Re:The humble water heater could be the savior of our energy...
by thebiss on Thursday July 08, 2021 @09:00AM
(#27771356)
We have insulation thickness standards in the US, varying by weather "zone", but for residential construction they seem to be lightly enforced, and efficiency tests are rare to non-existant. (For an illustration of how we typically insulate, see [0].)
It's only one data point, but I'm in New England and from my home office I've watched builders replace 3 1960's-era homes with large colonials. Each is insulated with fiberglass, no visible foam, and nothing outside the sheathing (exterior plywood) except vapor paper / tyvek.
Sure, it meets code requirements for inches of insulation, but it's far from air tight or efficient.
It's only one data point, but I'm in New England and from my home office I've watched builders replace 3 1960's-era homes with large colonials. Each is insulated with fiberglass, no visible foam, and nothing outside the sheathing (exterior plywood) except vapor paper / tyvek.
Sure, it meets code requirements for inches of insulation, but it's far from air tight or efficient.
[0] https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/where-insulate-home