The Carbon Impact of Air Sealing the Building Envelope

The carbon emissions and embodied carbon in single and multifamily homes are a growing area of interest and concern in the housing industry and can be used as an advantage in marketing and sales. Air leaks in the building envelope account for the most significant portion of wasted energy in the heating and cooling of homes, thereby creating a major source of carbon emissions throughout the life of the home. This session will explore the reductions in carbon emissions that can be achieved through a more airtight building envelope. Analysis will be presented that reveals carbon emissions reductions for different levels of air tightness across the different climate zones in North America. The embodied carbon impact of air sealing materials will also be presented and discussed.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the impact of heat loss and gain due to air leaks in homes.
2. Understand the impact that air sealing a home’s exterior envelope can have on reducing the operational carbon emissions throughout the life of a home and in different climate zones.
3. Understand the embodied carbon impact of air sealing materials.
4. Understand how an air tight envelope can contribute to a net zero carbon home.

Speakers: Bill Shadid & Gord Cooke