This promotional letter for the monthly newsletter Energy Design Update was intended for builders and contractors, and takes a practical and informal tone. Although the four-page letter is fairly long, the "13 myths" list format makes it easy to scan.

Dear Colleague:

The field of energy-efficient building is full of myths ... myths about insulation, windows, payback periods, furnaces, paints, and more. Some of these are even enshrined in building code regulations!

How can you explode the myths and get the accurate information you need to do your job?

Since 1982, energy professionals have turned to one source: the monthly newsletter Energy Design Update.

Getting you straight answers is what Energy Design Update is all about. That's why EDU editor Don Best attends building conferences year-round. Why he scours dozens of publications on energy efficiency. Why he spends hours on the phone following up important questions.

Here are just a few of the myths Energy Design Update has exposed in its hard-hitting product reviews and news briefs.

Shading air conditioners from the sun is a simple way to save energy.
Not according to a study by the Florida Solar Energy Center. To get real benefit from shading you would have to shade the entire area from which the air is being pulled. Shading the air conditioner does almost nothing, and may even interfere with proper airflow through the condenser coil.

Cellulose insulation in walls is a fire hazard.
Despite the allegations, evidence is mounting that walls insulated with cellulose are extremely fire resistant -- in fact, much more fire resistant than fiberglass. Tests show that spray-applied cellulose can create a more effective firestop in a 2x4-inch stud cavity wall than conventional wood firestops.

Freezing water pipes burst because of lateral pressure from the ice.
New experiments prove that pipes burst because of increased water pressure "downstream" from the ice blockage. A 25-cent device could be the solution to freeze-related damage that now costs insurance companies $400 million a year.

Today's energy simulation programs give you accurate estimates of building energy use.
Even the best simulation programs like DOE-2.1 aren't necessarily accurate -- at least when calculating basement heat loss, solar heat gain through windows, and the use of thermal mass. In one study, four programs overpredicted actual energy use in a test house by roughly 60%!

Steel framing is a thermal disaster.
Until recently we would have agreed with this. But new research indicates it's possible to build metal stud walls that perform as well as -- or even better than -- similar wood-framed walls. In fact, the research inspired a new thermal breaking system that could give framers a fast, cost-effective way to improve the performance of steel-framed structures.

When using rigid foam sheathing, you should leave the seams unsealed so the walls can "breathe."
Sorry, no. New studies provide compelling evidence that in order to prevent excessive heat loss from the building and moisture damage to the siding, foam seams should be caulked, taped, or covered with housewrap.

Housewrap saves hundreds of dollars each year in energy costs when used on an average-sized house.
Don't count on it! Housewrap such as Tyvek can definitely improve the thermal performance of conventionally built homes. The bad news is that it's a marginal energy-saving investment, and will rarely save more than $75 a year for an average-size house.

Duct cleaning is an essential step to ensure good indoor air quality.
Millions of dollars are spent on duct-cleaning services each year in the US. Yet there is literally no documentation that duct cleaning improves indoor air quality. The bottom line? Duct cleaning may make sense if the air-handling system is visibly dirty, and if the duct cleaners you hire are conscientious professionals, not just someone with a pickup truck and a shop vac.

In terms of health hazards, all fiberglass is alike.
Not so! A revolutionary fiberglass called Miraflex is soft and fluffy (not scratchy and itchy) gives off little or no dust, and has a long fiber structure that eliminates concern about possible cancer hazards.

Solar cells will never be cost-effective.
Don't bet on it. Researchers at Georgia Tech have slashed the time needed to make a silicon solar cell from 17 to 8 1/2 hours, and they've done it with no loss of cell performance. If commercialized, the process, called rapid thermal processing (RTP), could significantly cut the cost of photovoltaic materials.

Log homes are too leaky to provide good energy efficiency.
When properly built, log homes are fairly airtight. Technicians using blower door measurements and tracer gas techniques measured the natural air leakage rate of six log homes at 0.19 to 0.48 air changes per hour -- comparable to ordinary construction.

Polyethylene vapor retarders are a must.
Despite the requirements of building codes, research and field studies confirm what building scientists have been saying for years: Even in very cold regions, polyethylene vapor retarders are probably overkill. Low-perm paint should be good enough to resist moisture diffusion through walls and ceilings.

Energy Design Update accepts no advertising and is completely independent. So we're free to say exactly what we think of products, techniques, advertisements, and more.

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You'll have practical research results that can help you market your services effectively, and accurately estimate costs and payback periods. And you'll get the names, addresses, phone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses and Web sites of innovative builders, product manufacturers, and leading energy-efficiency authorities ... every month.

As a subscriber to Energy Design Update, you'll be in a better position than your competitors to assess new energy-related claims, choose the best and most cost-effective products on the market, train your employees, and promote your services accurately and effectively.

Month after month, Energy Design Update brings you hard-hitting product reviews, the practical results of the best new research, and clearly illustrated construction tips.

To start your subscription, just send us the enclosed Fax-Back Order Form today. For even faster service, call Megan Nields at 800-964-5118. (Outside North America, phone 781-641-5118.) Or if you prefer, send e-mail to info@cutter.com, or order through our Web site, www.cutter.com/energy/.

Sincerely,

Charles Gibbs
Group Publisher

P.S. One more important point: As a subscriber, you can contact editor Don Best whenever you need an unbiased expert opinion on an advertising claim or the pros and cons of a new product. It's like having your own energy consultant on staff, at a fraction of the cost!

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