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New Energy Code Requirements for Insulation

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As of January 1, 2011, many states, including Idaho, adopted new energy code requirements with the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The new code has stricter requirements for the energy efficiency of the building envelope (a technical term for the part of a building that keeps the interior warm, dry, and comfortable). The new code requires a roughly 8-10% upgrade in building thermal efficiency from the previous code.

The biggest changes affect insulation values in ceilings, below grade walls, and to a lesser extent, above grade exterior walls. The insulation requirements vary within 8 different climate zones. North Idaho and much of the Intermountain West are in climate zone 6, which has only slightly lower insulation requirements than zones 7 & 8. Zones 7 & 8 encompass the very coldest parts of the country.

Here’s a quick overview of the new requirements:

  • Ceiling insulation values have been increased from R-38 to R-49. (The R-value is a measure of thermal efficiency – the higher the number the more efficient the insulation). This is significant and potentially costly to homeowners, especially if they want vaulted ceilings. Typical roof framing members are not deep enough to accommodate enough conventional fiberglass insulation to achieve this high R-value. There are options that can be employed to meet this requirement and still have vaulted ceilings.
  1. Use deeper rafters. This is potentially expensive, an inefficient use of resources, and generally not recommended unless structural requirements dictate it.
  2. Use urethane spray foam insulation, which has a much higher R-value per inch. This product is more expensive than fiberglass insulation, but is an excellent air seal and eliminates the need for venting, which is sometimes difficult on complex roofs.
  3. Use fiberglass insulation in the rafter space, and then a continuous rigid board insulation on either the ceiling below the rafters or on the roof above the sheathing. This reduces thermal bridging, which is a major source of heat loss in stick frame construction. Depending on the application, it may be better to put board insulation on the interior; putting it on the roof is physically easier but makes attaching some types of roofing problematic.

The code does allow for some R-value reductions if certain details are used, and there is an allowance for a maximum of 500 S.F. of vaulted ceilings with R-38 insulation value, subject to some restrictions.

  • Basement wall insulation values have been increased from R-13 to R-19. These numbers are for insulation in wall cavities, if continuous board or spray foam insulation is used R- 15 is required. This accounts for the reduction in heat loss through thermal bridging, as mentioned above. One implication of this is that basement living space will potentially be reduced because walls need to be thicker to accommodate more insulation. Use of an ICF foundation system is an effective way to achieve this R-value without losing interior space.
  • Exterior wall insulation value has been increased from R-19 to R-20. This is significant because conventional fiberglass batt insulation is not able to achieve R-20 in a 2 x 6 wall. As an alternative, the code allows for a cavity insulation value of R-13 if a continuous board or foam insulation of minimum R-5 is used as a supplement. This is, again, an acknowledgement of the value of reducing thermal bridging. Urethane spray foam insulation can easily achieve R-20 in 2 x 6 stud cavities.

The new IECC has upped the ante for reducing building energy consumption, and future versions of the code promise further improvements. I have always been an advocate for maximizing the thermal performance of any new building, and hyper-insulating is a very effective means of achieving that goal. Money spent up front in insulation will be rewarded through reduced energy costs, smaller mechanical systems, and enhanced comfort levels for building occupants.

Tom Russell, LEED AP, Project Architect

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Why Hire An Architect?

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In today’s economy, just about everyone is closely watching every dollar they spend. Belt tightening has become a way of life, and many people are having to prioritize what is important to them when they make decisions about how their money is spent. For people who value quality, the choice to spend more on something that will last longer, perform better, and have a higher resale value isn’t as easy when the economy is bad and money is tight.

We have been finding lately that a lot of prospective clients are shopping around for design services, trying to get the most for their money. One point of confusion we see is when clients compare the price of hiring an architect to design their home against the cost of using an inexpensive drafting service. There are several important qualifications that distinguish architects, and clarifying them might help to explain why the services of an architect may cost you more than you would pay for someone to draw simple house plans. However, good quality architecture adds value to your home. If you are looking for someone to design a home or remodel for you, the following may help guide you in making a decision.

  • Comparing architects to people who prepare basic house plans is like comparing apples and carrots. Architects have a high level of formal training, have served a lengthy apprenticeship, and have undergone rigorous testing. Architects are licensed to practice by the state, are required to adhere to a code of ethics, and are held to high standards of accountability. It is illegal for someone to call themselves an Architect if they don’t hold a current license. In contrast, there are no educational or training standards for someone who wants to draw house plans, and no assurance to you that they understand regulatory requirements, safety codes, or the construction process. There are certainly draftsmen and building designers who are well educated and very competent, but they have not been subjected to the rigorous vetting process that architects go through to achieve licensure.
  • Architects are trained to design buildings that balance aesthetics, function, safety, quality, longevity, and cost. Architects are required to earn continuing education credits as a condition of their license, so they are kept up to date on evolving building codes, zoning requirements, building science, including energy efficiency, and the benefits and limitations of modern materials.
  • Architects are required to stamp and sign anything of a technical nature that leaves their office. This is a certification that they are taking liability for the product, and that to the best of their knowledge it meets all applicable jurisdictional requirements. Several states and most upscale subdivisions require that building plans have an architect’s stamp. If design drawings are not stamped by a licensed professional, there is no legal assumption of accountability and no assurance to the homeowner that the drawings were prepared under the watchful eye of someone who is legally bound to stand behind them.
  • Architects typically produce detailed drawings and specifications that allow builders to give accurate estimates, build with minimal change orders, and understand all aspects of the project before they start building. Cheap house plans very rarely contain all the necessary information required to properly price and construct the project. With poor plans to work from, contractors have to fill in the blanks, figure out how to make things work, and design the details themselves. This can lead to disappointing results and potentially unsafe conditions. Most contractors prefer a good set of detailed documents so they can provide you with the best product at the lowest cost.
  • Architects bring creativity to a project. Homes that are the product of unskilled designers are easy to pick out and lack the aesthetic qualities of a properly designed home. On the other hand, homes designed by architects typically have well thought out details, appropriate scaling, and functional floor plans. Well conceived designs produce high levels of owner satisfaction and strong resale values.
  • Professional accountability has real value. Anyone with a word processor can produce a “legal document”, but that doesn’t make them a lawyer. We all want the assurance of professional accreditation when we seek out medical care or take our kids to the dentist. For what it costs to build or remodel a home, and the potential for problems that can result from poor design, hiring an architect to guide the process seems like a wise investment.

It is pretty easy to find someone to prepare inexpensive plans for your new home or remodel. As with anything, you will get what you pay for. If the home you want to build is very simple or is a modification of stock plans from a book, a drafting service may be a good choice for your project. If you want a unique, quality custom home you will likely be better served by hiring an architect.

When you hire an Architect you are paying for their education, creativity, accountability, knowledge of construction technology, and assurance of quality. It makes good financial sense to enlist the services of a trained professional when you are preparing to make what is likely one of the biggest financial commitments of your life.

For more information on the value of hiring an Architect, see the American Institute of Architects website at AIA.org.

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The Trend Towards Smaller Homes

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As an architect specializing in residential design, I am finding more and more people are trending towards smaller homes. The distressed economy has been leading this evolution, but there are other factors as well, including space efficiency, energy efficiency, sustainability, a return to quality, and long term value.

Many reduced financial portfolios simply cannot currently pay for large lodge homes. One of the most popular questions I received before we revamped our website was, “Do you design anything less expensive?” Cozy cabins and small cottages are now in much more demand.

Mountain Cabin

Mountain Cabin

These smaller homes are demanding more efficient use of space, both visually and functionally. Visually, a home can take advantage of the outdoors by strategically placing windows, doors, materials and landscaping in areas that can seamlessly bring the outside in, and the inside out. Thoughtful design will make the interior rooms look bigger. The outdoor “rooms” are also generally cheaper than indoor rooms.

In regards to function, as an example, I’m often asked to design bigger guest rooms. Some questions I’ll ask are; how long will the guest be staying? What will they be doing in there besides sleeping? Can they do without a TV and desk? Can queen sized beds be used instead of kings?

These questions may help turn a 16×16 room into a more cozy 10×10 room, thus saving 156 square feet per guest room. Two smaller guest rooms saving 312 square feet, at say $300 per square foot, equals $93,600. Would the costs be better placed elsewhere in rooms used more often? The same could be said for having the guests share a bathroom. Everybody of course has different opinions on this, but the point is architects need to ask these questions to help the home owners save on costs.

On some projects I have considered marine architecture, a great example of space efficiency. Anybody who has been on a well designed yacht can see efficiencies of space at work. Every cubic foot of these boats is put to good use, whether it’s storage under the seats or cubbyholes above the beds. Some of the marine concepts can be used in homes as well.

Small Mountain Home

Small Mountain Home

 

Smaller homes are also more energy efficient and sustainable. To put it simply, small homes save on energy costs by lowering your heating and cooling bills. For more information on this please see our blog post on Energy Efficiency. Smaller homes can also save materials, trees and transportation costs, among others.

 

Quality, not quantity, seems to be the choice of the new generation, if given a choice between the two. A smaller home can save more room in the budget for thoughtful architecturally designed details, including coffered ceilings, custom built-ins, wood walls and trim, high end lighting fixtures and appliances, and quality curved windows. One of the most rewarding projects I’ve designed was a small family chapel on a family’s property. The exterior matched the rustic mountain style home, while the interior includes exposed beams, wood walls and ceilings, and custom curved windows. Powder rooms are another example of improving the quality of small spaces at a low cost.

Quality homes also add value over some of the bigger homes. Resale values are generally increased with better quality, energy efficiencies, etc. For more information on value, please see our blog post on Good Architecture Adds Value to Your Home.

With today’s lower construction prices, more people today can afford custom designed homes to suit their own tastes. If homeowners with smaller budgets can compromise on quantity of space, they can enjoy a higher quality home that will last for generations, instead of a spec home that may become quickly outdated.

John Hendricks, Architect AIA

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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Energy Efficiency

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At Hendricks Architecture, we specialize in the design of mountain style homes and cabins. We try to make these as energy efficient as possible to save homeowners on long term heating and cooling costs. We educate them on the practicalities, costs and benefits of energy efficiency throughout the design process.

According to Residential Design & Build Magazine, 2008’s most asked for feature in a house was energy efficiency. Currently, Americans use approximately 25% of the world’s energy, and roughly 21% of this is consumed in our homes. Whether we knew it or not, energy efficiency has always been at the forefront of the green and sustainable movements, and is an important part of the LEED process. As architects, we are committed to doing our part to promote and implement energy efficiency in the homes we design.

There are numerous ways that energy efficiency measures can be incorporated into a new or existing home, and often these measures will also enhance the appearance, functionality, and resale value of a home. Some of the strategies are listed below. This is not an exhaustive list but an overview of readily available measures that we can use to enhance the energy efficiency of your home. Many people think adding energy saving measures to a home will initially cost more, and in many cases this is true. In some cases, just making the appropriate design decisions can save energy and not cost any more. It is important to measure additional first costs against long term savings in energy costs, and consider that no one is predicting cheaper energy costs in the future.

DESIGN AND EMBODIED ENERGY

Probably the most fundamental step in creating an energy saving home is to design it for space and functional efficiency. Minimizing non usable space (hallways are one example) and creating spaces that can serve more than one function like Guest/ Exercise or Laundry/ Mud rooms can reduce the overall building area that needs to be heated or cooled. Open plans tend to feel bigger than they are, and save space that would have to be taken up by walls, doors, etc. A good reference for these strategies is Sara Susanka’s “The Not So Big House”.

It is also worth considering the energy use that goes into everything used in the construction of a home. Materials require energy to manufacture, package, store, deliver, etc. Almost every decision made during the design process has some impact on the energy use of your home.

SITING, ORIENTATION, & MASSING

A home should be located on its site to allow access to the sun, protection from prevailing winds, minimize site disturbance, and use natural elements to provide shading and shelter. Stacking a building’s spaces whenever possible reduces the footprint and the surface area through which heat can escape. Below grade spaces benefit from the relatively constant 50 degree temperature of the earth, reducing or eliminating cooling cost during the summer.

WINDOW DESIGN AND DAYLIGHTING

Windows serve several functions in a well designed home. Besides framing views and providing a connection with the outdoors, windows allow natural light to enter, provide free ventilation, insulate against heat loss, and help heat indoor spaces when exposed to direct sunlight. Windows are a crucial element in a home’s design and function, and should be carefully sized, located and detailed. Windows are the weak link in a buildings thermal envelope, so it is important to select quality windows with a low U value.

clerestory-windows

Use clerestory windows to help bring in light

Placing windows to provide ample daylighting will save on lighting costs and the number of fixtures needed. Locating windows to take advantage of solar exposure will reduce heating costs and HVAC equipment required. Direct sunlight does not make for good daylighting, primarily because of glare. The best daylighting utilizes reflected or indirect light from transom, clerestory, or north facing windows. Skylights and solar tubes can be used to provide daylight to interior rooms.

ROOFS, OVERHANGS, AND SHADING

A roof should be designed to shade windows that are exposed to direct sunlight in the summer months. Because the sun is lower in the sky in the winter, roof overhangs should be sized to allow direct sunlight to enter the windows during winter months, maximizing solar heat gain to offset heating costs. On building facades where overhangs are not able to provide shade (gables, etc.), pergolas, awnings, or other shading devices should be considered. Devices that shade lower windows and act as a light shelf for upper windows are particularly effective.

river-windows

Providing broad overhangs reduces summer heat gain, yet brings in the winter sun.

A house’s roofing material also affects energy consumption. Lighter colored or reflective roofing reduces heat gain, and a well ventilated or cold roof will help keep attic spaces cooler, reducing cooling costs.

INSULATION AND THERMAL MASS

It is well know that the better insulated a house is, the more energy efficient it will be. Building codes dictate minimum insulation values for all new construction. Any insulation value beyond the minimum required will be money well spent, especially in roof/ attic spaces where most heat loss occurs. Several insulation products are available that can provide enhanced R-values and provide a tighter building envelope. It is worth considering spray applied foam insulation, blow in blanket, or rigid sheet insulation rather than conventional fiberglass batts. Snow actually adds insulation as well, though is not recognized by building departments.

SIPS panels are also an energy saving system that can be used in lieu of conventional stud framing. In stud/ cavity wall systems, thermal bridging occurs that allows heat to pass through studs that contact exterior materials. SIPS panels have a solid sheet of rigid insulation sandwiched between plywood sheets, and no thermal bridging occurs. They are commonly used on roofs and for wall systems in post and beam construction.

Thermal mass is the ability of a material to absorb and store heat that is radiated slowly. Materials like concrete, stone, brick, and water all have a high thermal mass. A well placed thermal mass will absorb solar radiation or heat from a fire, and radiate it slowly to keep a space warm overnight or for several days. Concrete or gypcrete floors can be heated by solar or gas fired hydronic systems to provide an even heat that feels warmer than heated air at the same temperature.

NATURAL VENTILATION

Operable windows, ceiling fans, and design that utilizes “stack effect” can all be used to passively cool a space, saving energy that would be required by A/C systems. Ceiling fans can be used in rooms with vaulted ceilings to circulate heated air that collects in the peak of the ceiling. Night venting (operating outside air ventilation systems overnight) can also be used to cool a space without using excess energy. Operable windows in bathrooms will also save energy by eliminating the need for exhaust fans when weather permits.

HVAC EQUIPMENT AND APPLIANCES

Heating and cooling equipment are available in a wide range of efficiencies and types. Choosing high efficiency equipment that is Energy Star certified, using insulated duct systems, programmable thermostats, and creating multiple zones for heating & cooling are simple energy saving strategies.

If you live in an area where gas is not available, heat pumps are much more efficient than electric resistance heating. Radiant heating systems with a high efficiency boiler are generally more comfortable and efficient than forced air systems, but are best used in homes that are regularly occupied and should be supplemented with ventilation systems. If a home is used only occasionally, radiant heat may not be the best choice from a cost standpoint, as it takes much longer to raise the temperature of a home to comfortable levels. If you are considering air conditioning with a radiant system, remember that you will be installing two systems since A/C requires a network of ducts to distribute cooled air.

Appliances (especially refrigerators, freezers, and ice makers) consume significant energy. Buying Energy Star appliances are a good way to increase the energy efficiency of your home at minimal extra cost.

We would love to talk to you about ways to increase the energy efficiency of your current home, or to help you design a new home that utilizes these energy saving strategies.

Tom Russell, LEED AP, Project Manager

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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