In addition, Advanced Energy has worked nationally to identify the optimum ways to build homes in terms of health, safety, comfort, durability and energy efficiency. Gathering information, performing tests and calculations, building and monitoring test homes, doing computer modeling and consulting with local and national practitioners have all been included in an ongoing process to define an Ideal Choice Home. It slows the movement of heat, but it does not stop the flow of air. Heat always moves from hot to cold. In the summer, when it's hot outside, and you're air conditioning a house, heat is moving from outside to inside.
Some materials slow down the flow of heat better than others.
We say those materials have a high R-value, or are materials that can resist the flow of heat. There are five things you should avoid when installing insulation properly. Any one of these will cause the insulation to perform poorly, not meeting the R-value it was designed to achieve. R-value is only successful if the insulation is installed properly. Insulation achieves its full insulation R-value only when it is allowed to remain at its full thickness.