Big White Rooms

Posted in Alberta Parks and Reclamation by adamrust on September 19, 2010

We passed our utility and insulation inspections with flying colors, which means it’s time to put the sheet rock on the walls and cover it all up. Before I say anything about how the interior is looking, I first want to comment on how the interior is functioning. These houses will be Earth Advantage & Energy Star Certified. The significance this has on the performance of the interior has a lot to do with the insulation. The requirements of these programs dictate that certified homes perform at least 15% better than the standards set by current building codes. What this means for insulation is that we install higher R-values in the walls and ceilings than code requires. The result of this is that the home is simply insulated better than normal homes, which means that it will use less energy to heat and cool. The funny thing to me is how easy this is to do. We still use a fiberglass batt insulation. It’s just a little thicker than usual. We also put rigid foam insulation against the concrete walls in the basement to help insulate that space better and make it more comfortable for the occupant of the ADU. There really is not much additional cost associated with improving the R-values of the insulation, so it’s a wonder to me why all builders wouldn’t do this as a standard practice.
Anyway, here’s a look at how the interior looks now that the drywall is hung. It’s a little difficult to photograph because the rooms are so stark and void of features. It will look much better in the days ahead as trim and paint go on.