Insulation
PASSIVE RESILIENCE
Recorded by Sofie Pelsmakers, images by Essi Nisonen and Veera Saastamoinen
KEY READINGS
Szokolay, Steven. Introduction to Architectural Science: The Basis of Sustainable Design. London: Routledge
Dollard, T., Designed to Perform: An Illustrated Guide to Delivering Energy Efficient Homes, RIBA
Pelsmakers, S. The Environmental Design Pocketbook, RIBA
Online U-value calculator, for example: http://www.builddesk.co.uk/software/builddesk-u/
Building Science Fundamentals additional online lectures at Toronto University https://edtech.engineering.utoronto.ca/project/building-science-fundamentals
INSPIRATIONAL BUILT EXAMPLES
Anne Thorne Architects, Cannock Mill Co-housing, UK
Matthew Barnett Howland and Dido Milne, MPH Architects, Cork House, UK
Rick Joy, Tucson Mountain House (rammed earth), USA
INSULATION
Insulation reduces and slows down heat transfer and therefore reduces heat loss in winter and heat gains in summer. This significantly reduces the operational energy and carbon impacts. To design low energy buildings you need to specify materials with low k-values, i.e. thermally insulating materials that reduce heat transfer. Human-made materials often have better thermal conductivity, so less insulation material is often needed for the same thermal performance, but at often a higher embodied carbon cost (i.e. more energy to manufacture). This is why it is important to evaluate the full life-cycle implications of insulation materials should be carefully considered, not only its thermal performance. .