5. Minimize Thermal Bridging
- Thermal Bridging can best be minimized in the design phase by a designer who includes cost-effective thermal-bridge-free details. View the Thermal Bridging video.
- Use a Thermal Enclosure Checklist or Thermal Enclosure Checklist Guidebook to help you design and build with minimal thermal bridging.
- Where thermal bridging cannot be avoided, closed cell spray foam or aerogels may help reduce it, but may not be cost-effective, compared to eliminating thermal bridging in the design phase.
- Decks, porches and porch roofs should be designed and constructed to be separate from the house, so no thermal bridging occurs between the house and the porch or deck.
Twelve Steps to Affordable Zero Energy Home Construction