High Performance Slab-on-Grade Foundation Insulation Retrofits

Abstract

The work presented in this report does not represent performance of any product relative to regulated minimum efficiency requirements. The laboratory and/or field sites used for this work are not certified rating test facilities. The conditions and methods under which products were characterized for this work differ from standard rating conditions, as described. Because the methods and conditions differ, the reported results are not comparable to rated product performance and should only be used to estimate performance under the measured conditions. v Contents List of Figures .

Emerging Pathways to Upgrade the US Housing Stock: A Review of the Home Energy Upgrade Literature

“…Table 17 Contractor overview, (Ojczyk et al, 2013) 18 Estimated costs for each component of crawlspace encapsulation from HomeAdvisor. ....... Table 19 BEopt modeling inputs, (Neuhauser, 2012) 22 Comparison of costs: Excavationless versus traditional foundation retrofit with backhoe, (Schirber et al, 2014) 23 Insulation upgrade system costs per linear foot, (Goldberg and Mosiman, 2015) ................. Table 24 Combined material and labor cost involved in the implementing the above-grade wall insulation strategy at four projects, (Mielbrecht and Harrod, 2015) .............................................. Table 25 Thermax: Fastening to wood-frame wall and Marking and cutting full lengths, (Mielbrecht and Harrod, 2015) 26 Central Islip site costs, (Dentz, 2017) 27 Saugerties site costs, (Dentz, 2017) 28 Thermal Break Shear (TBS) installation cost, (Earth Advantage Institute, 2018) ................... Table 29 Wall retrofit project costs (2012)(2013), (Bianco and Wiehagen, 2016) ................................. Table 30 Cost of 4" and 6" retrofit panel installation per ft 2 , (Bianco and Wiehagen, 2016) ................ Table 31 Cost of re-siding per ft 2 of installed surface, (Bianco and Wiehagen, 2016) ........................... Table 32 Wall cost estimates versus actual cost, (Herk et al, 2014) 33 Example cost for 2,400 ft 2 single-story house with 6:12 gable roof in climate zones 1, 2, or 3.…”

“…Homes with slab on grade foundations are also candidates for foundation retrofits using exterior insulation along the slab edge (Goldberg and Mosiman, 2015). This subject has not received substantial attention, largely due to the perceived difficulty of addressing below grade envelope elements.…”

Impact of Uninsulated Slab-on-Grade and Masonry Walls on Residential Building Overheating

“…The actual differences in energy demand between the two buildings studied were expected to be even smaller, as the results show that heat loss by floor can be substantially reduced by using vertical external insulation of the foundation wall [57,58]. Goldberg and Mosiman [58], applying R-10 XPS insulation up to half the wall height below ground level, achieved a 5% reduction in energy demand for a detached single-story building in Duluth, MN, USA.…”

“…The actual differences in energy demand between the two buildings studied were expected to be even smaller, as the results show that heat loss by floor can be substantially reduced by using vertical external insulation of the foundation wall [57,58]. Goldberg and Mosiman [58], applying R-10 XPS insulation up to half the wall height below ground level, achieved a 5% reduction in energy demand for a detached single-story building in Duluth, MN, USA. Liu et al [59] in an experimental study conducted in full-scale single-room test facilities at the University of Newcastle, Australia, using vertical XPS insulation 42 cm deep and 3 cm thick, achieved a reduction in annual energy demand per square meter of floor space of 7.3 kWh/m 2 .…”