NAIMA has released a new report that documents the acoustical performance of residential wall cavity insulation products. The report is based on research conducted by Intertek Labs that tested seven wall assemblies with variations in cavity insulation products, including fiberglass, mineral wool, open cell spray foam, closed cell spray foam, and...

3 Pandemic Housing Trends to Watch

As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its second year, the virus continues to impact housing trends in America. While white-hot housing demand and the increase in construction prices are making headlines, there are other interesting trends shaping the current U.S. housing market that are worth noting. This week, we...

NAIMA/Insulation Institute frequently fields questions regarding various performance aspects of fiberglass and mineral wool insulation. One of the most common questions we receive is, “what is the typical lifespan of fiberglass and mineral wool insulation?” Other questions come up regarding settling and loose fill insulation. We know there are...

A new report from HomeLight shows that consumers' energy use and energy efficiency preferences have increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a survey of 1,000 top real estate agents, the report sheds light on home buying and selling trends – with interesting insights about energy efficiency awareness and preferences.

This month’s extreme cold snap in Texas and resulting failure of the state’s power grid offers some important lessons in the rear-view mirror. This week, we look at three takeaways from this month’s crisis and how we can better prepare for the next one.

Builder Ryan McCoon, LEED APH of Endura Performance Homes, has more than 30 years' experience in the residential construction industry and has built 60 homes ranging in price from $500 - $1.5M in Traverse City, MI area. As a high-end custom builder, Ryan has the weight of his client's expectations at the forefront of his mind as he completes their...

COVID-19 Vaccination Plans in Every State

Homebuyers are increasingly concerned about the safety of the products that are used in their homes. When it comes to insulation, there’s a lot of information out there, but it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. Insulation Institute has just released a new guide, Fiberglass Insulation A Guide to Better Indoor Air Quality, which details the...

Architect Terry Smith of TDSA Architecture in Washington state recently contacted NAIMA with a question about how to properly insulate various types of roof trusses – both conventional and scissor type. Terry rightly pointed out that insulation is intended to be most effective when uniformly applied or layered to cover the full extent of the space...

Despite the pandemic, demand for HERS-rated homes increased 24 percent in 2020 versus 2019, according to Residential Energy Services (RESNET). In 2020, 299,755 homes received a HERS Index Score, breaking the record for the number of rated homes in a year. The previous record from 2019 was 241,664 rated homes.