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Building for Efficient Winter Warmth

Last week, we went on-site and experienced the installation of a green or "living" roof. This week, we'll look at home efficiency and new strategies for holding onto the warmth we need in the winter. ❄️

What is a Thermal Bridge?

Traditionally, homes lose warmth because the wood and steel used to build them are conductive. Warmth (thermal energy) flows through them from the warm interior to the cool exterior. A beam that runs through an exterior wall, for example, becomes a thermal bridge that pulls warmth to the outside.

Thermal bridges have been a fact of life until recently. There are now multiple ways to prevent this loss of warmth and make homes more efficient than ever before.

How to Break a Thermal Bridge

The problem here is conduction. A thermal bridge offers a continuous path from the inside to the outside. To prevent this loss of warmth, your builder or architect may suggest adding thermal breaks. This means adding a piece of insulated material to the beam that prevents or "breaks" the conductive path between the interior and exterior. See below:

Continuous Insulation as a Thermal Break

Think about a normal exterior wall. It usually has insulation between wooden studs. The insulation is helpful, but each stud remains a thermal bridge to the exterior. Interior warmth moves through the drywall, through the studs, and into the exterior siding where it escapes.

Homeowners are now opting for continuous insulation because it helps break the path. This is a layer of rigid insulation between the home's framing and exterior cladding (siding). With continuous insulation in place, heat that moves through the studs can't escape to the outside as easily.

Talk to your architect and builder about thermal breaks and what is possible with your project. This direction may have a higher upfront expense, but over time, you are likely to save money and use less energy by having a high efficiency home.

We cover this subject and much more in our Custom Home Construction Navigator Course.

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Did you find this helpful? Do you have ideas for future issues? I would love to hear from you. Reply to this message or email me anytime at lee@buildlivable.com.

Lee LeFever, Build Livable​

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