Energy Efficiency

A number of factors contribute to EIFS’ outstanding energy performance, including:

• The high R-factor of EIFS insulation materials
  
  It is possible to achieve a very high R-value for EIFS walls because there are TWO insulation systems at work. One is the exterior layering of stucco, foam board, and mesh. This has an R value of up to 15. The other is the insulation placed in the stud cavity such as blown-in insulation or “the pink stuff.” Together, the two systems can result in an R value of 25 or more!
  
  
• The efficiency of a thick, unbroken layer of insulation
  
  The insulation layer in EIFS is continuous and unbroken. This allows the full insulating capability of the insulation to be used over the entire wall. In EIFS clad homes, the wall insulation doesn’t start between the studs in the wall cavity with the rolled or blown in insulation, as in brick or wood siding homes. It starts on the outside and is added to by the stud wall insulation.
  
  
• Low air infiltration rates
  
  EIFS has the desirable characteristic of not requiring joints or seams on its outside surface like brick or siding. This eliminates places where water and air can escape through the cladding, thus improving energy efficiency and weather resistance. In a typical older wood frame and siding home, the wood cladding accounts for 35-55% of energy loss by air leakage through the wall! EIFS loss is essentially zero because EIFS has no seams through which air can travel.

What can the EIFS “thermal blanket” insulating effect mean for you ?

• Lower heating and air conditioning bills
  
• Lower capacity furnaces and air conditioning equipment can be used without sacrificing comfort.

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