[Buzz123]

You should insolate, but have a way for the house to breath. Are you really losing too much heat or A/C from that crack by the door, of is it letting out some of the bad air? You don't want the house to be as tight as a drum.

[BBMW]

You need to put in an energy recovery ventilator. Exchange the air without losing the heating/cooling.

Originally Posted by Buzz123

Airtight houses are not healthy. You're breathing the same unhealthy air all the time.

[lvoc]

Come on guys. This is 18 inch wall stuff. Triple pane windows. Very much like straw bail houses. Has to work but costs too much and removes much area from the home.

Start with do the house with 2x6 studs. And couple of feet of insulation in the attic. Then put six inches of Styrofoam on the face of the studs before you stucco.

Existing house? Add another foot to its external dimensions. But make sure you don't get too close to your lot boundaries. Then new stucco and new window wells and 12,000 worth of high qualtiy windows. Couple of months and $50K and you are done. Twelve year payback?

[MediocreButArrogant]

Originally Posted by lvoc

Existing house? Add another foot to its external dimensions. But make sure you don't get too close to your lot boundaries. Then new stucco and new window wells and 12,000 worth of high qualtiy windows. Couple of months and $50K and you are done. Twelve year payback?

I'd take off all the drywall, remove the batts, and do spray foam. That's R-26 in 3-1/2", and eliminates air infiltration. Then put something on the face of the studs to provide a thermal break (foam strip or whatever), and close up the walls. Far less cost and work compared to what you propose.

[lvoc]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

I'd take off all the drywall, remove the batts, and do spray foam. That's R-26 in 3-1/2", and eliminates air infiltration. Then put something on the face of the studs to provide a thermal break (foam strip or whatever), and close up the walls. Far less cost and work compared to what you propose.

Actually I agree with you...I was being skeptical. I doubt the foot thick walls ever pay off.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

You should insolate, but have a way for the house to breath. Are you really losing too much heat or A/C from that crack by the door, of is it letting out some of the bad air? You don't want the house to be as tight as a drum.

Yes, actually you do.

I can open a window if need be. Tight as a drum means less vermin and lower heating and cooling bills. I check my house every year on a cold, windy day with a stick of smoking incense in one hand and a can of Great Stuff foam in the other. (And a pair of screwdrivers in my back pocket.) Every year I find a leak and plug it. And every year my bills go down just a little more.

There is no such thing as "bad air." The whole concept of "malaria" (trans. "bad air") was tossed out when it was shown to be a parasite.

[BBMW]

You should probably do a blower door test, and nail all your leaks (sort of the "official" way of doing what you've been doing.

But the need for air exchange is very real. Trapped air picks up and keep contaminants (think things off-gassing from carpets and upholstery, etc.). The ERV I mentioned previously is the most efficient way to accommodate this.

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

Yes, actually you do.

I can open a window if need be. Tight as a drum means less vermin and lower heating and cooling bills. I check my house every year on a cold, windy day with a stick of smoking incense in one hand and a can of Great Stuff foam in the other. (And a pair of screwdrivers in my back pocket.) Every year I find a leak and plug it. And every year my bills go down just a little more.

There is no such thing as "bad air." The whole concept of "malaria" (trans. "bad air") was tossed out when it was shown to be a parasite.

[BBMW]

We now seem to have two threads revolving around the same subject (heating costs.) So to be consistent, I'll post here what I posted in the other one.

Given Vegas's mild winters, you probably don't need to go full on Passive House to get rid of heating bills. The use of passive and/or active solar techniques would probably allow a house to pick up all the heat it needs to get through the winter. The right passive solar design could also mitigate a lot of the solar gain you get in the summer.

[Cold Warrior]

No, actually, an airtight house is bad for your health. From the EPA website (emphasis added)

"Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home. High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants."

"Some sources, such as building materials, furnishings, and household products like air fresheners, release pollutants more or less continuously. Other sources, related to activities carried out in the home, release pollutants intermittently. These include smoking, the use of unvented or malfunctioning stoves, furnaces, or space heaters, the use of solvents in cleaning and hobby activities, the use of paint strippers in redecorating activities, and the use of cleaning products and pesticides in house-keeping. High pollutant concentrations can remain in the air for long periods after some of these activities."

[ScoopLV]

That's what ventilation is for.