"How insulation works"

How insulation works / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Insulation and soundproofing

Does a home need a radiant barrier in walls and ceilings? When is it worth it?

...How to Insulate Attics Properly. A radiant barrier is a control layer that reflects infrared heat. They can be purchased in foil rolls (thermal foil with air bubbles as insulation), and some rigid insulation boards such as polyisocyanurate have them attached on one side to act as a radiant barrier, a vapor barrier, and...

Insulation and soundproofing

How much insulation is too much in attics and walls?

...How much loose blown cellulose insulation is too much in an attic? What does ‘diminishing returns’ for insulation mean? It's as simple as this - adding one inch of insulation to a wall that has only one inch of insulation is certainly well worth the investment, in any climate. Adding one inch of insulation to a wall ...

Efficient home design

Insulation in green home building, a balanced approach to putting it where it does the most good

...how much insulation is best? Balancing insulation is about respecting the laws of diminishing returns. Example - If I have a wall with just 2 inches of insulation and I add another 2 inches, I will certainly get my money out of it as that two inches doubles my insulation levels. If I have a wall with 30 inches of insul...

Wall assemblies - renovation

Winter preparation for your home - are you ready for the cold?

...works well for coldest Canadian winters! How to stop condensation inside exterior walls? This can be caused by thermal bridges through wood framing, poorly installed insulation, or even the complete absence of insulation in some spots. Some insulation materials can settle; other times builders take short cuts and futur...

Efficient home design

Are better insulated homes worth the money?

...insulation and the homeowner would get the savings. I'm not trying to rip on developers, that's just the reality of the business. We shop for houses largely based on the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage; not many prospective buyers ask existing homeowners to cough up their utility bills, or developers ...

Efficient home design

Understanding thermal performance

...insulation combinations to minimize building energy consumption, though increased insulation will probably be the best option in most cases. The Big Picture: Energy While insulation R-values are important, what really matters is energy consumption. To assess the impact of different roof insulation types on whole buildi...

Efficient home design

What is a thermal bridge and why is it so important to break it?

...insulation. You may lose a couple of inches of interior space, but that space would be more comfortable and you will get a much better return on your insulation investment. Insulation between metal studs: Metal studs are becoming more commonplace in residential construction, and not always with great results. Some buil...

Insulation and soundproofing

How insulation works

Insulation slows the rate of heat transfer, helping keep homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer. How well-insulated your home is will determine how comfortable it is and how much you will spend on energy for heating and cooling, and in some respects, how durable it will be. The transfer of heat (or heat loss) occu...

Insulation and soundproofing

Choosing the right insulation: the pros, cons and applications for walls, slabs & basements

...insulation first to learn the basics. Understanding the physics behind how walls work is the key to designing well-insulated, airtight and durable wall systems. Loose fill or dense-packed cellulose insulation Blowing cellulose insulation in roof © Ecohome Recycled Content: 80% to 100% Method and form: Cellulose c...