Framing Tips Save Building Energy Costs InspectAPedia® -
Building Framing Guide to save energy by building a thermally sound structural shell using the two-stud corners and plywood box headers
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This article discusses building a thermally sound structural shell to save energy, using the two-stud corner and plywood box headers. Sketch at page top and accompanying text are reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.
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Article on Building Framing Details for Maximum Insulation & Energy Savings
"The Two-Stud Corner and Other Tricks: these simple modifications in framing add insulation and and reduce costs" - links to the original article in PDF form immediately below are followed by an expanded/updated online version of this article.
Framing_Energy_Savers - PDF form, use your browser's back button to return to this page
This article explains how the two-stud corner framing detail permits full insulation to be installed to the building corner in a wood-framed structure. Included with the explanatory text are sketches such as shown at page top and at left. The builder uses steel drywall clips or a 1x3 wooden backer to secure drywall in the building corner where the third stud is eliminated.
To improve the building insulation blanket at headers over windows and doors, the builder uses short cripple studs over the opening, converted into a structural beam by addition of 1/2" plywood sheathing on both sides, gluing and nailing the plywood in place to form a rigid box beam.
Don't forget to insulate between the cripple studs before nail-gluing the enclosing plywood. This box beam design can easily extend over a six-foot sliding door while meeting residential structural loads. (See Technical note No. C 426 published by the American Plywood Association).
If you are using foil faced insulating sheathing on the building wall exterior, also see SHEATHING, FOIL FACED - VENTS.
Here we include solar energy, solar heating, solar hot water, and related building energy efficiency improvement articles reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.
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Solar Age Magazine was the official publication of the American Solar Energy Society. The contemporary solar energy magazine associated with the Society is Solar Today. "Established in 1954, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nation's leading association of solar professionals & advocates. Our mission is to inspire an era of energy innovation and speed the transition to a sustainable energy economy. We advance education, research and policy. Leading for more than 50 years.
ASES leads national efforts to increase the use of solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies in the U.S. We publish the award-winning SOLAR TODAY magazine, organize and present the ASES National Solar Conference and lead the ASES National Solar Tour – the largest grassroots solar event in the world."
Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com.
Excerpts with updates and annotations expanding the original Best Practices Guide text can be found in the online review and book summary at BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE and also at DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION, at INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE, and in other articles found at InspectAPedia.com such as HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS, SOUND CONTROL in buildings, and other topics.
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Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com.
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