Q: Why is it important to insulate a building’s below-grade elements?
A: As the saying goes, a team is only as strong as its weakest link—the lack of code-compliant insulation in exterior below-grade applications can compromise a building’s overall thermal performance. Underscoring this point, reports by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) suggest that under-insulated below-grade applications can account for approximately 20 percent of a building’s total energy loss depending on building type and location. Importantly, the vulnerability for energy loss via below-grade elements of a building must, in almost every case, be addressed at the time of initial construction.