Insulation Institute Blog

Posts Categorized: Energy Efficiency

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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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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As Energy Demand Surges, Insulation Becomes Frontline Fix

The exploding U.S. energy demand, particularly for electricity driven by data centers, electrification, and broader economic activity, makes a compelling case for expanding insulation to manage consumption. The release this week of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy’s and Bloomberg NEF’s 2026 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook provides comprehensive year-over-year details and data-driven trends that only bolster the case for insulation to help manage the resulting impacts.

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Free Expert Guidance on Wall Assemblies

Moisture is involved in most building envelope performance problems, including mold growth, metal corrosion, and other material degradation. In fact, home repairs due to moisture-related issues cost an estimated $32B annually, according to the Federal Reserve Bank.

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Three Underreported Housing Stories Now

One would be hard-pressed to find anyone in the housing industry who disagrees that affordability remains the biggest challenge in the U.S. today. Yet affordability doesn’t tell the whole story – a deeper dive is necessary to explain the issues plaguing our housing market now. Here are three underreported housing stories that deserve more attention.

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Habitat’s Blueprint for Smarter Housing

A habit Net Zero Home built in Louisiana.

While home affordability has risen to the top of the national challenges list in recent years, Habitat for Humanity has been tackling the issue for nearly 50 years to benefit low-income families. Insulation Institute recently talked with Adrienne Goolsby, Habitat for Humanity’s senior vice president, U.S. and Canada, about the company’s builds and how it keeps the cost of ownership, not just home building, at the center of its operations.

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Four Ways Insulation Creates Homes that Last, Save, and Sustain

Insulation does more than keep homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It is the foundation of resilient, affordable, environmentally friendly, and sustainable living. As the national dialogue around housing affordability grows, it’s worth noting these four ways that insulation creates homes that last, save, and sustain.

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