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Building Basics
The first step to learning how a house works is to peer behind the walls and into the attic to see what is in there. A home’s walls, roof, floors, and windows form a protective envelope to provide shelter and privacy. The building envelope also keeps warm air inside in the winter and outdoors in the summer. It forms a system with major heating and cooling systems because the more easily temperatures inside are maintained, the less heating and cooling is needed in the first place. The duct system gets air to the house from the furnace and air conditioner and also helps the home work as a system because the more warm or cool air it brings to the right rooms without leakage or heat loss, the less the major heating or cooling systems need to work.
The building envelope can better keep out outdoor air and temperatures when it is well air sealed and insulated. Air sealing closing gaps and cracks which allow air flow of hot, cold or dirty air, while thermal insulation slows heat flow. However, most insulation doesn’t provide enough air sealing, and without air sealing the insulation wouldn’t perform since air flow enables heat flow.
Batt insulation is the most basic type of insulation. Spray foam and loose fill insulation are also types of insulation which typically perform much better in real world applications. Spray foam air seal as it insulates. Light and heat travels easily through single pane windows, so high performance windows provide added insulation to the home which keeps outdoor temperatures out. The home system will also function better if ducts are well laid out, sealed, and insulated since that will help get more air from the forced air system to the house, instead of wasting it in the attic.
A radiant barrier also helps keep outdoor heat out of the building envelope while a vapor barrier keeps moisture out. All of these barriers make for a tight building envelope. Knowing these building basics can help solve common energy efficiency, comfort and health concerns.
