For example, holes or leaks in the air barrier will allow outside air to mix with the conditioned air. If any of the barriers fail, your home will be much less energy efficient. It also plays a major role in the overall energy efficiency of your home. The building envelope as a whole is extremely important to the home as it protects you from the outside elements. If you are looking to air seal, or increase the insulation in your home, don’t forget there could be rebates available! The Home Efficiency Rebate offers up to $5,000 for energy efficient upgrades made to your home. Proper insulation is also key to an airtight, energy efficient home.

However, air sealing alone does not eliminate the need for proper insulation. The blower door test, or air tightness test, completed during your home energy audit will indicate where the air leaks are, and how much your home is leaking. The continuous layers make up the barrier that helps to keep your home warm and dry.Īir sealing, including caulking and weather stripping, are a cost effective way to reduce the amount of air leakage in your home.

This, in turn, will reduce the energy efficiency of the home. If one of the barriers is insufficient, it affects the other barriers. All barriers play unique roles as part of the building envelope. All of these layers work together harmoniously. The building envelope is made up of multiple layers of barriers: air barrier, vapour barrier, thermal barrier, weather barrier, and interior/exterior finishes. Essentially, it is what protects you from the harsh elements - rain, snow, wind, and sun. What Is A Building Envelope?Ī building envelope is what separates conditioned and unconditioned space in a home or building. This results in reduced overall performance, reduced energy efficiency of the home, and increased utility bills. Again, if there are any holes or leaks in the home, it will notably increase the need for your mechanical system to continuously run in order to keep your home comfortable. The building envelope is also concerned with the technical performance of the home. Therefore, if there are any holes or leaks in the building envelope, you are significantly reducing the overall energy efficiency of the structure. The building envelope is what separates conditioned and unconditioned space. The building envelope is one of the most important pieces of your home, and one of the most important aspects in achieving overall home energy efficiency. Building Envelopes, Energy Efficiency, and Your Home

Building envelope examples