INSULATING YOUR FOUNDATION

Insulating your foundation and slab will cut down on your energy bill by buffering the interior of your home from the outside elements. This simple technique is so easy it is a wonder way only a hand full of builders incorporates it into their Homes. A home is built on its foundation and slab, which is pretty much the only part of the home that touches the earth. All along the outside perimeter of the house the outside temperatures radiate through direct contact with the sun into your slab thus affecting the interior environment (See illustration #1.) The slab of your home is a thermal mass and stores these temperatures quite well. If your builder buffers your stem wall with insulation from the ground at the outside perimeter of your home than the outside temperatures have less chance of effecting the interior environment. There are various techniques used to achieve this and is dependent on the main building material incorporated in the construction of your home. We recommend building your home using an insulated masonry system (See Illustration #2) such as E-Crete, Rastra, Omni Block or Integra Block. If you have a wood framed home then using a high-density foam product will work well. Retrofitting a home with this energy saving technique will cost more money because you will have to dig out along the perimeter of the home to install the insulation. Plants and other exterior slabs may make it very difficult for total coverage. So do this when you build! It will help cut down on your energy bill saving you money and most importantly and helps you participate in a “Sustainable Future”. Build it Right, Build it Green!

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