FIELD DEMONSTRATION OF PINHOLE INSULATION TECHNOLOGY FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFITS IN CONNECTICUT

Building energy efficiency retrofits are a valuable tool to minimize household energy consumption, improve energy affordability and reduce carbon footprints. In Connecticut, low-and- moderate income households deal with challenges in sustaining their energy needs at a greater severity compared to the average household. Adding insulation to buildings with minimal wall insulation can significantly improve building envelopes and minimize heat losses to reduce energy consumption. This research investigates the use of a new, innovative, minimally invasive insulation technology for installing closed-cell spray polyurethane foam (SPF) into exterior wall cavities. SPF is a versatile insulating material known for its low thermal conductivity, density, and its high thermal resistance value, also known as its R-value. The technology is demonstrated in a low-income multifamily home pilot study in Connecticut. The technology effectiveness is validated through in-situ wall thermal measurements and energy modelling with EnergyPlus. The primary objective of this study is to determine the improvement in the thermal performance of the Pinhole Insulation((R)) technology. Preliminary results have demonstrated an increase in in-situ R-value of 3.5 and heating savings of 19.30% for the shallow cavity site. This corresponds to annual savings of $3,215 for the site with a simple payback of 11.8 years.