Common Issue in Double Story Homes Revealed

Episode 4 - Double-storey homes present unique challenges concerning the continuity of air and thermal barriers, specifically between floors. This intervening floor hampers a home’s energy efficiency for two main reasons.
Firstly, an air barrier is a material designed to control airflow between conditioned and unconditioned spaces. It greatly reduces energy consumption and improves comfort. However, in a double-story home, the floor between two levels often acts as a discontinuity in the air barrier. This can lead to unconditioned air being drawn up into the conditioned spaces of the home, or heated or cooled air being lost to unconditioned spaces, reducing the overall effectiveness of the heating or cooling systems.
Secondly, the thermal barrier is critical for reducing the rate of heat transfer. However, the under-insulated or uninsulated flooring often found between floors of double-storey houses forms a thermal bridge, which can accelerate heat loss or gain. This results in inconsistent temperatures from one floor to another and wastes energy, which is not ideal when considering energy efficiency.
Careful attention to comprehensive design and meticulous execution during construction can help minimize these issues, but it remains a pertinent concern in double-story homes.
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[@KJSvitko]

An energy efficient home or business is more comfortable and saves money in the long run. Solar energy on your roof combined with battery storage can make people more independent from the grid and natural gas supplies. Add solar and supplemental electric heating or a heat pump for home heating.. Added insulation, triple glaze windows, energy efficient doors, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, energy efficient appliances, LED lighting, smart thermostats, solar panels combined with battery storage and a electric vehicle charger in the garage or car park. People are too focused on the short term costs and miss out on long term savings and comfort. Blower door testing and air sealing are under appreciated tools.Even if you have money to burn you should not waste it. Climate Change will impact everyone. Leave a better future for your children and grandchildren. Join in and speak up for the future of the planet.

[@rockt73]

roof eaves ? keeping the sun off the walls saves energy . typical modern house with a design mistake.

[@KJSvitko]

Every home and business should install a rain water collection and storage system along with solar panels. Even in areas where rain is infrequent it is crazy to waste the little rain that does fall and waste it. We need to stop planting green lawns and switch to local native plantings around homes. It is crazy to plant lawns and build golf courses in dry desert areas. We waste too much water and electricity.

[@Siteinspections]

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[@zarkov2324]

can your house be too air tight?

[@HardstylePete]

No but at a certain point you'll need an energy recovery ventilation system to introduce fresh air into the house whilst exhausting stale air. The energy recovery part will exchange upwards of 90% of the thermal energy from the exhaust back into the intake without mixing the air streams.

[@ecoevo]

@HardstylePete To be honest relying on a mouldy wall cavity or a damp subfloor for fresh air is a bit of a tall ask. All home owners should be operating windows for fresh air, or a dedicated mechanical ventilation system, not the generic leakiness of your building fabric.