Airhart Construction has been committed to building top-quality energy efficient homes for more than five decades. As an innovator in the construction business, incorporating the latest in energy efficient products and materials is an important part of our process. Products like
· York 95.5% efficient furnace
· York 14+Seer Air Conditioner
· Aprilaire programmable thermostat
· Pella Insulated Low E windows
However, even the best materials in the world won’t keep a home operating at peak efficiency if they aren’t installed as part of a comprehensive approach.
Three parts of this approach that aren’t seen are some of the most important.
Energy Sealing – A 2-part process
Every Airhart home begins with the process of energy sealing, where even the smallest gaps in construction are addressed. Step 1 happens after all the mechanicals are installed and prior to insulating. Step 2 is after the drywall is installed and prior to the interior finish work starting. The reasons we believe energy sealing is so important are:
· Stops air leakage – keeps heated or cooled air inside where you want it
· Stops air movement in walls--improves the R value of insulation
· Improves indoor air quality—tight construction allows for better control of indoor environment
Without proper energy sealing, conditioned air may leave the home freely under baseboards, around windows and doors and even electrical outlets, making a home less comfortable and more costly to heat or cool.
We only use the best in house wrap - DuPont™ Tyvek® HomeWrap®
House wrap is a building material that provides an extra layer of protection against moisture and air while allowing water vapor to escape. As the name suggests, the membrane is wrapped around the entire building, and openings for doors and windows are cut out and sealed individually. Airhart Construction has chosen DuPont™ Tyvek® HomeWrap® above other brands of house wrap because of its superior engineering. Tyvek® is fused together from high-density polyethylene fibers producing a strong material with millions of pores smaller than the width of a strand of hair. These tiny openings prevent moisture from getting in but still allows vapor to pass right through.
Advantages of Tyvek® HomeWrap® include:
· Blocking air
· Blocking water
· Permeability
· Durability
· Eco-friendly and recyclable
As a DuPont™ product, Tyvek® can only be installed by certified installers and comes with a company-direct 10-year limited warranty.
Nu-Wool® Premium Cellulose Insulation
Made from recycled materials, cellulose insulation is a smart choice for energy efficiency, and Nu-Wool® Premium Cellulose Insulation is the smartest choice of all. With the Nu-Wool® WALLSEAL system, wall cavities are filled with a seamless bond to provide superior air-sealing benefits. When compared to fiberglass insulation, which must be cut to fit, NuWool is a spray-in-place product that packs every nook and cranny for optimal insulation.
One of the biggest losses in energy efficiency is air movement in the walls. This occurs because of the temperature differences between the inside and outside walls causing convection currents. Fiberglass insulation will allow air to move, while cellulose almost completely stops air movement resulting in significantly superior insulative results in the coldest of temperatures.
NuWool cellulose is made with borax which is not only fire retardant but is also a natural insecticide and fungicide. Airhart Construction is proud to provide this product made from 100% recycled newspaper to our customers.
Building homes that are beautiful, comfortable and energy efficient is keeping with the Airhart philosophy of Building A Better Tomorrow.