Solutions: SilverGlo and CleanSpace for an Energy Efficient, Healthy Indiana Crawlspace

Heat moves from areas of higher temperature to areas of lower temperature and the earth below grade is usually at a lower temperature than what people would find comfortable in their homes -- especially in the winter. Consequently, there is a constant stream of heat loss by conduction through a home's foundation and into the outside earth.

Energy Saving Combination:
•2” Thick SilverGlo insulation with radiant barrier to insulate (R11) and reflect heat back into crawlspace.
•20mil CleanSpace® over floor.

Features:
•Dramatically reduces heat loss through crawlspace walls increasing energy efficiency for HVAC system.

SilverGlo™ panels look different because they are different. Tiny graphite particles permeate its foam insulation to give it that silver/gray shine. These tiny particles reflect heat and lower the material’s conductivity for superior R value per inch. IN addition to resisting heat conduction, SilverGlo boasts a radiant barrier, which reflects heat back into your crawlspace for ultimate energy savings. SilverGlo can also be installed on the perimeter of your floor framing system (rim joist) for maximum energy savings.

One of the most cost effective and energy efficient ways to insulate concrete walls is with foam board insulation. Two inch thick SilverGlo insulation is water-resistant, provides an R-11 thermal resistance and makes homes more comfortable and less expensive to own.

What is R Value?

Allinsulation is tested to determine how well it resists the transfer of heat. That's what the "R" in insulation's R-value stands for resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the resistance and the greater the insulating value. When talking about insulation for foundation walls. R-value is typically expressed as "R-value per inch".

The R -value of most foam board insulation typically ranges from R-3 to R-6 per inch of thickness, which is 2 to 3 times greater than most other insulation materials of the same thickness! The higher R-values and water resistance provided by foam board insulation material for below-grade foundation walls.

What is Cleanspace?

A dirt crawl space under a home is a very bad idea. The earth has very high humidity in the soil. This water vapor moves easily into the crawl space and upwards into the house environment. A damp environment is very unhealthy and destructive. Mold thrives and reproduces by producing airborne spores by the millions, and some molds are toxic. Insects and critters of all kinds love damp environments and wet materials. Rot and decay occur in damp environments causing structural damage.

The natural airflow in a house is from bottom to top. This sucks the moist air and everything in it up into the living areas of the home. Mold spores, odors, humidity and critters create a very unhealthy environment for people. Many people are allergic to these things, and experience a host of symptoms and don’t realize that their dirt crawl space is affecting their health. Dirt crawl spaces do not have to be wet or flooded to be extremely unhealthy. Heating and cooling costs are higher in a home with a vented dirt crawl space.

The CleanSpace® liner is used to isolate the home from the earth completely and permanently. The liner is a heavy 20-mil-thick material similar to a pool liner. It is manufactured in 7 layers – a blend of high- density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, and two layers of polyester cord reinforcement. It is blue on one side and white on the other. The bright white finished side really brightens a crawl space with the available lighting and allows you to easily see that your crawl space is free of mold, insects and dirt. The CleanSpace® liner is manufactured with an antimicrobial additive called UltraFresh – molded right into the material.

The CleanSpace® Crawl Space Encapsulation System® completely isolates your home from the earth. This dramatically reduces the humidity level in the air which, when combined with sealing outside air and dehumidification, will eliminate mold growth and rot from your crawl space and make the whole house healthier.