Insulation Institute Blog

Posts Categorized: Construction

Two Really Avoidable Insulation Gaffes

Would it surprise you to learn that among the top 10 reasons cited for a failing a final new residential home inspection is missing insulation in the attic access or floor? Improperly installed insulation is an inconvenient problem that can be fixed relatively easily, but insulation that’s completely missing on a final inspection can cost additional time and money for the builder. There’s a simple solution to avoiding this: a checklist and quality control review before final inspection.

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Two Really Avoidable Insulation Gaffes

Pandemic Could Drive Net Zero Construction

Pandemic May Drive Zero Energy Construction

iStock-916028432-1-1An increasing number of states and municipal governments are considering more stringent energy efficiency goals into their updated building codes. For example, new residential construction in several locales within Colorado must comply with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home program. While Colorado may be on the leading edge, states that have targeted carbon reduction are ramping up efforts to move to more stringent building codes. The pandemic may accelerate that activity.

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Pandemic Could Drive Net Zero Construction

How to Nurture Workforce Development

Even as the home building industry sees a record surge in sales, it still faces a tough challenge with labor for the foreseeable future. Novel approaches to attracting young people into the trades and efforts like North Carolina Building Performance Association (NCBPA’s) workforce development initiative may ultimately be the catalyst to solving significant workforce challenges. In this third and final of a three-part blog series, we look at why and how state and national organizations can get involved with these initiatives.

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How to Nurture Workforce Development

Seeds for Workforce Success

While the terms sustainable, energy-efficient, and green building are broadly used to describe construction that centers on Building Performance, there’s no national program that focuses on career development in Building Performance. That’s why North Carolina Building Performance Association (NCBPA) Founder and CEO Ryan Miller is investing heavily in developing the Building Performance workforce in the state.

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Seeds for Workforce Success

A New Normal: Virtual Inspections

The current pandemic has forced many industries to develop alternative methods for their typical operations, and construction is no different. In the first of a new series we’re calling, “How Construction Will Change,” Insulation Institute takes a look at a growing trend for the building industry: virtual code inspections.

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A New Normal: Virtual Inspections

A Special Edition of “The Build Show” on COVID-19

In a special edition of “The Build Show” this week, custom builder Matt Risinger is joined by his wife, internal medicine physician Dr. Christy Risinger to discuss the steps that his construction company is taking to be safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pair outline practical tips regarding scheduling trades, distancing between workers, and safe hygiene practices that should be implemented to mitigate the spread of the disease in the construction industry.

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A Special Edition of “The Build Show” on COVID-19

10 Hidden Air Leaks in New Construction

Sealing common air leakage pathways is key to achieving a tight thermal envelope. Often, hidden holes in new construction homes can make achieving an airtight envelope very difficult. Knowing where these hidden holes tend to occur can help builders avoid a massive air leakage issue. Our 10 Hidden Air Leaks in New Construction Homes guide covers the most common areas where these holes occur and offers solutions to fix the holes during the construction process.

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10 Hidden Air Leaks in New Construction

Try This Old School Hack for Estimating Insulation Jobs

Getting accurate estimates for insulation installation jobs in new construction homes sounds like a relatively simple undertaking, but for some contractors, getting precise material quantities for jobs can be a challenge. Do you use software to estimate materials, or do you have an estimator review the construction plans? Is it necessary to “walk the house” to get the materials estimates? What’s the best approach? Insulation Institute talked with three building industry professionals about providing accurate estimates for batt and blown in insulation jobs and why it matters to get it right the first time.

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Try This Old School Hack for Estimating Insulation Jobs

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.

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Desire for Healthier Homes Boosts IAQ Solutions

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.

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Award-Winning Builds…Even at the Low End