Q$1.$ Insulation

You are building an addition onto your apartment community's clubhouse that is located near Flagstaff, AZ$.$ Your general contractor has offered two options for wall construction. Step $1$ of this question requires you to calculate the R$-$values for each option. Step $2$ requires you to make a decision about which of the two options you selectyou will state your decision and justify it using at least three data$/$fact$-$driven points of support $($i$.$e$.,$ the "Rule of Three", as discussed in class$).$ Do not base your decision solely on price$-$you need to consider all of the features of the wall system, including R$-$value, cost$/$square foot, aesthetics, and the wall's functional performance, particularly considering the weather and other local conditions in Flagstaff. The ASHRAE R$-$value table, with which we completed a practice question in class, is posted along with this assignment in Canvas. $(15$ points$)$

Option $1$: EIFS $($stucco$)$

Cost per square foot, installed: $${14\mathrm{.}23}_{{?}_{?}}$

Exterior walls will be constructed using the following:

EIFS stucco finish

Expanded polystyrene, extruded: $2"$ thick

Tyvek $$ vapor$-$seal plastic film building

Plywood, ${0\mathrm{.}75}^{\text{'}\text{'}}$ thick

Wood studs $($wood structural members$)$: $2"4",$ spaced $16"$ o$.$c$.($on center$)$

Cavity insulation: mineral fiber blanket, ${3\mathrm{.}5}^{\text{'}\text{'}}$ thick

Drywall, $\frac{1}{2}"$ thick

Paint

Option $2$: Concrete blocks $-$ normal wt aggregate

Cost per square foot: $$16\mathrm{.}99$

Exterior walls will be constructed using the following:

Concrete blocks $-$ normal wt aggregate, with decorative face

Tyvek $$ vapor$-$seal plastic film building membrane

Metal studs $($metal structural members$)$: $2^{\text{'}\text{'}}{4}^{\text{'}\text{'}},$ spaced ${16}^{\text{'}\text{'}}$ o$.$c$.$

Cavity insulation: polyurethane foam, ${1\mathrm{.}5}^{\text{'}\text{'}}$ thick

Gypsum board $-5/8"$ thick

Vinyl wallcover