insulation

Gives instructions for constructing a super-insulated house. Describes installing insulation, vapour barriers, shutters and an air-to-air heat exchangers. Outlines ways in which heat islost from a house and the problems of conventional structures.

In 1978 the Swedish parliament adopted a ten-year "energy saving plan for existing buildings". Outlines energy saving measures which qualify for public support. Describes survey made of randomly chosen buildings, which had received loans or subsides, to evaluate their effectiveness. Describes collection of information and gives method for calculating energy savings. Reports preliminary result that extra attic insulation leads to substantial energy saving as did replacement of boiler and burner in multi-family homes.

Discusses in general terms energy consumption and energy requirements and the testing and checking of buildings. Gives principles of thermography and discusses the influence of various parameters on the thermography of buildings. Gives rules for interpretation of thermograms and use of comparative thermograms. Gives examples of comparative thermograms for common defects in insulation and airtightness, and actual cases where certain constructions and components were examined. Shows effectiveness of improvements made to remedy certain types of defects in insulation and air tightness.

Considers the likely impact of alternative conservation measures on the incidence of surface and interstitial condensation on or within the elements of the building fabric. Considers specifically domestic buildings in temperate climates such as in the U.K. and Ireland. Outlines the mechanisms whereby condensation occurs and considers broadly the effect of reducing heating levels, reducing ventilation and increasing insulation.

Describes the influence on heat resistance of an insulated wall of workmanship and forced convection. Compares experimental investigations on cross-bar walls with calculated values. Examples show the influence on heat resistance of insulation installation, air-flow along the insulation and air-flow through the insulation. Concludes that air-tightness of the vapour barrier and partly of the inside board are of great importance.

Describes retrofitting a wood-frame residence in three stages to reduce its energy requirements for heating and cooling. The three retrofit stages comprised reducing air leaks; adding storm windows; and installing insulation in the floor ceiling andwalls. The house was extensively insulated to evaluate energy savings and changes in air infiltration rates. Concludes that retrofits produced only marginal reduction in air infiltration rates and attributes this to the original tight construction of the house.

Describes results of computer study of behaviour of 2 better insulated houses, one of rationalised traditional and one of timber frame construction. Compares their performance with a contemporary house. Provides most important results regarding mode of operation and effects of air leakage. Concludes that better insulation is effective energy conservation measure but heavyweight characteristic of insulated structures result in intermittent heating being a less attractive means of reducing heat demand. Air leakage, if not controlled, becomes animportant component of the total heat loss.