Product Spotlight: Zero GWP Styrofoam Exterior Insulation Visibly Slows Heat Flow

With an IR camera, you can see how effective an exterior layer of insulation is
May 8, 2025

This Product Spotlight video is excerpted from Building Resilience, a show about extreme climate, healthy homes, and sustainability. In it, Michael Anschel of OA Design + Build + Architecture uses a thermal camera to illustrate the efficacy of continuous exterior insulation.

Thermal camera sees heat flow

One of the coolest parts of a show like Building Resilience, which focuses on extreme climate construction, is getting to explore real solutions, like continuous insulation.

When we pull out our thermal camera, the results are immediate.

  • At the base of the foundation, where there's no insulation, we’re leaking energy.
  • Move up a bit, where there are some penetrations and minimal insulation, and we’re still losing heat—but not as much.
  • Then go higher, to the section with just one inch of exterior foam, and the thermal camera shows a much colder surface. That’s exactly what we want.

Exterior continuous insulation slows heat flow

A cold surface on the outside means the energy inside the house stays inside, not escaping into the world.

See the whole Building Resilience episode on continuous insulation here.

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