give us their
nod of confidence is very gratifying.” According to the BCB,
the award recognizes “businesses that maintain a solid commitment
to conducting their business practices in an ethical, professional
manner and demonstrates to the community their concern for consumer
satisfaction.” ”The home improvement industry is always at the
top of the list of most complained about businesses and the
image of the contractor is really bad,” wrote Carmen Santora,
CR, CHI, CREA, executive director of the BCB, in a letter notifying
the Colers of the award. “Your high standards help to better
the image of the contractor and the industry.” For more information
about Coler Natural Insulation’s products and services, visit
http://www.coler.com,
call 585-624-2499 or e-mail jim@coler.com.
Contact Information:
Contact: Cynthia L. McVey, APR
Cindy Lee Associates; 585-746-4154
mcveycla@earthlink.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOY BEANS HEALTHY TO BREATHE, TOO
Soy-based spray foam insulation improves indoor air quality,
naturally
Ionia, N.Y. — The health benefits of eating soy-based foods
and using soy as a substitute for other food sources (i.e.,
tofu) has been touted for some time. What’s lesser known, however,
is how a product made from U.S.-grown soy beans can also help
people breathe a little easier in their own homes and work environments.
The BioBased 501 spray-in-place foam insulation system, made
from soy beans, is an effective way to seal out dust, allergens
and outdoor pollutants that eventually reduce indoor air quality
because it creates a wind-proof barrier. The BioBased foam expands
100:1 when it is sprayed into place, sealing holes, cracks,
rough-in openings, perimeter joists, and other areas that conventional
methods can’t touch. “The product actually contributes to the
overall health of occupants where it is used because there are
no loose fibers or inherent dust used and it prevents the condensation
that promotes mold and mildew growth,” says Jim Coler, co-owner
of Coler Natural Insulation, the upstate N.Y. dealer for BioBased
and other energy efficient, green insulation systems. Of course,
because it creates such a tight building envelope, it also helps
reduce energy costs—something many people are looking to do
as this season approaches. The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) recently rated indoor air pollution as one of the
five most urgent environmental issues, accounting for more than
$1 billion in direct health care costs each year. The EPA, American
Lung Association and Envirodesic Certification Program all believe
that the air in most homes is 10 times more polluted than outside.
Indoor air pollutants can come from inside the home itself,
such as from building and cleaning materials, or from outside
due to air infiltration. “The products people use to build their
homes should not make them sick or exacerbate illnesses,” explains
Coler. “However, even if all of the products used in the home
are healthy, people still need to take that extra step to make
sure that the outside irritants can’t get inside.”
Among the ways BioBased improves indoor air quality:
Reduced air and dust infiltration
No food value for fungus, mold, bugs or rodents (mold and mildew
are not given opportunities to grow)
No fibers or clumps of loose insulation to contaminate indoor
air
Behaves like a petroleum-based plastic foam but with no formaldehyde
or other harmful emissions (VOCs of CFCs)
Reduced allergens and mold spore infiltrations
As a product made from organic material, it is as friendly to
the great outdoors as it is to the indoors. The National Association
of Homebuilders (NAHB) named BioBased 501 the “Outstanding Green
Product of the Year” at its Green Builders Conference in Baltimore,
Maryland.
To find out more information about the foam insulation or Coler
Natural Insulation, contact Jim Coler at 585-624-2499 or visit
www.coler.com.
Press Release
Press Release
Contact Information:
Jim Coler, Certified Dealer and Installer
585/624-2499
jimcoler@yahoo.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOY-BASED FOAM INSULATION YIELDS HEALTHIER HOMES, GREATER
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Ionia, NY - A new spray foam insulation product made from soybean
oil can save homeowners up to 50 percent on energy costs, according
to Jim Coler of Coler Natural Insulation, Inc.
BioBased Insulation has been formulated with the environment
in mind. It is water-blown and emits no VOCs (Volatile Organic
Compounds), CFCs (Chloroflouro Carbons) or HCFCs (Hydrochloroflouro
Carbons) during application - making it a healthy product that
doesn't deplete the ozone. BioBased Insulation behaves much
like petroleum-based spray foam but minimizes the environmental
side effects. It utilizes the annually renewable resource of
soybeans and contains no formaldehyde. The insulation eliminates
outside air infiltration by providing a sealed thermal envelope
in one easy step. Research has shown that outside air infiltration
is one of the major causes of heat and air conditioning loss
in homes.
"Consumers who convert from traditional insulations to
BioBased Insulation realize a cost-savings in their first month's
utility bill," said Coler, a Certified BioBased Dealer
and installer. "Because of its energy efficiency, BioBased
Insulation may also reduce the required size of HVAC (Heating,
Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems and construction materials
like using 2x4s instead of 2x6s without compromising the insulation
value of the building, another money-saver for the consumer."
Applied as a liquid, the soy foam insulation expands 100 times
its original size in seconds. As it expands, it conforms and
fills each cavity, crevice and void to create a sealed thermal
envelope. The insulation adheres to any surface and will not
shrink, settle or disintegrate.
Besides reducing utility bills, BioBased Insulation also helps
control exterior wall cavity moisture problems, seals out noise,
reduces dust and increases indoor air quality (IAQ). "BioBased
Insulation has no food value for pests or rodents," Coler
said, "and it has a Class 1 fire rating - the highest rating
you can have for residential and commercial applications."
Coler said many Americans don't realize that technology can
greatly reduce energy consumption. "This technology is
available today - it's not a promise for the future. They just
need to take advantage of it. In light of the rising energy
costs, energy and environmental conservation should be of great
importance to Americans." Every single pound of soybean
oil in BioBased Insulation represents one less pound of petroleum
used in the United States. Since there are about 1.6 million
housing starts a year, the import oil and energy savings could
be staggering if more homeowners used energy-efficient building
products like BioBased Insulation. The impact on the U.S. soybean
industry is as equally astounding. The soybean oil used in the
insulation comes from 600,000 American soybean farmers.
Coler said, "Existing homes can apply the insulation to
their roof decks which can prevent ice damming and reduce their
energy bills. The insulation is especially effective at creating
a non-vented roof system assembly that significantly reduces
extreme attic temperatures, providing conditioned space, which
allows cooling and heating systems to work far more efficiently.
To find out more information about the foam insulation or Coler
Natural Insulation, contact Jim Coler at 585-624-2499 or visit
www.coler.com.