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"How insulation works"

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

Radiant barriers on ceilings and walls can reduce heating and cooling costs
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 - especially important in areas with a high level of insolation. They can be purchased in foil rolls (thermal foil with air bubbles as insulation), and some rigid insulation boards such as polyisocyanurate have them attach...

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How much is Too Much Insulation in my Attic or Walls?
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 ...

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Energy modeling simulation of heat loss through thermal bridging
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 - a bad idea: Metal studs are becoming more commonplace in residential construction, and not always with great resul...

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Thermal image showing where home heat loss is occurring.
Insulation and soundproofing

How insulation works

...how insulation works, find the right insulation for your home build or renovation in the Ecohome Green Building Guide and these pages here: Find the best insulation for different parts of your home Is spray foam insulation safe in homes for air quality? Which foam boards are best for basement insulation? Find h...

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Balanced insulation levels in a green home
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...

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Top tips for getting a house ready for winter
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...

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Ecohome's passively heated Edelweiss House
Efficient home design

Are better insulated homes worth the money?

...how much insulation a home needs, read more about high performance home building in the Ecohome Building Guide, or these pages: All about passive solar home design See Passive House and LEED ready prefab homes here Find the best insulation for your home build or renovation here Are triple pane windows worth the...

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R values and insulation performance
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. Calculating the energy consumption of buildings While insulation R-values are important, what really matters is energy consumption. To assess the impact of different roof insulati...

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Roxul mineral wool batt insulation in LEED Homes
Insulation and soundproofing

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

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