A good rule of thumb is to use wood instead of steel or metal framing as much as possible and use plant-based insulation whenever possible. If you can specify FSC or SFI wood products, then you will have a carbon storage effect. If not, at least the number will be low. Although wood is not as sleek or low-profile as steel, a great side benefit of wood is that it has far less thermal conductance and therefore helps to reduce thermal bridging and condensation within assemblies, which helps a building stand up longer. (Cross-laminated-timber [CLT]) is beautiful and regional and can replace steel or concrete in many instances. CLT is produced regionally by SmartLam [smartlam.com].) If you cannot use cellulose, hempcrete or straw, then use fiberglass, hemp batts (not shown on the graph, but fall between denim and wool, which will very soon be Idaho-produced; see hempitecture.com), or anything besides XPS and spray foam. The second aspect of “cheaper is better” is that a code-built (yes, even an Idaho code-built building with R-values from 2009) can actually be better than a high-performance building. Anything with super high R-values that is relatively thin (XPS, spray foam) took a considerable amount of energy to produce. We love Passive Houses, but when packed full of high-energy foam insulation (spray foam or XPS), they probably have done — continued from page 37 Credits Love | Schack Architecture - left: CLT structure w/ Gutex insulation, right: strawbale insulation Credit Hempitecture - hemp batt insulation 38 AIA IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2022-23 | aiaidaho.com
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