Fall is one of the prettiest times of year in New Jersey, but changing leaves, harvest moons, and chilly weather remind us that colder days are ahead. Like all homeowners, Deborah and Jason D. had to settle on the type of insulation material for Cold Brook Farm. However, as with so many construction decisions around the zero-energy home, the choice of insulation—seemingly pedestrian—took an unexpected turn.
Insulation is critical to a home’s building envelope—the shell that separates the exterior elements from the interior home. By some estimates, homeowners can save at least 15% per annum on their heating and cooling costs with high-performing insulation, and there is a specific conduction standard, the R-value, which rates insulation based on its capacity to resist heat transfer. In principle, the higher the R-value, the better the insulation performance. <Read Full Article>
