[Greenbuilding] Exterior insulation retrofit

[Norman Feldman]

In April I heard an architect describe how they're using EIFS insulation in Germany and Austria to insulate existing buildings from the exterior. They apply EIFS panels to the outside of the building while tenants are in the building then, once the insulation is done, bring the windows out. I will forward more about this offlist if anyone wants.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exterior_Insulation_Finishing_System

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Message: 1
Date: Sat, 7 May 2011 16:10:52 -0400
From: "nick pine" <nick at early.com>
To: <greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Exterior insulation retrofit
Message-ID: <4A586F876D39413AAA6E067A5CADA860 at NickPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
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bill.allen at verizon.net wrote:

>>>... I am thinking Marvin Ultimate clad (wood with aluminum cladding on
>>>the outside) but they cost an arm and a leg, even more so with triple
>>>glazing to reach R5. Alternatives?

>>Passive solar air heaters, eg
>>http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/solar_barn_project.htm

>I guess you are suggesting I turn my house into a barn.

Not at all. Air heaters can go right over existing house walls, with more
insulation behind them, s'il te plait.

>That's low on the spouse acceptance factor...

The SAF would probably be higher if the plastic film damper opened into the
bottom of the air heater, vs into the house from the top.

The materials for Gary's air heaters cost about $2/ft^2 and 1 ft^2 collects
the heat equivalent of about 1 gallon of oil per year. You might double that
with hired labor.

Will $1K of these windows save 250 gallons of oil per year? :-) If not,
leaving the original windows in place and adding air heaters could be more
economical.

Nick