at Plain Green 2009

1. ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes
THERMAL BYPASS CHECKLIST GUIDE
Version 2.1
Updated June 2008 1

2. Heat flow
Air flow
Insulation
Air barrier
Heat flow
Air flow
Insulation
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4. Image courtesy of Environments for Living
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5. No gaps at ends
Gap between garage and conditioned space due to incomplete
blocking
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7. Image courtesy of MaGrann Associates
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10. Diagrams courtesy of the US Department of Energy
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12. MINIMIZE THERMAL BRIDGING
Optimal Value Engineering (OVE)
“California Corners” that use two instead of three studs to frame
corners
Single top plates instead of double plates
24” on center studding instead of 16” on center framing
Continuous insulation in stead of cavity filled insulation
Reducing or eliminating thermal bridging
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13. Complete thermal break with rigid insulation sheathing
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24. Unvented attic with spray foam insulation at slopes and walls
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33. Staircase adjoining unconditioned attic needs to be fully blocked and sealed
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34. Interior air barrier Interior air barrier
Exterior boundary Exterior air barrier
Interior wall with insulation
The interior wall with Double wall area filled with
exterior air barrier insulation
Double wall with air Double wall with filled cavity
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35. Thermal Bypass
Floor
Garage ceiling
Thermal bypass at garage ceiling
Floor Air barrier
Garage ceiling
Alignment of insulation and air barrier at garage ceiling
Floor Air barrier if batts
Spray-foam or faced are used
batt insulation
Garage ceiling
Alignment of insulation and air barrier at garage ceiling with spray foam or faced batt insulation
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36. Architectural detail for cantilevered floor assembly
Proper installation of insulation under a cantilevered floor
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43. Infrared images of thermal bypass at attic access panels
Gasket
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44. Infrared images of thermal bypass at attic drop-down stair
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45. Architectural detail illustrates proper air barrier assembly at dropped ceiling
Images courtesy of Energy Services Group
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46. Infrared image of thermal bypass at non-rated recessed Infrared image of thermal bypass at IC recessed lighting
lighting fixture fixture
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47. Air seal here
Framed wall
Drywall
Air seal here
Architectural detail of air sealing at common wall
Example of properly air sealed common wall with fire-rated caulking (in red) 47

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