Keywords

Abstract

Housewrap air infiltration barriers were introduced to the building market in the early 1980’s.  In the past twenty years as their use increased, the energy impact of these materials has been the subject of testing and modeling research. Although very little energy is used in the manufacture of building wraps, they can provide significant energy savings by controlling energy losses due to air leakage.  A 2000 study estimated that housewraps could recover the energy embodied in their manufacture in only 7 to 54 days. (Franklin Associates 2000)  This paper will review studies of building wrap properties and performance including laboratory testing, and field testing.  Highlighted topics will include a review of whole house air leakage reduction by the use of housewraps. Additionally, the treatment of building wraps in guidelines, codes and standards over the last two decades will be reviewed.

Paper

Download this paper as pdf: 028_632.pdf

Panels of the 2006 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Panel 1. Residential Buildings: Technologies, Design, Performance Analysis, and Building Industry Trends

Panel 2. Residential Buildings: Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation

Panel 3. Commercial Buildings: Technologies, Design, Performance Analysis, and Building Industry Trends

Panel 4. Commercial Buildings: Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation

Panel 5. Utility Regulation and Competition: Incentives, Strategies, and Policies

Panel 6. Market Transformation: Designing for Lasting Change

Panel 7. Human and Social Dimensions of Energy Use: Trends and Their Implications

Panel 8. Changing the Climate for Energy Efficiency: Local, National, and International Policy Dimensions

Panel 9. Appliances, Lighting, Information Technologies, Consumer Electronics, and Miscellaneous End Uses

Panel 10. Roundtables and Interactive Sessions: Learning by Doing

Panel 11. Efficient Communities

Panel 12. Energy Conversations