Are log homes more or less energy efficient than tradional homes?
Due to a phenomenon known as “thermal mass” it costs about thirty percent less to heat and cool a log home when compared to a conventionally framed home with 2 x 4 walls. Thermal mass is a material’s capacity to absorb, store and slowly release heat over time. This characteristic of a log home gives it energy inertia – once a certain temperature has been established within the interior of the home it is very resistant to change. The amount of the effect is directly proportional to the size or mass of the log walls, therefore the thicker the logs that make up the walls, the longer it takes for a change in outdoor temperature to travel through the wall. Thermal mass also explains the natural “warmth” that people experience when living in a log home (even in sub-zero climates!). A conventionally framed 2 x 6 home with log siding can also be very energy efficient if properly insulated and constructed. As with any home, energy is most often wasted due to air infiltration caused by a lack of
