Energy Efficiency

What can affect your homes energy efficiency. 

  1. Insulation
  2. Air infiltration

R- value is a measure of resistance of an insulation or building material to heat flow. This is expressed as R-11, R-20, and so on. The higher the number, the greater the resistance to heat flow (better insulated). There are many factors that come into play when using R Value to calculate heat loss for a particular wall.

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Problem

  • Manufacturer R-Value only applies to properly installed insulation. When using Batt-13 insulation (the standard for the City of Lubbock), you run the risk of having it fold over, crinkling, and squashing. You also run the risks of “air gaps” around plumbing, electrical boxes, or wiring. With a beginning value of R-13, any of those problems happening will lower the R-Value. Batt-13 insulation cannot be “fluffed” back out without replacing it. 
  • To reach the standard insulation (R-38) for attics in the City of Lubbock, you need a minimum of 14 inches of blown in fiberglass. As blown in fiberglass insulation is not tightly compressed, over time the weight of the insulation, gravity, dirt, and/or walking in your attic can cause it to settle or compress. This then lowers your R-Value. 
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Solution

  • Roten Homes, Inc. offers an energy package to include using a blown in cellulose with a value of R-13.6. The blown in cellulose fills the entire cavity without risk of fold over, crinkling, or squashing. This also removes the problem of “air gaps” allowing you to have a steady R-Value of 13.6 in your walls. 
  • To maintain the R-38 standard in the attic, we blow in 20 inches to reach a value of R-50. This allows for settling and compression to happen, while still maintaining a higher than standard R-Value. 
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BONUS SOLUTION

  • Roten Homes, Inc. offers an upgrade to a 1” foam board that has a value of R-4.2 that covers the entire outside of your house. This is installed on top of your structural zip board, so there is no reduced structural effect. Due to this, thermal bridging is eliminated. If you add this to the above-mentioned R-value of 13.6 – you receive an R-value of 17.8. This is UNHEARD of in the house market. 
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Problem

  • Air infiltration under bottom plates allows dirt, insects and moisture into the home. 
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Solution

  • Roten Homes, Inc. caulks the inside of all exterior bottom plates with roofing cement. The roofing cement is long lasting and durable. It will help keep the pests air and moisture infiltration out of your new home. We also install “dust bunnies,” to help prevent these things from entering your home. 
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Other Energy Efficient Items in Our Homes

  • We use a product called radiant barrier roof decking. The radiant barrier decking is a foil backed O.S.B. with small incision to allow the O.S.B. to breath and not build up condensation. This product reflects the radiant heat and can reduce monthly air condition costs up to 17%. 
  • Our windows are a low maintenance vinyl window with low-E glass. These windows block much more of the sun’s damaging UV rays and minimize heat gain and are energy star certified. 
  • We use energy star certified water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, dish washers, microwaves, and ovens. 

To add these energy efficient items to your pre-existing it would cost upwards of $40,000. But items like the radiant barrier decking and upgraded foam board, would not be able to be acquired at all. With all of this taken into consideration, building with Roten Homes will afford your family the luxury of living in a more comfortable home with reduced utility costs. 


*Standard in Ranch Collection only.