Raleigh, North Carolina.  Questions that cause strong men and women to cower!  Two or three times a month I am asked “What is an R Value and what does it have to do with insulation?”.  The answer, is like the answers to most children’s questions about sex; the mechanism is simple but the application can be complicated.  The trick is to try and give a proper answer before the person asking the question loses interest and you get in over your head!  With regard to R-values the simple answer is that the various kinds of insulation used in a home are measured by a resistance value (R value) which is the ability to resist the flow of heat.  Heat naturally flows from warmer to cooler spaces.  For example, in the winter that means from heated spaces into a garage, basement or outdoors.  During the summer heat moves from the outside to a home’s interior.  Therefore, the purpose of insulation is not just to plug holes but to reduce heat flow by effectively resisting  it.  So, insulation = a barrier.  Heat = thermal.  Resistance = the R in R value.  This is a rough equasion but valid.  The higher the R-value the greater the insulating ability.  The R-value of insulation depends on the material used and, for the most part, its thickness and density.  When calculating the R-value of a multiple layers the R-value of each layer is added together.  Frankly, I should let it go at that but - press on.

How effective an insulated area is also depends on how and where the insulation is installed.  Compressed insulation doesn’t provide a full R-rating.  The value is also affected by the flow of heat around the insulation and through joints and studs.  When insulating is is important to: (1) - Insulate you attic to the recommended level.  (2) - Provide the proper level of insulation above unheated space, under floors, around the walls of a heated basement or unventilated crawlspace.  (3) - Use specified levels of insulation thre exterior walls in new home construction. 

If you own a home and are thinking about adding or replacing insulation you need to consider the sources of air leaks.  Sources include openings around doors, window frames, fireplaces, chimneys, stove hoods, electrical outlets, recessed cabinets, pull-down stairs, bathroom soffits, behind bath tubs and shower stall units, unheated parts of the house, around pipes under sinks and behind toilets, and the joints between a porch roof and a side wall.  However, the “plugging the holes and insulating everywhere you can” game is a two-way street.  You also need to be certain your home has adequate ventilation so it can “breath” properly since a home that is “tight as a tick” may actually cause the interior air to become to unhealthy, poluted and cause some nasty health problems. The “too tight” home can also cause increased moisture levels in conditioned space during heating season.  This can take the form of condensation on windows, surface mold and mildew and concealed condensation within walls and roof spaces.  Structural wood may rot and drywall can swell.  Another thing to check is the venting of your clothes dryer.  Sometimes clothes dryers are vented into an attic space rather than to the outside.  If that’s the case in your home see to it that it is vented to the outside!  Air exchange units with heat saving features are available for help solve the other problems listed above.  Tomorrow I will talk about the basic forms of insulation.  Have you lost interest yet?

John Fish (919) 696-3474    Email: Marvmax@mindspring.com    Website: www.JohnFish.com

Raleigh, North Carolina.  You may know Energy Star but do you know Building America?  Water shortages are plaguing the South.  Energy prices are climbing out of sight.  Global warming is a real and potentially disasterous situation.  These and many of problems make taking advantage of every energy and money saving element one can of importance to everyone.  Building America approaches greenbuilding through the use of systems engineering. The idea is to make every aspect of home design and construction more energy efficient and to make all products within a home more durable, safe and friendly to the homeowner and the environment.  The long-term goal of the program is develop homes that produce as much energy as they use; in other words a zero energy home.  Some of the many benefits to homeowners include:  * Climate-specific design   *  Reduced temperature fluctuations   *  Protect owners from energy price fluctuations   *  Provide energy-efficient applliances and lighting   *  Allow homes to function even during blackouts   *  Utilize solar thermal and solar electric systems   *  Utilize and improve passive solar heating and cooling   *  Reduce internal and external polution  * Use and improve energy efficient building materials   *  Improve natural daylight   *

This project offers many benefits to the building industry and its suppliers as well.  They include:  *  Providing new products for manufacturers and suppliers  *  Opportunity to use energy and material saving technologies   *  Enable home builders to reduce waste and construction time.   The builders and suppliers who participate in this program with the government agree to provide information in a number of ways in order to find out what works, what provides only nominal savings and what doesn’t work. 

The PowerHouse is a prototype being used in one area.  It incorporates precast foundation panels, Energy Brace sheathings and foamboard as well as a blown-in fiberglass blanket, tankless water heaters that provide on-demand hot water, a Trane SEER 19 heat pump, Fantech ventilation fans and solar panels and energy-efficient lights.   All this comes at a higher price to the builder who, in turn, passes that price along to the homeowner.  However, the calculations are that the saving in utility costs more than offset the increased costs.  Furthermore the homeowner will have more comfort, improved safety and increased health benefits. 

For those of you who might want information in more depth I would suggest you contact the following: For New Construction - Mr. George James - Office of Building Technologies - EE-2J Forrestal Building - U.S Department of Energy - 1000 Independence Avenue, SW - Washington, D.C. 20585-0121  Tel: (202) 586-9472   email: George.James@ee.doe.gov        For Existing Homes - Mr. Terry Logee - The same address - Tel: (202) 586-1689   email: Terry.Logee@ee.doe.gov     For Onsite Power Systems and “Net Zero Energy” - Mr. Lew Pratsch - The same address - Tel: (202) - 586-1512   email: Lew.Pratsch@hq.doe.gov

Everyone has, or should have, an interest in such things.  I would highly recommend you discuss energy saving materials and devices with your contractor when you remodel your current home or build your next one.  They are there to be taken advantage of even if remodeling wasn’t on your current agenda.

John Fish (919) 696-3474    Email:  Email: Marvmax@mindspring.com    Website: www.JohnFish.com