Hello there! We have a bit of news on defining thermal bridging and how to build greener.
Heaps of people may ask, what is a thermal bridge? A thermal bridge is a passage in a building envelope where heat is transferred at a considerably high rate. Thermal bridging occurs when insulation is not continuous. Where insulation is not continuous, heat flows through the path created. Typically, thermal bridging takes place through the studs of the wall structure. It is not usual for continuous insulation (CI) to be installed on this part of the wall envelope, but increasingly, people are looking for ways to build greener, or even to retrofit as recourse to the loss of air.
It’s easy to fill the cavity with insulation because of all the space you have to work with. It’s common to overlook the wood or steel framing of a building, but ironically, that is where most of the thermal bridging occurs. Reducing or eliminating thermal bridging is key if you want to save energy. Frequently, thermal bridging can lead to condensation or mold, which then leads to future retrofits.
A lot of you have expressed an interest on the benefits of aerogel insulation. Thermablok is not a product that is meant to fill the cavities, but instead, its purpose is to act as a thermal block—Thermablok is applied directly on the stud of the wood or metal frames. Being that this JEDI INSULATION is hydrophobic, the prospect of mold is eliminated. Thermablok substantially reduces thermal bridging and considerably reduces the emission of greenhouse gases, while having great capabilities of preventing the growth of mold that will eventually damage your wood framing—doesn’t that sound unsafe, costly and time-consuming? IT IS.
So, if you’re looking to start fresh and green as a new home builder then below are some of the things you can do (presuming that you haven’t already):
1) Do your homework. If you are still reading this blog then you already have one up on green building!
2) Locate a green contractor. A green contractor will help you spend your money most efficiently, while looking for products that will keep your energy bills low.
The point is to reduce your energy bills, save you money in the long run and feel good about making environmentally sound choices when building green. After all, it’s for the greater good!
For more info contact Angela Campisi of PR and Marketing at angela@acoustiblok.com
Tags: building green, one small step, thermal bridging, what is a thermal bridge
