
Energy-Efficient Home Design 101
Energy-Efficient Home Design 101
Thermal envelope energy-efficient home design tips:
In an energy-efficient home design, great care must be taken to ensure that the thermal envelope is meticulously planned and working as it should to shield the inside of the home from the outside world. The term thermal envelope includes roofs, foundations, insides of walls, insulation, windows, doors, specialized finishes or treatments, air/vapor retardants, and all other barricades against the outside elements.
Air-Sealing: Within the thermal envelope, all air leaks need to be sealed to ensure the proper indoor environment. Areas of concern often include odd-shaped areas around appliance outdoor access ducts and around any pre-fabricated window, skylight, or door installations.
Air/Vapor Retardants: The most common residential water or vapor control systems for the thermal envelope area are the Simple CS system or Airtight Drywall systems. Both types of systems require an airtight installation of drywall and sheet materials, so …