EcoSmart Stud 
The first build is always the most exciting! Seeing the 2 units of EcoSmart™ Studs (ESS) on the job site just north of Denver Colorado was something to see. This is going to be a hybrid build since it was ordered at the last minute with not a lot of details on the amount of exterior studs needed. It was determined to use solid 2×6 studs around windows where they would have less impact on the insulation on larger areas of the wall.
It’s one of those known facts that no one likes to talk about. Windows put a big thermal bridge in any wall system. But, everyone including me like to be able to look outside. Especially when there are mountains to be seen!
This hybrid build is an example of what we describe as a “Good Solution” for building the exterior wall. Solid studs are used for trimmer studs to support the headers and other parts of the window area. Since this county is using the 2009 Energy code it is an option that can be used to keep cost down (or in this case stretch out the limited number of ESS). The home will still see a sizeable increase to the wall insulation because the framing studs account for most of the thermal bridging for the exterior wall. In the windows walls the thermal bridging is set by the windows since they are the largest part of the wall assembly. With 50% or more of that wall at R3.6 you are not going to change that effective insulation value very much no matter what you do besides installing triple pane or vacuum pane windows. For the framing crew it’s a 10 minute training, then it’s time to build. Also be prepared to attract a lot of attention!
