A common idea among many citizens and contractors is that thermal insulation increases the cost of building construction, which is why some may resort to dispensing with it or reducing its quality. However, this idea, when viewed from a comprehensive economic perspective, is not accurate; because the cost of construction should not be measured by what we pay at the time of construction alone, but by what the owner spends on the building throughout the years of its use.
From a correct implementation standpoint, thermal insulation for external walls must be applied by executing the concrete wall first, then installing the thermal insulator after removing the formwork, and erecting a hollow brick wall from the inside to cover the insulator, according to the approved structural system and technical details. It is essential that the insulation be connected and continuous, and that no gaps or thermal bridges are left at the junction of walls with ceilings and columns, or around, above, and below windows. The last ceiling should also be insulated when specifications and design require it, because ceilings exposed to the sun or outside air represent one of the important heat transfer paths.
Here, it must be noted that implementation details vary according to the approved structural system, and that adherence to the Jordanian thermal insulation code and licensing requirements and technical specifications is the foundation, not just placing an insulating material haphazardly.
This idea may seem strange at first glance, but when performing engineering and economic calculations, we can find that the additional cost of thermal insulation is less than the savings it achieves in the cost of heating and cooling systems. A well-insulated building loses less heat in winter and gains less heat in summer, which means lower thermal loads are required to reach a comfortable temperature inside the house.
This results in the possibility of choosing heating and cooling devices with lower capacities, compared to a similar non-insulated building, provided that the systems are designed based on actual thermal load calculations. This may reduce the cost of purchasing and installing large devices, in addition to reducing their energy consumption during years of operation, lowering maintenance expenses, and extending their operational life.
Thus, part of the cost that is viewed as an increase due to insulation can be offset by a decrease in the cost of equipping the building with heating and cooling systems. This balance, depending on the building area, the type of insulation, its prices, and the design used, may lead to reducing the total cost of construction and operation combined.
The most important benefit appears during the years of using the building. Good thermal insulation may achieve significant savings in energy consumed for heating and cooling, but the actual amount of savings varies according to the previous level of insulation, the type of construction, the area of windows, the orientation of the building, the climate, the efficiency of heating and cooling devices, and the behavior of the residents. Therefore, it is not correct to adopt a single percentage for all buildings, even if the savings in some cases may be very high.
Let us take an illustrative example: If the annual energy expenses for heating and cooling in a house amount to one thousand dinars, then achieving savings ranging between 20% and 90% means saving between 200 and 900 dinars annually. These are hypothetical figures to illustrate the economic impact, and are not an estimate that necessarily applies to every Jordanian home.
Saving hundreds of dinars annually can make a tangible difference in a family's life, especially if this saving continues over twenty or thirty years. When calculating the economic return, the additional cost of insulation should be compared with the energy consumption it saves, taking into account the age of the building, maintenance costs, and changing energy prices.
The benefits of insulation are not limited to financial aspects. Maintaining more stable indoor temperatures improves thermal comfort and reduces the need to run heating and cooling devices for long periods. Also, addressing thermal bridges and condensation, in parallel with proper ventilation and addressing sources of humidity, helps reduce mold growth and improve indoor environmental quality.
At the national level, reducing energy consumption in buildings leads to reducing pressure on energy resources, limiting emissions associated with their production, and improving economic efficiency. Instead of draining a large part of the family income into heating a house that loses its heat quickly or cooling it all summer, these funds can be directed to education, health, food, and social and cultural activities.
Thermal insulation is not an extra luxury, nor a cost that should be gotten rid of when building a house, but rather a long-term investment in the building's efficiency, the health of its residents, their comfort, and their standard of living. What is required is for the citizen, contractor, and designer to look at the cost of construction from the perspective of its full life cycle, not from the perspective of the amount paid on the day of construction only.
Hence, adherence to the Jordanian thermal insulation code, choosing appropriate materials, and ensuring the continuity of insulation and the quality of its implementation are not just technical requirements, but necessary economic, social, and environmental steps. A building that saves energy from the first day eases the burdens on its owners for many years, and gives them a better chance to live in a healthy and comfortable environment, while retaining a larger portion of their income for what makes life of higher quality and more enjoyable.
