Rim Joist Insulation

jordao · 02-08-2010, 04:00 PM

The average low income family home that we Audit and Weatherize saves $346/annually on Energy bills after the work is done. Studies in several states (Ohio, Indiana, Iowa). The focus of the whole program:
1. Air seal entire house
2. Insulate Attic
3. Insulate Crawl/basement
this usually costs around $3500 to $5000 depending on house size, including initial, interim and final audits with tech measurements done (blower door, manometer, etc)
The required ROI (return on investment) or SOI (savings on...) is complete in most homes within 10 years.
If you are paying for the work yourself, with $4500 spent you will receive a dollar for dollar tax rebate (not a tax deduction!) of up to $1500; i.e. 30% back as a tax REFUND.

Meanwhile:
1. Lower your annual fuel bill
2. Lower your energy usage - less energy plants need to be built
3. Lower your carbon footprint
4. Have a warmer house in the winter, and a cooler home in the summer.

Just do it! Take advantage of your tax dollars.
Jordan

ccarlisle · 02-08-2010, 07:50 PM

Nice picture - an accountant might buy that - but it's a picture nonetheless. A pipe dream some would say...

Meanwhile, such a "low income family" continues to use their four cellphones and buy HD TVs, drives two SUV's to drive four blocks to McDonalds for supper three times a week, shops at Walmart and is, on average, 100 lbs overweight each...

That's the real picture.

Life is too good to cough up $5K to save what the kids spend on sneakers.

brons2 · 02-08-2010, 10:36 PM

Rants in French notwithstanding (yes, we know how to use Babelfish and Google Translate), I agree with CCarlisle. Lots of vendors come in and promise 30% savings: the insulation guy, the windows guy, the appliance guy and the tankless water heater guy. Clearly they can't all come in and save you 30%, otherwise you'd have no energy bill at all.

I do agree that the tax credits as opposed to regular tax deductions are a good deal.

I personally did end up getting a tankless water heater because as a single male taking 1 shower a day and doing a few loads of laundry a week, it makes no sense to keep 50 gallons of water hot 24 hours a day. I'm also considering the installation of Celbar spray in cellulose. I don't trust the foam, it's highly flammable.

jordao · 02-08-2010, 10:56 PM

I have nothing to sell.
Your choice of water heating is excellent. Unfortunately, the payback is greater in other countries where the products are less expensive and the energy costs are higher.
You are doing your part, sincere kudos.
Babblefish doesn't know the animosities, and intended inflections in idiomatic expressions. Babble this

:

Jordan

Keep it in English
Personal attacks will not be tolerated & are grounds to have your posting priveleges taken away
Moderator

jordao · 02-08-2010, 11:07 PM

I apologize, the point of my original comment was not to share my view on poverty in the US, and I would appreciate *focus* on the part of all interested in this subject of Weatherization (Wx).
The point is the cost effectiveness of the measures being used and promoted by proactive experts around the world. The U.S. has lagged behind the rest of the world in construction and renovation. These measures are what is accepted as the best 'band aids' for deficient energy-conscious construction methods.
This forum is not designed to discuss personal views on anything but DIY suggestions by experienced ones in their fields.
Thanks, Jordan

**beenthere** · 02-09-2010, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Mariani

use spray foam and resolve all issues at the same time and with much less effort. buy the DIY kits for about 600 sq ft area.

Yep. Spray foam will do a two fold job, insulate, and reduce infiltration. Fiberglass insulation won't do near as much to reduce air infiltration.

mferguson0414 · 02-09-2010, 05:45 AM

In the end I hope you have all your problems answered. I still do not understand why both companies said to no insulate the part of the house that hangs over with no thermal break. I am kinda in the same situation with an addition some years back that is about 4' deep with no protection/thermal break from the elements and that area of the kitchen is always super cold in the winter. Right now my problem is that I have no access to that area accept for ripping up the floor and somehow insulating that area from the interior of the house..oh well.

Bob Mariani · 02-09-2010, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beenthere

Yep. Spray foam will do a two fold job, insulate, and reduce infiltration. Fiberglass insulation won't do near as much to reduce air infiltration.

fiberglass should never be used in this area. The moisture is trapped and deteriorates this material.

JayKay · 03-22-2010, 09:41 PM

There is a structural insulated rim joist available.
It comes in 16' lengths and is pre-cut to typical joist depths.
There are two thicknesses: 2-5/8" which meets R-8
and 3-1/8" which meets R-11.

It is not suitable for retro-fitting which is really what this post is about however, it is a good solution for new construction.
Contact me for more information: jayandzee43@hotmail.com
John aka JayKay