Climate Insulation Failures – What to Avoid!
From conventional and outdated practices to limited-cheap design factors and misguided information, along with mixed levels of ignorance, human ‘calculated’ decisions often are the ruin of buildings, new or old. Ask questions! Be very clear and understanding of the options and don’t blindly chase incentive funds. Personally invest in the performance integrity for home and planet!
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Where’s the air barrier? Stack Effect galore!
Fiberglass becomes a great air filter! From pink to brown. Gross heat loss. Municipal building, bummer.
Rim Band Wind Washing- Gross!
Rim band air leakage is devastating! Dust, critters, moisture, mold, mice, etc.... Seal it tight with closed cell foam, 4" / R30 - Cozy Home!!!
Mold monster in exterior wall!
Typical old school practice that is truly awful. Trapped water vapor leads to mold and decay. Yeah!
HVAC Spagetti Ducts, stupid! Good luck with that! Beware of Ice Damming!
Insulate the attic roof with foam and protect the HVAC! Straighten/shorten the ducts! Bad design.
Roof rot from condensation – Disaster!
Fiberglass insulation allows moisture to pass through and condense on cold roof deck. Durability nightmare! Order up new roof deck!!!
Effective Fiberglass-Not!
Cozy warm floor above? Not really. Good for mice and moisture build up. Solution? Remove and closed cell foam. Climate protected!
Extreme Ice Dams!! Wonder why? Hint-Spagetti Ducting
Attic HVAC heated the roof deck and caused massive ice build up. Solution - insulate the attic roof deck with foam and keep deck cold. Cozy Home completed this project years ago. Happy client.
Failed air barrier – moisture damage!
Home felt drafty and now its confirmed with IR diagnostic by Cozy Home. Failed air barrier leads to comfort woes and energy loss.
Best Climate Protection Insulation: Roof Deck Closed Cell Foam!
Perfect Material for Cathedral Roof – Closed Cell
Retrofit Roof Foam. Protect the HVAC!! Northampton
Library Attic Roof Foam. Now useable storage space!
BUILDING SCIENCE
Changing the way the world builds to protect people and planet
Building Science Corporation
Building Science Corporation is a building science consulting and full service architecture firm with clients throughout North America. Building Science Corporation specializes in building technology consulting for all types of buildings including commercial, institutional and residential. Our focus is preventing and resolving problems related to building design, construction and operation.
Green Building Advisor
Green Building Advisor is the one-stop source for builders, remodelers, architects & homeowners looking for expert advice on green products.
Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency: Buildings and Industry
Energy.GOV – Energy Efficiency Solution Center
Wind-washing negative impacts on insulation!
INDUSTRY BEST PRODUCTS & VENDORS
Spray Foam Distributors of NE
The only company to service our spray foam equipment! Unparalleled service, knowledge and commitment. The only vendor from which we purchase quality controlled USA made spray polyurethane foam and trust to service our spray foam equipment annually.
Gaco Spray Foam Closed Cell
The only closed cell foam product we install. It’s sustainably made, Green Guard certified safe, Zero Global Warming Potential and made with quality controlled ingredients unlike other foreign brands. No additional moisture control layers are required for long term energy saving performance.
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Holcim / Enverge
Holcim Building Envelope has brought together Gaco SprayFoam and SES Foam – two established spray foam insulation brands with heritage dating back more than 40 years. With the backing of Holcim, one of the world’s largest building materials providers, we are becoming Enverge. Enverge spray foam insulation is trusted by design professionals who rely on flexibility and performance to build better for people and the planet. Partner with Enverge and let’s change the way the world insulates.
Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance
SPFA’s constituents include contractors, manufacturers and distributors of spray polyurethane foam.
AFT Carbon Smart Cellulose
Advanced Fiber Technology is one of the leading manufacturers of paper-based cellulose loose fill and dense pack cavity insulation solutions for walls, floors and attic flats. Moisture control layers are required with this product to maintain effective thermal and durability performance.
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Timber HP – Wood Fiber Insulation
TimberFill blown in and dense pack insulation combines proven building science and sustainable forestry that offer good insulation solutions for attic flats, floors, and walls. Moisture control layers are required with this product to maintain effective thermal and durability performance.
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AccuVents
100% recycled plastic chute venting for cathedral roof and attic flats. AccuVent baffles ensure proper attic ventilation and maximize insulation R-value. That means moisture won’t build up and ice dams won’t form, insulation will stay firmly in place, roof shingles will last longer, and most importantly, your home will operate more efficiently – saving you money on your energy bills.
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AREA’S BEST PROFESSIONALS
Committed to Best Practice and Climate Protection Solutions
Powerhouse Energy Consulting
HERS Ratings, energy code compliance, rebates and incentives.
Valley Solar
Western Mass leading solar installer. Easthampton
Stone Mountain Roofing
Prompt and efficient service. Very reliable. Easthampton
Integrity Development/Construction
Excellent design-build GC. Amherst
Thayer Street Builders
Excellent GC! Full service construction firm. Sunderland
Valley Home Improvement
Renovation & Addition specialists. Northampton
Rare Forms
Net Zero design-build specialists. Northampton
INCENTIVES
Various Federal and State tax credits/rebates are available, along with local municipal power incentives. Leverage the incentives that are viable for your project and then be sure to personally invest in the best, most effective insulation assembly that you can afford.
IRS: Home Energy Efficiency Tax Credits
Energy Star: Federal tax credits for energy efficiency
DSIRE: Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
Mass Save: Beyond weatherization, all the way to Decarbonization!
Holyoke Gas & Electric: Residential Energy Conservation Program
Chicopee Electric Light: Home Efficiency Incentive Program
South Hadley Sustainability & Energy Commission: a forum to promote high levels of energy efficiency
