Print this page Energy Efficiency: Building Insulation - Volume II
Lee Layton, P.E.
Course Outline
The course is divided into three chapters. The first chapter covers cost considerations for insulation including the payback for adding insulations. Chapter two looks at the design and installation issues with each major area of a home to be insulated, including how to insulate basements, crawl spaces, and slabs. Chapter three explains the methods to control moisture and insure that adequate ventilation is provided.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objective
After taking this course you should:
- Know how to calculate the payback for adding insulation;
- Be able to explain the BTU content of various fuel sources;
- Know the major areas that should insulated;
- Understand the correct insulation levels for different parts of the country;
- Know which products are best suited for a particular part of the house structure;
- Understand the recommended insulation levels for basements;
- Understand how insulated concrete blocks are used;
- Be able to explain how to insulate a ventilated crawl space;
- Know how structural insulating panels are used;
- Be able to explain advanced framing concepts that will improve R-values;
- Be able to explain the best methods for controlling moisture in a home; and
- Know how to adequately ventilate a home.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for engineers, architects, builders and homeowners who are interested in improving the efficiency and comfort in residential buildings.
Benefit to Attendees
This second volume of the two-part series on building insulation gives the reader a good introduction to how and where to apply insulation. The course offers practical advice on how to actually use the different types of insulation product.
Course Introduction
This is the second course in a two-part series on building insulation. Volume I looked at how insulation works and the characteristics of each of the major types of residential insulation. In this course, we will look at the economics of insulation, how to install insulation in the various areas of a residential structure, and briefly discuss techniques to control moisture in a structure.
As discussed in Volume I, the efficiency of a building envelope, which includes anything that encloses a building such as walls, ceilings, windows, foundations, is a key to improving the energy efficiency of structures. Basically, the envelope is anything that separates the inside of a building from the outside environment. A good energy efficiency program begins with having a building envelope that efficiently minimizes heat loss.
Heating and cooling accounts for 50 to 70% of the energy used in an average home. Inadequate insulation and air leakage are leading causes of energy waste in most residential homes. The benefits of a good building envelope include:
- Saves money,
- Makes the home more comfortable by helping to maintain a uniform temperature throughout the house, and
- Makes walls, ceilings, and floors warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
The amount of energy efficiency improvements depend on several factors: local climate; the size, shape, and construction of the house; the living habits; the type and efficiency of the heating and cooling systems; and the fuel used.
Course Content
This course content is in the following PDF document:
Energy Efficiency: Building Insulation - Volume II
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Course Summary
Building an appropriate thermal envelope in a home will reduce energy costs and improve the homeowner’s comfort. In this course we have looked at how to insulate the various areas in a typical home, how to determine the benefits of adding insulation, and reviewed the basic steps to controlling moisture in a residential structure. These guidelines will help ensure a more comfortable and energy efficient home.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
