Insulation Institute Blog

Desire for Healthier Homes Boosts IAQ Solutions

A study commissioned by Second Nature, the nation’s largest home wellness subscription service, revealed that 99 percent of Americans want a healthy home, yet 62 percent say they could do a better job of obtaining one. One of the major ways that homeowners can ensure a healthy home is maintaining good indoor air quality (IAQ). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates[1] that indoor air is up to five times more polluted than outdoor air, an alarming fact that is likely to heighten consumer concerns.

Details »
Desire for Healthier Homes Boosts IAQ Solutions

You Still Get What You Inspect

We don’t get out to jobsites often. Much of our time here at Insulation Institute is spent developing resources for building industry professionals on how to safely use and properly install fiberglass and mineral wool insulation products, and that keeps us in the office most days. But occasionally, we’re invited to a job site to observe the insulation installation. We relish these opportunities. 

Details »
You Still Get What You Inspect

Energy Efficiency Workforce Grows to 2.3 Million

E4TheFuture’s recently released 2019 report, “Energy Efficiency Jobs in America,” demonstrates the impressive growth of the energy efficiency workforce, which now numbers more than 2.3 million people. The annual report is based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and is a comprehensive survey of thousands of businesses, using a methodology developed for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Details »
Energy Efficiency Workforce Grows to 2.3 Million

Bentley’s 4 Rules for High-Performance Homes

Jeff Bentley is a fifth-generation home builder who’s built more than 4,000 houses and sold more than 2,000 homes in more than 45 years in residential construction. He’s also a HERS rater, LEED Green Builder and REALTOR® whose counsel on energy-efficient home building is highly sought after.  Insulation Institute reached out to Bentley to find out what practices can help builders meet more stringent energy efficiency code requirements and dramatically improve the way homes are built in America. Here are Bentley’s four rules for High-performance Homes.

Details »
Bentley’s 4 Rules for High-Performance Homes

Award-Winning Builds…Even at the Low End

For the second time in three years, North Carolina Builder Shawn Jessup has won a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Housing Innovation Award. While Jessup’s scale may be small, at two to three builds per year, he is in high demand. S.D. Jessup Construction fields constant requests from potential customers in Raleigh, NC and other areas more than two hours away from their Pilot Mountain, NC base. Insulation Institute reached out to Jessup to get the scoop on his formula for constructing award-winning homes.

Details »
Award-Winning Builds…Even at the Low End

Builder-to-Buyer Flood Risk Education

An astonishing 98 percent of U.S. counties have been impacted by a flood event, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and floods are the number one natural disaster in the United States. Moreover, the increasing weather risks associated with global climate change means that homebuyers should consider flood insurance, even if they don’t live in a floodplain.

Details »
Builder-to-Buyer Flood Risk Education

3 Basics for Visibly Great Insulation Jobs

We’ve seen hundreds, if not thousands of photos of fiberglass insulation jobs here at NAIMA, some good, some not so good…and some superb. When we came across Yudah Schwartz’s post on LinkedIn, it immediately caught our attention because we recognized an exceptional batt insulation job. The precision shown in installing the batts properly was clearly visible in the photos. So, we wanted to know more. He recently shared his views on the three essentials to getting visibly great insulation jobs.

Details »
3 Basics for Visibly Great Insulation Jobs

A Model for the Net Zero Built Environment

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has some of the most advanced policies and programs in the country to support a net zero built environment for existing and new construction homes. Other states would do well to follow their lead.  

Details »
A Model for the Net Zero Built Environment

The Case for Energy-Plus-Health Programs

Transformations taking place in both the home energy efficiency arena and healthcare are coming together in ways that present opportunities for these industries to work collaboratively to improve outcomes for customers.  VEIC, a sustainable energy company with a mission to enhance the environmental and societal benefits of clean and efficient energy use for all people, is out with a new Energy-Plus-Health Playbook. The playbook examines a three-tiered approach to targeting unhealthy and substandard existing housing conditions that cause energy burdens and compromise the household health of low- and middle-income customers.

Details »
The Case for Energy-Plus-Health Programs

You Have One Job: Insulation or Air Sealing

One of the best ways to keep informed of building industry trends and learn insights from industry experts is reading blogs and publications. However, sometimes, these sources can leave readers confused about the fundamentals of building science, the performance of building products, and ultimately, share misleading information. Frequently, writers conflate the role of insulation and air sealing, so it’s important to examine the difference.

Details »
You Have One Job: Insulation or Air Sealing