Does Building Envelope Restoration Enhance Energy Efficiency?

The envelope as a building is in place to act as the barrier between the warm, dry indoor environment of the building and the potentially cold and wet environment outside of the building. Because it is the main thermal barrier, it plays a huge role in maintaining energy efficiency to keep a comfortable indoor environment in the building.

To add extra energy efficiency to a building’s envelope, here are some ideas to improve efficiency and reduce the amount of energy spending to keep the indoor environment comfortable.

Insulation

Adding insulation to a building will reduce the amount of energy needed to keep the building cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Insulation provides resistance to heat flow in a building, and functions most efficiently when installed properly in a building with no cracks or leaks.

Roof Coatings

A reflective coating on the roof can reduce solar radiation from heating up the building, keeping interior temperatures down. Comparing to an uncoated roof, solar radiation may be cut nearly in half by installing a coating.

Window Films

Existing windows can have increased insulating capacity by installing a window film. By reducing solar heat gain, window films will keep heat out of the building in the warmer months and can also keep heat indoors in the colder months. A window film will reduce the need for mechanical cooling, eliminating cold or hot spots, and can reduce reliance on electric lighting.

When looking to increase the energy efficiency of your building, the first place you should begin to look is the building envelope. A series of small upgrades may increase efficiency by a significant amount.