Currently, nations across the globe have a common goal to cut down on energy consumption and greenhouse gases with a target date that is three to five decades in the future. With this in mind, several engineering companies have come forward in offering various solutions in the form of innovations in building materials.
One of which is the use of continuous insulation. According to experts, continuous insulation is one way to improve energy efficiency and performance across all types of homes, with different sizes and budget types considered.
Charlie Devine, the national accounts and energy adviser for OX Engineered Products, one of the leading building product manufacturers for the U.S., believes that the clear advantages of continuous insulation are being disregarded because of misleading short term disadvantages.
Devine later explained that continuous insulation is one way to squeeze energy demand out of a house. The said technology could potentially reduce heating costs by as much as 48% as compared to programmable thermostats and high-efficiency HVAC systems.
Devine has also highlighted the use of 2 x 6 framing instead of 2 x 4 framing. The expert explained that deeper 2 x 6 cavities with fewer studs could help improve energy performance. However, if builders would prefer a 2 x 4 cavity, continuous insulation could level the playing fields. It is possible that specifying layers of continuous insulation could be cheaper than opting for a 2 x 6 framing.
Another point that Devine has cited is the net-zero energy focus for California. With the mandate of using solar photovoltaic panels, the use of continuous insulation makes perfect sense as it further decreases the demand for energy. In addition, the expert said that it is still possible to use standard cladding when continuous insulation is used. Devine pointed out that using continuous insulation is one way to meet the code affordably.
According to Devine, top builders in Nebraska and Iowa agree with using continuous insulation. In the said area, builders understood the true cost of standard oriented boards that includes labor, house wrap, and travel expenses. On the other hand, structural insulated sheathing could simplify the construction process which leads to lower costs.
In addition to the said benefits of the engineered building material, continuous insulation also has a weather and air resistive barrier feature. With an air exchange of 15% to 20% better than the standard building envelope, continuous insulation proves to be the better choice.
Devine has high hopes for continuous insulation, believing that misgivings about the said product would soon be a thing of the past.
