Insulation Institute Blog

Posts By: Stacy Fitzgerald-Redd

Does My Insulation Settle or Expire?

NAIMA/Insulation Institute frequently fields questions regarding various performance aspects of fiberglass and mineral wool insulation. One of the most common questions we receive is, “what is the typical lifespan of fiberglass and mineral wool insulation?” Other questions come up regarding settling and loose fill insulation. We know there are many misconceptions about fiberglass and mineral wool insulation products’ performance and longevity, so pointing out research that can help dispel myths is often necessary.

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Does My Insulation Settle or Expire?

Buyers Flock to EE Features Amid Covid

A new report from HomeLight shows that consumers’ energy use and energy efficiency preferences have increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a survey of 1,000 top real estate agents, the report sheds light on home buying and selling trends – with interesting insights about energy efficiency awareness and preferences.

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Buyers Flock to EE Features Amid Covid

What Texas Can Teach Us About Resilience

This month’s extreme cold snap in Texas and resulting failure of the state’s power grid offers some important lessons in the rear-view mirror. This week, we look at three takeaways from this month’s crisis and how we can better prepare for the next one.

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What Texas Can Teach Us About Resilience

The Crux of Better Building

Builder Ryan McCoon, LEED APH of Endura Performance Homes, has more than 30 years’ experience in the residential construction industry and has built 60 homes ranging in price from $500 – $1.5M in Traverse City, MI area. As a high-end custom builder, Ryan has the weight of his client’s expectations at the forefront of his mind as he completes their homes. He takes care to ensure that the projects are attractive, healthy, and have lower operating costs and increased durability for many years to come.

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The Crux of Better Building

COVID-19 Vaccination Plans in Every State

According to Construction Dive, a study of 730,000 COVID-19 tests found that construction workers had the highest positivity rate for asymptomatic cases of any occupation. Therefore, to reduce widespread illness and keep pace with the high demand for residential construction, it’s essential to get workers vaccinated. Multistate, a full-service state and local government relations company, has published a comprehensive dashboard of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan for all 50 states.

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COVID-19 Vaccination Plans in Every State

New Guide: Fiberglass and IAQ

Homebuyers are increasingly concerned about the safety of the products that are used in their homes. When it comes to insulation, there’s a lot of information out there, but it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. Insulation Institute has just released a new guide, Fiberglass Insulation A Guide to Better Indoor Air Quality, which details the significant benefits of using fiberglass insulation, whether you’re a builder, installer, or homeowner.

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New Guide: Fiberglass and IAQ

An Insulating Challenge: Scissor Trusses and Sloped Ceilings

Architect Terry Smith of TDSA Architecture in Washington state recently contacted NAIMA with a question about how to properly insulate various types of roof trusses – both conventional and scissor type. Terry rightly pointed out that insulation is intended to be most effective when uniformly applied or layered to cover the full extent of the space being insulated. But there are instances, such as narrow areas near the top plate of scissor trusses and sloped ceilings, where that is not possible.

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An Insulating Challenge: Scissor Trusses and Sloped Ceilings

HERS Ratings Soared in 2020

Despite the pandemic, demand for HERS-rated homes increased 24 percent in 2020 versus 2019, according to Residential Energy Services (RESNET). In 2020, 299,755 homes received a HERS Index Score, breaking the record for the number of rated homes in a year. The previous record from 2019 was 241,664 rated homes.

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HERS Ratings Soared in 2020

Our Top 10 Blog Posts of 2020

At the Insulation Institute, we aim to deliver the most useful educational content on energy efficiency and best builder practices for our readers. Here are the topics that proved to be the most highly ranked among our loyal readers this year. If you missed any of these, let’s hope the slower pace as we wind down 2020 will offer you a chance to review our reader favorites.

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Our Top 10 Blog Posts of 2020

EE Jobs Offer Best Bet for Recovery

A new report from E4The Future says energy efficiency (EE) – the largest U.S. energy sector — can repower America’s economy as we work to overcome the pandemic’s economic effects. The annual report highlights the significant job losses due to COVID-19. Overall, employment is down nearly 14 percent in 2020 versus 2019, a loss of 321,900 jobs.

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EE Jobs Offer Best Bet for Recovery