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INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT
AIR BYPASS LEAKS
AIR SEALING STRATEGIES
ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION
ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN BUILDINGS
ASBESTOS: List of Asbestos-Containing Products
ASBESTOS: Photo Guide to Materials / Products
ASBESTOS: REMOVAL - Wetting Guidelines
ATTIC LEAKS, CONDENSATION & ATTIC MOLD
BATHROOM VENTILATION
BASEMENT LEAKS Moisture or Mold
BASEMENT HEAT LOSS
BIOGAS PRODUCTION & USE
BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION
BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING
BLOWN-IN INSULATION
BRICK LINED WALLS
BUCKLED FOUNDATIONS due to INSULATION?
BUILDING NOISE DIAGNOSIS & CURE
CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION
CRAWL SPACES
CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS
DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS
DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE
ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS
  ENERGY AUDIT - How to Use a Free One
  ENERGY SAVINGS MAXIMIZE RETURNS ON
  ENERGY SAVINGS PRIORITIES
  ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT CASE STUDY
  ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT LEAK SEALING GUIDE
  ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT OPTIONS
  ENERGY USE MONITORING
  TIMERS for ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
EXTERIOR WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES
FIBERGLASS INSULATION
FIBERGLASS HAZARDS
FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD
FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP
FOUNDATION CRACKS & DAMAGE GUIDE
FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING
FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION
FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES
FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING
GREENHOUSE DESIGN for SOLAR HEATING
HEAT LOSS in BUILDINGS
HEAT LOSS CALCULATIONS
HEAT LOSS DETECTION TOOLS
HEAT LOSS INDICATORS
HEAT LOSS PREVENTION PRIORITIES
HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION
HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS
HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET
ICE DAM PREVENTION
INSULATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM
INSULATION CHOICES
INSULATION FACT SHEET- DOE
INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
INSULATION LOCATION in BUILDINGS - WHERE TO INSULATE
  INSULATION LOCATION & QUANTITY for ATTICS
  INSULATION LOCATION for BASEMENT FLOORS
  INSULATION LOCATION for BASEMENT WALLS
  INSULATION LOCATION for BRICK or BLOCK WALL CAVITY
  INSULATION LOCATION for BRICK VENEER WALLS
  INSULATION LOCATION for CAPES, CRAWLSPACES
  INSULATION LOCATION for CATHEDRAL CEILINGS
  INSULATION LOCATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM
  INSULATION LOCATION for PASSIVE SOLAR FLOOR SLAB
  INSULATION LOCATION & EXTENT for SLABS
  INSULATION LOCATION for SOUND CONTROL
  INSULATION LOCATION for SWIMMING, INDOOR
INSULATION MOLD
INSULATION R-Values & Properties
INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT
LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE
LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION
LOG HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
LOG HOME GUIDE
INTERIORS of BUILDINGS
MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS
Mold Growth Resistance of Foam Insulation
MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS
MYCOTOXIN EFFECTS of MOLD EXPOSURE
Nanotechnology & Carbon Nanotube Hazards
NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE
ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE
ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST
PASCAL CALCULATIONS
RADIANT BARRIERS
ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES
ROT, TIMBER FRAME
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS
STAIN DIAGNOSIS
THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS
  THERMAL MASS FLOOR SLABS
  THERMAL MASS in UPSTAIRS
  THERMAL MASS WALL DESIGN
  THERMAL MASS in HOMES - STUDY
THERMAL TRACKING & HEAT LOSS
VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS
  VAPOR BARRIERS & AIR SEALING at BAND JOISTS
  VAPOR BARRIERS & HOUSEWRAP
  HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS
  HOUSEWRAP PRODUCT CHOICES
  HOUSEWRAP at SILLS, SOLES, TOP PLATES
  VAPOR CONDENSATION & BUILDING SHEATHING
VENTILATION in BUILDINGS
WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING
WATER ENTRY in BUILDINGS
WINTERIZE A BUILDING

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Table of building insulation costs   (C) Daniel Friedman

Greenhouse Insulation Choices Described
InspectAPedia®  -     

  • Advice for insulating a greenhouse
  • Advice for night time insulation for greenhouses or solariums
  • Solar Age Magazine Articles on Renewable Energy, Energy Savings, Construction Practices
Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/Contact.htm.

This article discusses insulation options for greenhouses and nighttime insulation options for solariums and cold or drafty windows. The table of insulation properties at page top and accompanying text are reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss. Readers should also see INSULATION R-Values & Properties for a more extensive table describing the properties of different insulating materials.

Readers should also see GREENHOUSE DESIGN for SOLAR HEATING. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.

© Copyright 2010 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website.

Advice for Insulating a Greenhouse or Solarium Against Night Time Heat Loss

The question-and-answer article about insulation options for greenhouses or solariums, quotes-from, updates, and comments an original article, (see links just above) from Solar Age Magazine and written by Steven Bliss.

Question about how to best insulate a greenhouse against night time heat losses:

We have a greenhouse with a 30- by 20-foot vertical south-facing wall and have searched in vain for a thermally efficient and aesthetically acceptable nighttime insulation.

Also, we plan to add a brick floor on top of our slab which is insulated only on the perimeter and always feels cold. Should we put an inch of blue styrofoam under the brick to isolate it completely from the slab? We have no significant overheating problem. - P.P.

Answer:

Greenhouse floor slab insulation retrofit (C) Daniel Friedman Steven BlissA number of options for nighttime insulation were described in "Warm Wraps for Cold Windows", Solar Age, 6/83. Slab floors, even if they are insulated, tend to be chilled by downdrafts from cold window surfaces. So you should look for a window insulation with good edge seals to reduce the cold air flow at night.

If you find that window insulation does not solve the cold floor problem, then adding insulation to the slab would be in order. Your approach should work well as long as the brick will provide adequate thermal storage for your design.

To increase the new floor thickness, and thus its thermal mass, you can set the brick on edge. Since you are setting the brick over compressible material, a flexible (mortarless) paving system would be easiest. In this type of system, the floor bricks are tightly packed to one another without wet mortar. A mix of sand and dry mortar may be swept between the joints and dampened for a more solid and less permeable floor.

You may set the bricks on the foam insulation or add a layer of plywood underlayment first. In either case, a double layer of 15# felt paper is recommended directly under the brick to cushion and protect the underlayment. Since heat loss is greatest from slab edges, you might want to thermally isolate the new floor from the foundation walls by adding a foam strip at the floor's edge. You can conceal the foam strip with a baseboard (sketch above-left).

Also see GREENHOUSE DESIGN for SOLAR HEATING for a discussion of greenhouse trombe wall and ventilation for solar heating.

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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Technical Reviewers & References

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT
AIR BYPASS LEAKS
AIR SEALING STRATEGIES
ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION
ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN BUILDINGS
ASBESTOS: List of Asbestos-Containing Products
ASBESTOS: Photo Guide to Materials / Products
ASBESTOS: REMOVAL - Wetting Guidelines
ATTIC LEAKS, CONDENSATION & ATTIC MOLD
BATHROOM VENTILATION
BASEMENT LEAKS Moisture or Mold
BASEMENT HEAT LOSS
BIOGAS PRODUCTION & USE
BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION
BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING
BLOWN-IN INSULATION
BRICK LINED WALLS
BUCKLED FOUNDATIONS due to INSULATION?
BUILDING NOISE DIAGNOSIS & CURE
CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION
CRAWL SPACES
CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS
DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS
DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE
ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS
  ENERGY AUDIT - How to Use a Free One
  ENERGY SAVINGS MAXIMIZE RETURNS ON
  ENERGY SAVINGS PRIORITIES
  ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT CASE STUDY
  ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT LEAK SEALING GUIDE
  ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT OPTIONS
  ENERGY USE MONITORING
  TIMERS for ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
EXTERIOR WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES
FIBERGLASS INSULATION
FIBERGLASS HAZARDS
FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD
FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP
FOUNDATION CRACKS & DAMAGE GUIDE
FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING
FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION
FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES
seFREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING
GREENHOUSE DESIGN for SOLAR HEATING
HEAT LOSS in BUILDINGS
HEAT LOSS CALCULATIONS
HEAT LOSS DETECTION TOOLS
HEAT LOSS INDICATORS
HEAT LOSS PREVENTION PRIORITIES
HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION
HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS
HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET
ICE DAM PREVENTION
INSULATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM
INSULATION CHOICES
INSULATION FACT SHEET- DOE
INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
INSULATION LOCATION in BUILDINGS - WHERE TO INSULATE
  INSULATION LOCATION & QUANTITY for ATTICS
  INSULATION LOCATION for BASEMENT FLOORS
  INSULATION LOCATION for BASEMENT WALLS
  INSULATION LOCATION for BRICK or BLOCK WALL CAVITY
  INSULATION LOCATION for BRICK VENEER WALLS
  INSULATION LOCATION for CAPES, CRAWLSPACES
  INSULATION LOCATION for CATHEDRAL CEILINGS
  INSULATION LOCATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM
  INSULATION LOCATION for PASSIVE SOLAR FLOOR SLAB
  INSULATION LOCATION & EXTENT for SLABS
  INSULATION LOCATION for SOUND CONTROL
  INSULATION LOCATION for SWIMMING, INDOOR
INSULATION MOLD
INSULATION R-Values & Properties
INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT
LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE
LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION
LOG HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
LOG HOME GUIDE
INTERIORS of BUILDINGS
MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS
Mold Growth Resistance of Foam Insulation
MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS
MYCOTOXIN EFFECTS of MOLD EXPOSURE
Nanotechnology & Carbon Nanotube Hazards
NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE
ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE
ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST
PASCAL CALCULATIONS
RADIANT BARRIERS
ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES
ROT, TIMBER FRAME
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS
STAIN DIAGNOSIS
THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS
  THERMAL MASS FLOOR SLABS
  THERMAL MASS in UPSTAIRS
  THERMAL MASS WALL DESIGN
  THERMAL MASS in HOMES - STUDY
THERMAL TRACKING & HEAT LOSS
VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS
  VAPOR BARRIERS & AIR SEALING at BAND JOISTS
  VAPOR BARRIERS & HOUSEWRAP
  HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS
  HOUSEWRAP PRODUCT CHOICES
  HOUSEWRAP at SILLS, SOLES, TOP PLATES
  VAPOR CONDENSATION & BUILDING SHEATHING
VENTILATION in BUILDINGS
WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING
WATER ENTRY in BUILDINGS
WINTERIZE A BUILDING

  • 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.
  • Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education including the ASHI-adopted Home Inspection Training Program (home study course), publications such as the Home Reference Book, report writing materials including the Horizon report writer, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
  • Passive Solar Design Handbook Volume I, the Passive Solar Handbook Introduction to Passive Solar Concepts, in a version used by the U.S. Air Force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v1.pdf
  • Passive Solar Design Handbook Volume II, the Passive Solar Handbook Comprehensive Planning Guide, in a version used by the U.S. Air Force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v2.pdf [This is a large PDF file that can take a while to load]
  • Passive Solar Handbook Volume III, the Passive Solar Handbook Programming Guide, in a version used by the U.S. Air Force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v3.pdf
  • The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook, Steven Winter Associates (Author), Michael J. Crosbie (Editor), Wiley & Sons, ISBN 978-047118382 or 0471183083 is available at Amazon.com and via the The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook, Steven Winter Associates (Author), Michael J. Crosbie (Editor), Wiley & Sons, ISBN 978-047118382 or 0471183083 is available at Amazon.com and via the InspectAPedia Bookstore
  • "Passive Solar Home Design", U.S. Department of Energy, describes using a home's windows, walls, and floors to collect and store solar energy for winter heating and also rejecting solar heat in warm weather.
  • "Solar Water Heaters", U.S. Department of Energy article on solar domestic water heaters to generate domestic hot water in buildings, explains how solar water heaters work. Solar heat for swimming pools is also discussed.
  • "Heat Exchangers for Solar Water Heating Systems", U.S. DOE describes the types of solar water heater heat exchange methods between the sun and the building's hot water supply
  • "Heat-Transfer Fluids for Solar Water Heating Systems", U.S. DOE, describes the types of fluids selected to transfer heat between the solar collector and the hot water in storage tanks in a building. These include air, water, water with glycol antifreeze mixtures (needed when using solar hot water systems in freezing climates), hydrocarbon oils, and refrigerants or silicones for heat transfer.
  • "Solar Water Heating System Maintenance and Repair", U.S. DOE
  • "Solar Water Heating System Freeze Protection", U.S. DOE,using antifreeze mixture in solar water heaters (or other freeze-resistant heat transfer fluids), as well as piping to permit draining the solar collector and piping system.
  • "Scaling and Corrosion in Solar Water Heating Systems", U.S. DOE
  • www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12850 is the base U.S. DOE website for these articles
  • "Active Solar Heating Systems", U.S. Department of Energy, including
  • "Radiant Heating Systems" U.S. DOE
  • "Absorption Heat Pumps & Coolers", U.S. DOE
  • "Solar Air Heating" U.S. DOE also referred to as "Ventilation Preheating" in which solar systems use air for absorbing and transferring solar energy or heat to a building
  • "Solar Liquid Heating" U.S. DOE, systems using liquid (typically water) in flat plate solar collectors to collect solar energy in the form of heat for transfer into a building for space heating or hot water heating. The term "solar liquid" is used for accuracy, rather than "solar water" because the water may contain an antifreeze or other chemicals.

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

  • Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
  • ...
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