My firm provides post-installation inspections and owners representative services - independent guidance during installation similar to independent construction manager.  In these (of many) roles we are continually confronted by less than specified or agreed installation quality.  Difficulties inherent with work in existing construction is a constant reality that installers face.  We want to help installers get closer to effective installation WITH best practices and help owners and EE programs get closer to what they paid for. 

For starters, here are questions related to ways to make insulation and air seal work a little easier, and hopefully, achieve higher quality work.

Is there a:

  1. Nice product with extending handle that one could use to reach those "hard to get to" areas in an attic?  To rake back insulation from near the eave
  2. A device that one could reach in and place/secure insulation dam for window wash and baffle to maintain eave venting
  3. A really superior product or material for use for blocking & eave baffle - better than the cardboard stuff I'm now playing with
  4. Remote actuator that would let one place foam seal from afar (some of these robot gurus need to address those "hard to get to" issues)
  5. Roll-around platform that would reduce crawling in flat roof cavities (In a previous incarnation I built and used one using fan belts as tracks and a reduction gear motor from Science & Surplus )
  6. Way to use an insulation blower (or other equipment) to vacuum blown insulation from an area of attic for seal work and then re-blow it in the attic rather than trashing it
  7. "Insulation in bag" concept that allows one to place "bridge" in soffits and then cover joints w/ foam - placing bag with actuator (see above)
  8. We'd like opinion from the lab and from installers on commercial fire seals that might be a best solution for particular residential by-pass seal.
  9. Is there systematic study / exploration of insulation installation practices that address the many human ergonomic (e.g., crawling!) situations in real buildings that challenge quality installation?  For instance, cutting roof deck above brick wall perimteter to access fur cavity for seal - likely best when re-roofing. 

It would be great to track down various elegant and imaginative practices that experienced installers have tinkered with and document them for the task of training "green collar" workforce.  Is there a blog that insulators use similar to HVAC's Heating Help dot com? (There I'm Therm_lag)

Seems like this post might belong in Weatherization, though a strictly nuts/bolts air seal/insulation technical problems group might be better.  I hope that another Pro will establish such a group, or direct me to an existing group that best fits.

Views: 69

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

John, You're welcome to start a group on this topic. Sounds like a great idea!

RSS

Home Energy Pros

Home Energy Pros was founded by the developers of Home Energy Saver Pro (sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) and brought to you in partnership with Home Energy magazine.

Latest Activity

Dennis Heidner replied to Jose Macho's discussion Why Are Energy-Saving Home Inprovements Down??
"The press report really doesn't give enough information to clearly answer why  they are…"
5 hours ago
Edward Foskey commented on Edward Foskey's blog post Preparing to Update the Heat Pump
"Gustavo, Thanks for the input. I agree with you in that I will be waiting till my system's…"
7 hours ago
Gustavo Melo commented on Edward Foskey's blog post Preparing to Update the Heat Pump
"Any system that is out of warranty is really a coin toss as to whether it is financially better to…"
7 hours ago
Dennis Heidner replied to J.C. Martel's discussion Disasters & sustainable energy
"Such as Greensburg…"
9 hours ago
Tom Delconte commented on Edward Foskey's blog post Preparing to Update the Heat Pump
"Thanks, Ed, I get it now. I would just put in what my hvac guy tells me to put in: a $17,000…"
9 hours ago
Jim Gunshinan commented on Jim Gunshinan's blog post The Universe Is Made of Stories
"Hi Tom, I'm sorry you didn't think my blog post was helpful or appropriate. I'll…"
11 hours ago
Tom Delconte commented on Jim Gunshinan's blog post The Universe Is Made of Stories
"Whatever happened to separation of church, state, and scientific home building science? What would…"
11 hours ago
Craig Savage's video was featured

What is Building America

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Building America program is a source of innovation in residential building energy performance, durability, quality, aff...
15 hours ago
Jim Gunshinan's blog post was featured

The Universe Is Made of Stories

The late poet and political activist Muriel Rukeyser famously said, The Universe is made of…See More
15 hours ago
Jim Gunshinan posted a status
"New blog post, "The Universe Is Made of Stories""
15 hours ago
Jim Gunshinan posted a blog post

The Universe Is Made of Stories

The late poet and political activist Muriel Rukeyser famously said, The Universe is made of…See More
15 hours ago
Craig Savage posted videos
20 hours ago

© 2013   Created by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service