It's great that over the decades frost proof shallow foundation systems are getting more and more press. What I've yet to see is energy calculations, modules in building energy model software, even rules of thumb. We know it works by the reduction in energy use, energy savings, lower heating bills, etc.. It would be fantastic to be able to tell clients what the energy savings will be.
I've run heat loss calculations on two scenarios, standard basements and crawlspaces both protected with a frost proof shallow foundation, and unprotected.
As I always do, I then researched and found some studies, starting in the 80's and repeated just a few years ago for basement / slab on grade heat loss. The most comprehensible was from DOW. Yes, it proves foam insualation helps, which is no surprise. It provided some great collaboration of the heat loss calculations I did though.
Armed with the energy savings, I estimated the cost for a frost proof shallow foundation, and a standard basement buried stucco covered insulation retrofit.
Payback times for the frost proof shallow foundation fast, especially for do it yourself 'rs, as short as 2 years and after that, savings of nearly $2,000 to $3,000, increasing every year with the ever increasing cost of energy forever.
A frost proof shallow foundation is also the only way to retrofit a house that you can do yourself, no matter who you are. If you can go to work, raise a family, play little league, you too can build a frost proof shallow foundation.
Websites
Tons of info and everyone taking the time and effort to maintain a website promotoing Green Builidng and Sustainability need to see the hits, need to see the interest!
1987 Basement Heat Loss Calculation Study
Heat Loss Calculation Green Building Advisor
Technical but understandable - see if you agree: Click Here
Value of Basement Insulation
DOW Tech Report Basement Insulation
Basement Heat loss calculations galore: Click Here
I don’t check for broken links (Takes time, and this site doesn’t generate income to support it), so if any of the links above don’t work, then see below, I’ve probably downloaded and printed out what impressed me.
Downloads:
