October 19, 2001—In its ongoing effort to promote energy efficiency, the EPA has awarded a $135,000 grant to the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance of Arlington, Va., to test new alternative blowing agents. These agents are used to produce different densities and bubble sizes of insulation foam in commercial buildings and homes.
Currently, spray polyurethane foam is made with a stratospheric ozone depleting chemical, HCFC-141b, which is being phased out of production in the United States in accord with the Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocol. The grant will assist the spray polyurethane foam industry to safely convert to alternative technologies that are economically viable and provide energy-efficient products for consumers.
This grant will allow the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance to collect detailed technical information on field applications in various parts of the country. In addition, the Alliance will monitor physical properties and performance of insulation spray foam produced with new formulations. The information collected will allow chemical companies and spray foam applicators to more efficiently develop new formulations that do not deplete the ozone layer but do provide excellent thermal insulation value.
For more information, contact EPA’s stratospheric ozone protection program and the Energy Star program.
