Lesson 8.3 – Insulation Code and Energy Requirements
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Balancing code compliance with health and cost considerations
Code Compliance – I wish this were simple, but it is not. There are many areas of the country still working from the 2006 code books, so the cost of construction and the restrictive nature of the code is diminished in those jurisdictions.
In other areas, such as Boulder County in Colorado, where I often work, the codes create increased costs, often without reason. Often, in our current environment, policies that don’t consider the health of the occupants create scenarios which can lead to illness in addition to higher costs.
We’ve discussed some of this above. Cost represents a significant part of every home build today. Here is a ranking of insulation from least expensive to most expensive:
- Cellulose – net and blow and Fiber Batt insulation are the same cost, though cellulose delivers a higher R-value and is much healthier if you use Knauf cellulose.
- Rockwool / Mineral Wool.
- Closed Cell Foam – the most expensive, even without providing air gapping techniques.