Insulation Institute Blog

Posts By: Stacy Fitzgerald-Redd

Do Bigger HVAC Systems Deliver Better Performance?

By: Ben Green, Green Leaf Air

Most homeowners assume that a larger air conditioner will cool their home better, but that’s not necessarily true. On the surface, it sounds logical, but it’s not necessarily accurate. That’s because an oversized unit can make a high-performance home less comfortable, less efficient, and more expensive to operate.

As homes become better insulated and more airtight, their heating and cooling needs change. Yet many HVAC systems are still sized using outdated rules of thumb or by simply matching the old equipment’s size. The result is a system that may cool the home quickly, but struggle to control humidity, maintain consistent temperatures, and operate efficiently.

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New Analysis Shows What the Latest Energy Code Costs Builders

How much does it really cost to build a home that uses dramatically less energy? According to a new analysis by ICF Consulting, the answer is surprisingly modest. A home built to the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) uses roughly twenty percent less energy than a comparable home built to the 2009 code, while homes built to the latest 2024 IECC deliver even greater savings. Achieving those gains requires an upfront investment of only a few thousand dollars. In return, homeowners receive decades of lower utility bills and greater comfort. These long-term benefits stand in sharp contrast to claims by the National Association of Homebuilders that modern energy codes add tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a new home. By measuring the cumulative costs of the prescriptive requirements in the 2015 and 2024 IECC, the analysis offers builders, policymakers, and homebuyers a detailed picture of what today’s energy codes actually cost.

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Pipe Insulation: The Unseen Superstar in Buildings

Every day, buildings lose energy through uninsulated or under-insulated piping systems. The result? Higher utility bills, greater carbon emissions, and reduced system performance. Fortunately, pipe insulation offers a simple solution with outsized advantages.

Pipe insulation is used in nearly every type of building, but it is most common and most extensively specified in commercial and industrial buildings to improve energy efficiency, safety, and system performance. This week, we look at the benefits of pipe insulation in buildings and detail how NAIMA’s 3E Plus can determine the appropriate insulation thickness for the job. Additionally, we’ll highlight NAIMA’s 3E Estimator tool, which leverages calculations from 3E Plus to provide a simple project-level estimate of the energy costs and emissions savings of pipe insulation for decision makers.

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5-Million HERS®-Rated Homes and Counting

Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET®) recently announced an important milestone achievement: more than 5 million HERS-rated homes. It’s a massive number that reflects the organization’s momentum and impact on the energy-efficient homebuilding industry, but more than that, it’s a sign that builders and buyers value the energy performance rating, which is among the most recognized in the homebuilding industry.

This week, Insulation Institute delves into the HERS-score value proposition, why growth in HERS-rated homes should accelerate, and where the organization sees room to advance energy-efficient home building for a new generation of home buyers.

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New: Guide to Unvented Roofs for Conditioned Attics

Conditioned attics are becoming increasingly common in high-performance homes because they help improve comfort, energy efficiency, and HVAC performance. But building an unvented roof assembly correctly requires more than simply adding insulation at the roofline. Builders and contractors must understand how insulation, air sealing, moisture control, and ventilation strategies work together to avoid condensation and long-term durability problems.

That’s why the Insulation Institute’s guide, Unvented Roofs for Conditioned Attics: Solutions That Work, is such a valuable resource for construction professionals. The guide breaks down complex building science concepts into practical, jobsite-focused solutions that builders can actually use in the field.

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Three Stories Remind Us Why Energy Efficiency Still Matters

Energy efficiency rarely grabs headlines, but three recent stories show why it should.

At a time of rising energy costs, grid strain, geopolitical instability, and growing concern about public health, energy efficiency continues to deliver some of society’s biggest returns: lower bills, greater economic resilience, and cleaner air. These three stories make a compelling case that energy efficiency isn’t just an environmental goal – it’s one of America’s smartest economic and public health investments.

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New Fact Sheets Address Carbon Claims, Air Sealing Misconceptions

In the quest to decarbonize the built environment, architects, builders, and specifiers seek products that can help lower their environmental footprint. But in the rush to decarbonize, there is a risk of buying into overstated marketing claims that products are “carbon-negative.”

Our newly released fact sheet, Facts You Should Know About Cellulose and Wood Fiber Insulation Carbon Statements, examines some of the most common – and misleading – carbon claims about these products.

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EIA Data Show Significant Rise in Energy Insecurity

Every four to five years, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration surveys American households about energy use and affordability. Preliminary results from the 2024 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) point to a notable increase in energy insecurity—a trend that policymakers, builders, and industry stakeholders cannot ignore.

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