Print this page Energy Efficiency: Building Insulation - Volume I
Lee Layton, P.E.
Course Outline
The course is divided into four brief chapters. The first chapter covers the basics of heat transfer. Chapter two goes into detail about the different types of insulation and their advantages and disadvantages. Chapter three is a basic overview of how water migration occurs in a home and finally Chapter four covers the regulatory and environmental concerns with residential insulation.
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:
- Understand the basics of heat flow;
- Know the impact of infiltration on energy efficiency;
- Know how insulation works;
- Be able to explain how insulation is characterized;
- Know the typical R-values of most common insulating products;
- Be able to explain the advantages of cellulose insulation;
- Be able to explain the different types of plastic foam insulations in use today;
- Know how to control moisture migration in a home; and
- Understand the potential health risks from insulation.
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
Volume I of this two-part series will give the reader a good introduction to how insulation works, the types of insulation on the market, and the advantages of each insulation type.
Course Introduction
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.
There are many different types of insulation and this course will explain each of the major types including describing insulating values and advantages and disadvantages. The graph in Figure 1 shows the insulating values of several common insulation types.
Figure 1
This is the first course in a two-part series. This course will help you to understand how insulation works, what different types of insulation are available, and some of the regulatory and environmental issues with insulation. Part Two of this series delves into the cost issues that influence insulation decisions, how to decide what type of insulation is best for a particular application, and how to control moisture and provide adequate ventilation.
Course Content
This course content is in the following PDF document:
Energy Efficiency: Building Insulation - Volume I
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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 the physics behind heat transfer and how insulation works. We have also reviewed the various insulation products that are in commercial use today. The next step is to know how to effectively and economically apply insulation and volume II in this series will explain the cost/benefits of home insulation and how to appropriately apply insulation to the 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.
