Guide to Superinsulation Retrofit Information for Existing Structures
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This article discusses sources of information on adapting superinsulation techinques to an existing building.
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Where to Find Information on Superinsulation Retrofits
The question-and-answer article below paraphrases, quotes-from, updates, and comments an original article from Solar Age Magazine and written by Steven Bliss.
Superinsulation Retrofit
Reader Question:
Where can I obtain data on adapting superinsulation techniques to existing structures? - L Benson, Woodland ME
Answer:
The goals of superinsulating an existing building are the same as for new construction, but the problems are different.
The biggest challenge in adapting superinsulation methods to an existing structure is making the vapor barrier and insulation continuous between floors and between rooms.
- Probably the best source of information we have come across is Superinsulated Retrofit [at Amazon.com] by Brian Marshall and Robert Argue, published by Renewable Energy in Canada.,
- Also good, particularly on insulation theory, is Charles Wing's From The Walls In, [at Amazon.com] Little, Brown, and Co., Boston.
- A third source, a collection of related pamphlets bound into a three-ring binder, has one very good pamphlet on superinsulation retrofitting: Major Energy Conservation Retrofits, [at Amazon.com] National Center for Appropriate Technology, Butte MT.
Also see
- Super-Insulated Retrofit Book: A Homeowner's Guide, Robert Argue
- The super-insulated retrofit book: A homeowner's guide to energy-efficient renovation, Brian Marshall, Sun Builders Series
- Building for Energy Independence: Sun/Earth, Don Booth
- Superinsulation: a housing trend, Robert Corbett
- Superinsulation Design and Construction, Linda F Scott
- Superinsulation Conference Proceedings, Inernational Solar Energy Society (UK Section)
- Building Insulation Materials: Building insulation materials, Building insulation, Thermal insulation, Spray foams (insulation), Rigid panel, Structural ... Superinsulation, R-value (insulation), Alphascript Publishing
- Superinsulation for Iowa (EES-46), Laurent Hodges
- Superinsulation Breakthrough in Housing, James Buesing
- Be sure to also take a look
at ENERGY SAVINGS PRIORITIES and
see the many insulation retrofit details described
at ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT CASE STUDY.
For a detailed superinsulation study of an older home
see ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT CASE STUDY.
The question-and-answer article above, quotes-from, updates, and comments an original article from Solar Age Magazine and written by Steven Bliss.
The link to the original Q&A article in PDF form immediately below is preceded above by an expanded/updated online version
- Q&A on Superinsulation Retrofit - PDF version, use your browser's back button to return to this page. Original article, Solar Age Magazine, November, 1985, adapted and updated for InspectAPedia.com January 2011.
For a detailed superinsulation study of an older home
see ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT CASE STUDY.
Sketch at page top and accompanying text are reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.
...
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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
- Solar Age Magazine was the official publication of the American Solar Energy Society. The contemporary solar energy magazine associated with the Society is Solar Today. "Established in 1954, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nation's leading association of solar professionals & advocates. Our mission is to inspire an era of energy innovation and speed the transition to a sustainable energy economy. We advance education, research and policy. Leading for more than 50 years. ASES leads national efforts to increase the use of solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies in the U.S. We publish the award-winning SOLAR TODAY magazine, organize and present the ASES National Solar Conference and lead the ASES National Solar Tour – the largest grassroots solar event in the world."
- Steve Bliss's Building Advisor at buildingadvisor.com helps homeowners & contractors plan & complete successful building & remodeling projects: buying land, site work, building design, cost estimating, materials & components, & project management through complete construction. Email: info@buildingadvisor.com
Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com - Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
- Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
- Energy Savers: Whole House Systems Approach to Energy Efficient Home Design [copy on file as /interiors/Whole_House_Energy_Efficiency_DOE.pdf ] - U.S. Department of Energy
- "Energy Savers: Energy Recovery Ventilation Systems [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Energy_Recovery_Venting.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11900
- "Energy Savers: Detecting Air Leaks [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Detect_Air_Leaks.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
- "Energy Savers: Air Sealing [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Air_Sealing_1.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
- "Insulation: Adding Insulation to an Existing Home," U.S. Department of Energy - tips on how to do your own check for the presence of absence of insulation in a home
- Insulation: Selecting Insulation for New Home Construction, U.S. Department of Energy - "Your state and local building codes probably include minimum insulation requirements, but to build an energy-efficient home, you may need or want to exceed them. For maximum energy efficiency, you should also consider the interaction between the insulation and other building components. This is called the whole-house systems design approach."
- Insulation Types, table of common building insulation properties from U.S. DOE. Readers should see INSULATION R-VALUES & PROPERTIES our own table of insulation properties that includes links to articles describing each insulation material in more detail.
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST (nee National Bureau of Standards NBS) is a US government agency - see www.nist.gov
- "A Parametric Study of Wall Moisture Contents Using a Revised Variable Indoor Relative Humidity Version of the "Moist" Transient Heat and Moisture Transfer Model [copy on file as/interiors/MOIST_Model_NIST_b95074.pdf ] - ", George Tsongas, Doug Burch, Carolyn Roos, Malcom Cunningham; this paper describes software and the prediction of wall moisture contents. - PDF Document from NIS
- In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
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- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME .
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.
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