We think we have a better wall.  The hardest and most expensive part of the home to insulate (outside of door and window openings) are the walls.  Once the drywall is installed, there is no going back.  You can always add more insulation to the attic but making better walls will be expensive.

For new homes: start with 2×6 studs.  Space them 24″ on center.  Remember the wall cavity is well insulated but the stud is only R6.9 so every piece of lumber in the wall is an avenue to the cold.  For all of you people that think studs can only be 16″ o.c., remember that a 24″ o.c. 2×6 wall is 312% stronger than a 2×4 16″ o.c. wall.  How much more strength do you need?  If you build in a high wind area, you will need the 16″ o.c. spacing for added strength.

My choice for insulation is soy based closed cell foam.  About 3″ will yield R20.  It is a moisture barrier and seals the wall.  Other options are cellulose and glass blown, a system where the wall is netted and material blown into the cavity to fill it and all the voids.  Your choice will depend upon your budget.  Don’t skimp on the walls.  With insulation what you spend will come back to you.

How to fix all that lumber in wall and the cold leakage it creates?  When you leave the house in cold weather, what do you do?  You put on a coat, don’t you.  Why wouldn’t you do that to your home?  If you think the wind wrap will do it, you are dreaming.  Wind wrap has no R value.  My choice is 1″ rigid foam.  This R5 product covers everything and the difference will amaze you.  I wouldn’t trade my home fuel bill for yours.  I have used the foam on my own home for 9 years with great results and the soy based foam was not available.

If you remodel, you can upgrade your walls.  Don’t even think about residing the home without upgrading the walls.  Now is your chance.  My prescription: Strip the house down to the sheathing.  Blow foam into the walls from the outside.  Replace the windows with new quality windows.  Install rigid foam and then reside.  If you don’t cut your heating bill in half, I would be shocked.  New windows and siding recover a large percentage of their cost with increase resale value.  Can you say the same about a hot tub?  Don Carey

It’s not only the Wall St. tycoons who will benefit from the massive bailout legislation.  If you install a solar electric system (pv), the credits available have risen since the federal govt removed the $2,000 limit to tax credits.   Here’s how it works.  Conn Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) will rebate up to 50% of the total cost of a pv system (depending upon kw size and efficiency).  Most installers will take care of the paper work.

Then 30% of your actual cost can become a credit off your income tax.  Not a deduction, a credit.  There is a big difference.  A deduction reduces your taxable income while a credit is direct cash back.  This was limited to $2,000 but no more.  The effect of these credits/rebates can reduce the payback from 9-12 years to 5-7 years.  Imagine, getting your money back in 5-7 years and getting free electricity for the next 20.  Sounds like a good deal.

Now this is government we are talking about here and nothing is ever forever.  So if you are thinking about a pv system,  Now would be a very good time to act.  We are builders not lawyers or accountants so do your own investigation and how it would apply to you.  We can recommend a reliable solar contractor.  If you want to look into remodeling or building as part of the project, that is our business and we can help with design and building.  Don Carey 10/14/08.