Reducing Thermal Conductivity Of Residential Insulated Stud Walls Through The Testing Of Additive Insulative Layers Of Varying Compositions To The Stud

Exterior wood wall studs that serve as an integrated wall system in conventional house framing perform as very inefficient components when referring to the resistance of the conductive flow of heat (R-value). Affordable and available technology for wooden wall studs has not improved in decades, consistently resulting in lower R-values of the wall at the location of the studs as compared to the cavity between them. Typical wall stud sizes range from 2”x4” (1-1/2”x3-1/2”) to 2”x8” (1-1/2”x7-1/4) and net R-values of 4.38 and 9.07 respectively, while the insulation cavities would net R-13 and R-22 using standard fiberglass batts.
Construction techniques have evolved for outer surface areas of exterior walls by using various materials adhered to the outside of the wall surface. Modulating the actual stud on the interior, center, or outside with an insulative material could increase the R-value of the actual stud to a resistance of conductive flow of heat that is more in line with the insulated cavity. Aligning the R-values of the modified wooden stud and the insulated cavity could hypothetically increase the efficiency of all other exterior applied insulative materials, creating a higher thermal efficiency than is currently realized.