Building codes require specific amounts of insulation for each area of the home. These R-values are just a minimum. With Chicagoland’s extreme weather, a prescriptive approach that only checks boxes according to code doesn’t cut it.
While code compliance is essential from a legal standpoint, a building’s actual performance is the real focus. At ARC Insulation, we take a performance-based approach that uses energy modeling, extensive testing, and intentional design. Whereas other contractors just follow the book, we go beyond code compliance to ensure that new construction and custom homes have the maximum comfort and energy efficiency that Chicagoland’s climate demands. Here’s why that distinction is so important.
Exceeding Codes Creates a More Energy Efficient Home
In today’s world, every homeowner is concerned about rising energy costs. Since energy is needed to heat and cool a home, the only way to reduce expenses is to make homes more energy efficient. Following insulation codes does create a certain level of efficiency, but it’s far from the maximum potential.
Since the prescriptive approach only adds insulation based on strict R-values, it doesn’t account for all the variables present in custom homes built in the Chicagoland climate. Through testing and modeling, ARC Insulation’s performance-based approach considers things like:
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- Air Leakage: No matter how well-constructed a custom home is, there’s going to be a certain amount of air leakage at structural junctions. Our insulation contractors in Chicago account for this and make alterations as needed to overcome energy loss.
- HVAC Systems and Windows: We model the interaction between the insulation, HVAC system, windows, studs, and other components. We calculate the real energy efficiency of a building, not the expected energy efficiency. With this information, we can add or remove insulation in certain areas to increase performance.
- True Insulation Performance: In the real world, certain insulation materials perform differently than how they’re expected to on paper. We test to make sure the insulation is working as well as it’s supposed to, and make changes as needed.
Real-World Testing Confirms and Guarantees Comfort Levels
A home that’s only built to code is often not insulated enough to withstand Naperville’s frigid winters and hot, muggy summers. While it might perform well enough during average temperatures, extreme weather swings can dramatically reduce comfort in the home. In a custom, new construction home, the owner won’t find this acceptable.
The only way to guarantee year-round comfort is through rigorous testing and energy modeling. ARC Insulation runs new construction through various extreme weather scenarios to ensure that the home’s performance will not be compromised. With the information we gather from testing, we can actively seal air leaks and duct leaks and reduce thermal bridging. As an expert in IECC code compliance, the homeowner is guaranteed to be comfortable in their custom build, regardless of drastic weather fluctuations.
A Performance-Based Approach Provides More Flexibility for Custom Homes
From a construction standpoint, insulating with a performance-based approach is more flexible. It allows the builder to make trade-offs while remaining compliant. For example, less insulation can be used in an area of the home, so long as it’s increased in another, and the overall building envelope performance standards are met.
This is an advantage for custom homes because they can have unique architectural designs (dormers, multiple roof lines, etc.) that don’t necessarily need as much insulation as outlined by the code. Instead of following the code book to a T and applying universal amounts of insulation, our new construction insulation contractors determine what’s best based on whole-home performance instead. This provides:
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- More flexibility for the builder, as they can implement high-end design features without worrying about strict R-values.
- Tailored performance for the home; each area is properly insulated based on how each element of the building handles weather conditions.
- More consistent energy efficiency and comfort across the entire building envelope.
- ARC Insulation’s Local Expertise
To build a custom home following a performance-based approach, you need to work with an experienced local insulation company in Chicagoland that understands energy codes and the local climate. With over 30 years of experience and 30,000+ homes serviced, our team at ARC Insulation has been consistently trusted as the best insulation contractors in the area for this kind of work.
We’re family-owned and have a team of expert insulation contractors, many of whom have been with us for well over a decade. We are BPI-certified in insulation and air sealing, and are BPI Building Analysts and Building Envelope Professionals. With our work, we don’t stop at minimum code requirements. We ensure that all new home insulation in Chicago is built for real-world performance and provides lasting comfort and energy efficiency to occupants.
