I have been helping the parents of a friend visualize a basement remodel project, where they are going to be claiming a portion of the basement for living space. Therefore while helping them, it has brought me back to a few article written on how to properly insulate your below grade walls. Building Science Corporation has lots of good articles on the subject (here & here), however I will bring your attention to an article that talks both about the good and the bad systems used.
RR-0202: Basement Insulation Systems
by Building Science Corporation
The Problem
Meeting Energy Star levels of performance is one of the criteria for constructing homes to Building America levels of performance – levels defined by the Building Science Consortium and others. Homes constructed with basements require some degree of basement insulation to meet Energy Star. As a result all Building America homes with basements constructed by the Building Science Consortium have basement insulation.
In any event, heat loss from basements accounts for such a significant portion of the energy loss from a home that it is clear that a home with a basement must have basement insulation to be called “energy efficient.” Additionally, in many jurisdictions, basement insulation is a building code requirement.
Finally, most homeowners with homes with basements finish the basement area for additional living space. When they do, they typically insulate the perimeter walls. Homes with basements often end up with basement walls that are finished and insulated.
There are only three ways to insulate a basement wall: on the interior, on the exterior or in the middle. Of the three,
the most common approach has been to insulate basements internally. The reasons for this have been due almost strictly to cost.
Continue reading the article at buildingscience.com
Joshua has a degree in architecture and is a LEED Accredited Professional that has worked in the design and construction industry for over 10 years, focusing his efforts on energy efficiency and building science. He has organized multiple events in Ohio to give young designers the opportunity to learn about “green” home design and produce actual projects. He was also a key player in Ohio’s first LEED for Homes Platinum project. Joshua is also a certified Building Analyst through the Building Performance Institute and performs home energy audits, assisting home owners in reducing their energy usage.
