The importance of building energy efficiency is being recognized throughout the world. Many countries are developing much stricter building codes to address the need for improved energy efficiency. Inefficient buildings are contributing to carbon dioxide production, global warming, and climate change. One cause of energy loss in buildings is conductive heat loss or gain through the building's framing structure. This loss or gain is caused by thermal bridging through the wall framing studs and top and bottom plates. Approximately 16% of a typical house's wall area, is framing lumber. This framing lumber has an R-value of approximately 1.20 to 1.25 per inch, whereas the wall cavity area has an R-value of approximately 3.0 to 7.0 per inch depending on the insulation used. It is obvious that a reduction in the thermal bridging of the framing studs and plates will have a significant effect on heat loss or gain through the walls and improve building energy efficiency. Thermal Framing, LLC has conceived several stud and plate designs that can greatly reduce thermal bridging in building walls and thus improve energy efficiency. These framing component designs will allow builders to continue to use conventional framing methods. The width of the studs and plates can be varied from a 2x6 equivalent up to a 2x12 equivalent while using approximately the same amount of wood products as a 2x6. Builders therefore have an opportunity to construct thick, super-insulated walls while reducing thermal bridging and greatly improving energy efficiency. While Thermal Framing LLC components have the ability to reduce thermal bridging, structural performance must be maintained. This research will determine the structural adequacy of the Thermal Framing LLC studs, plates, and wall assemblies. They must meet the requirements of current building codes while achieving the goal of reduced thermal bridging. Extensive structural testing will be conducted during this research to address this technical problem.
