Green from the Ground UpSee Chapter 11 on Insulation in the Green from the Ground Up book for more details.

 

 

 

 

Read more on the Federal Tax Credits for Insulation

Insulation Meets 2009 IECC & Amendments

30% of cost, up to $1,500

For insulation to qualify, its primary purpose must be to insulate. (example: vapor retarders are covered, siding does not qualify).

Must be expected to last 5 years OR have a 2 year warranty
 

read more 

Green Insulator Resource

Insulation is a major cornerstone in the world of green building. Poorly insulated homes waste enormous amounts of energy. As our supply of fossil fuels decrease and the price increases people are much more concerned about how insulating their homes can save resources and money. There are very few homes in America sufficiently insulated to withstand future energy price increases.

Green Insulators’ Transition Guide
 

1. Conduct a Home energy audit, how much insulation is there?

Benefit

An audit will indicate how a house is performing and where it is loosing heat.

Process

A blower door test and infrared camera will outline the problem areas.

Details/ Materials

Contact a licensed HERS energy auditor in your area, or look into become certified yourself

2. Seal all wall penetrations such as wires or pipes or electrical outlets

Benefit

Even a small air leak can have a huge impact on heat loss over the life of the building

Process

Use expansion foam

Details/ Materials

Canned expansion foam. Look for products that use HFC  rather than HCFC or CFC  as propellants.

3. Add additional insulation to the attic

Benefit

An attic is a great place to pile on the insulation. A large quantity of a home’s heat is lost through the attic

Process

Lay R-38 batts perpendicular to each other or blow at least 10 inches of cellulose in most climates.

Details/ Materials

Use insulation with 75% recycled content and doesn’t emit formaldehyde or other VOC’s. loose fill cellulose, fiberglass or spray urethane foam.

4. Remove window trim and seal around windows

Benefit

Incorrectly installed windows are a major source of air infiltration.

Process

Remove window trim and drywall from the inside or exterior trim to expose the window framing. Insulate any cavities between the frame and studs.

Details/ Materials

Canned expansion foam. Look for products that use HFC rather than HCFC or CFC as propellants. Choose foam designed for windows so that the pressure from the foam doesn’t warp the windows.

5. Insulate the crawl space and between floor joists

Benefit

The crawl space helps compose a significant part of the thermal envelope. It should be insulated to prevent heat loss in the home and to keep feet warmer in winter.

Process

 Install batt insulation between joists to at least R=19 or higher depending on climate.

Details/ Materials

Rigid closed cell foam works well on the walls, preferably on the exterior. The floor joists should also be insulated to help prevent heat loss.

6. Go through the drywall and re-insulate all walls

Benefit

 Depending on climate and existing construction, blowing insulation into walls increases comfort and reduces energy bills

Process

Small holes are drilled into drywall and insulation is blown in to fill the cavity

Details/ Materials

Poorly done, or a house without an adequate drainage plane on the exterior, blowing wall insulation can lead to mold damage and compromise the house.

7. Re-insulate wall cavities from the exterior

Benefit

Wall insulation provides increased comfort and lowers utility bills

Process

The best approach is to apply rigid foam to the entire exterior of the home. This both reduces heat loss and thermal bridging through studs. It can also help reduce infiltration

Details/ Materials

To be done when siding is being replaced or over traditional plywood siding. Closed cell foam should be used to not absorb moisture

“How will “Going Green” make me more money?”

Green is not simply getting more respect; it is rapidly becoming a necessity as corporations—as well as home builders, retailers, health care institutions, governments, and others—push green buildings fully into the mainstream over the next five to ten years. The price of natural gas and home heating fuel has doubled, or even tripled in some areas. Improving the insulation in a home will have a dramatic effect on a homeowner’s heating bill. Customers need help with this difficult project and will look to you as an expert to show them what needs to be done.

“I thought green was just for tree huggers.”

Green Homes no longer look like they did in the 70’s. They now look normal and very diverse. Professionals who would not consider themselves “greenies” are adopting green practices. People can now see the real benefit of these practices and want to implement them in their own lives. Blown in cellulose for sidewall or attic-crawlspace basement batt applications can raise R-factors and save energy dollars for the homeowner.

“How will I talk to my customers about my green practices?”

Re-insulating a home can be a costly project. Homeowners will have to look at their current heating bills and the projected rise in cost of fuel to try and determine their desired return on investment.

If a homeowner considers a project too costly, remind them that the cost of fuels will continue to steadily rise and the return on their investment may be shorter than they think.
A home without drafts is immensely more comfortable and will result in a more pleasant home environment Increase home value. A home with a low HERS rating will stand out in the real estate market.
Insulation also works as a great sound barrier. If the home is located near a noisy street, new insulation will reduce this nuisance.

“Why should I care about the environment?”

Domestic natural gas supplies are dwindling and importing natural gas is fraught with difficulty
- The grid is already stretched to capacity and increasing electricity production means either new coal-fired plants (contributing to climate change) or nuclear (will take a long time to come online) or renewable energy (will take a long time to transition)

“What kind of training am I going to give my team?”

- Greenbuilding.com has a team of green building specialists. One of our trainers can come to your business to train your team.
- We have insulation specialists
- We can provide a one-day training to get your team ready to transition to green. This training will include marketing your business as green.

“What should I do first?”

- Read our Green Insulator Transition Guide below.
- Our guide is organized with the easiest changes listed first and those that may take longer listed last.

 

Click on the link below for a print friendly version to take with you to the jobsite. Post for for your crew to know more about green building practices and technologies.

 

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