Perimeter Foundation Insulation
This section discusses:
Why you should be concerned over the amount of energy lost around the perimeter of your foundation
The amount of heat energy lost through the perimeter of a basement floor could easily be equal to the amount of heat lost from the entire attic area of a new home.
HOT2000 analyses of R-2000 Homes consistently show that the energy lost through a well-insulated ceiling is approximately equivalent to the amount of energy lost through the perimeter of an uninsulated basement floor. The significance of these numbers tells us that in our quest for a better performing building envelope, this critical area should not be overlooked.
How heat energy is lost around the perimeter of your home’s foundation
Basement floors lose heat in two different ways; through the center and perimeter of the floor area. Heat loss through the center of the floor travels straight down into the ground below the floor. As this ground stays fairly warm year round, the difference in temperature between the basement and the ground is not significant and thus the transfer of heat minimal.
The perimeter, or first meter of a basement or crawl space floor, exists under different circumstances. Heat travels through this area sideways under the footing, which increases the heat loss to a significant degree. Because the soil outside of the foundation gets very cold in winter months, the temperature of the ground around the perimeter of the basement is quite a bit colder than in the center. This larger difference in temperature between the basement and the soil around its perimeter conducts heat away from the basement in significant amounts. The closer the elevation of the footing to grade, as in crawl spaces or raised bungalow designs, the colder the ground temperature and the more significant the energy loss and impact on your heating bill.
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