I don't work with block homes and although the authors of that article are notable, I would still add the insulation. I didn't read beyond the first few lines, but can if you are really concerned. The basic principle that insulation reduces the heat transfer has to work in your favor. There are many other variables, but you shouldn't omit a fundamental improvement while those walls are open.
Bud
I completely agree with you, Bud, at least I did until reading the article in its entirety. After that, things got muddy.
Apparently, this is a very individual specific issue that, if insulating the entire house, would require inputting a lot of variables about your specific situation and needs. In my case I am only looking at the master bedroom.
In that room, neither of the exterior walls get much direct sunlight. So if I look only at passive heat transfer created by temperature alone, I imagine there would be more benefit in not insulating the walls, since only the outside temperature and not the effects of direct sunlight should be of major consideration.
With this particular situation there is already some insulation in the air void in the 8" block wall and the 1-1/2" void created by the firring. (FWIW, I firred at 1-1/2" to accommodate electrical boxes.) But the only way to really do an accurate calculation would be to monitor wall temperatures, interior temperatures and outside temperatures during the cooling period. That is still about a month away before it begins so that's not going to happen.
But the lack of wall insulation at the local home centers tells me they don't sell much. In rigid board insulation, some 3/4" can be found but not much. The original installers did 3/4" firring and knocked holes in the block to accommodate electrical boxes. They were also able to get 3/4" thick fiberglass insulation, something I have not seen here at the home centers.
Another factor is termites. Would wall insulation help create an environment attractive to termites? When we did the demo, we found termite tracks in tight spaces but not in air voids. (The termites were eradicated years ago by the previous owner. No sign of live termites today.) But it seems termites don't like open spaces.
If we had centralized control for the individual rooms I would insulate because I like to keep the bedroom cool at night. And if I could have found 1-1/2" rigid board insulation I would have installed it without even thinking about it.
Now, after reading that article, I am up in the air. Maybe using a dart board will make making the decision easier. :wacko:
