Energy Efficiency

Kingspan Wins ‘Top Trusted Brand’ of Insulation Award

December 5, 2018

The latest Top Trusted Brands survey by Architecture & Design has once again named Kingspan Insulation as the Top Trusted Brand in Insulation.

Your Door (and Wall) to Opportunity

Annandale Millwork is embracing the energy code.

Continuous Insulation Solves Energy Code Math Problem

April 23, 2018

Continuous insulation (ci) and cavity insulation products are both sold with R-value ratings, but the way these two products are used in wall construction means they do not have the same effectiveness.

Wood Framed Wall Insulation Calculator Explained

October 23, 2017

One analytical tool that can help you consistently determine code compliance and reliable performance is the freely available wall calculator developed by the Applied Building Technology Group (ABTG). 

Insulating Concrete Form Sill Plate Requirements

This Research Report will look specifically at the sill plate requirements according to the 2009, 2012, and 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) and International Building Code (IBC) and clarify if a sill plate is required in the following conditions:

  • Flat truss bottom chord bearing on ICF wall.
  • Flat truss top chord bearing on ICF wall.
  • Roof truss bearing on ICF wall.

Truss Heel Heights and the Energy Code

This report discusses ways of increasing the energy efficiency requirements of the building envelope within the context of the requirements of the 2009, 2012 and 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) and IECC for ceiling insulation and truss heel heights.

Photos: Cavity Spray Foam and Exterior Rigid Foam Yield R-34 in Thin-Stone Veneer Home

May 16, 2016

To make the house as energy efficient as possible, we used closed-cell spray foam to fully fill the 3 1/2-inch stud cavities, and 1 1/2 -inch-thick foil-faced polyisocyanurate foam on the exterior to create a thermal break. 

Architectural Group Tracks Progression of High Performance Buildings

April 11, 2016

The COTE Advisory Group researched and reviewed the past 189 winners to ascertain the state of sustainable design in architecture.

Illustrations: Retrofit Cupola with Proper Flashing

April 11, 2016

Last fall, my company was asked to investigate a roof leak originating from a cupola atop an attached carriage-house garage.

R-values & U-factors for Wood- & Steel-Framed Buildings

  • When comparing the energy efficiency of cold-formed steel and wood components, the R-value and U-factor are a good place to start.
  • The R-value measures thermal resistance; it is the inverse of the time rate of heat flow through a building thermal envelope element from one of its bounding surfaces to the other for a unit temperature difference between the two surfaces.
  • The U-factor measures thermal transmittance, the coefficient of heat transmission (air to air) through a building component or assembly, equal to the time rate of heat flow per unit area and unit temperature difference between the warm side and cold side air films.