Other things have not changed. I mean we are still burning coal to fuel electric generators, 30 years after we should have stopped. We still flirt with the idea of Nuclear Powered power plants. But here is part of the Georgia Code, a State not known for anything progressive.
http://www.southface.org/learning-center/library/res-code-faq#24
22. What is the difference between a mass wall and a basement wall, and what are the insulation requirements for both?
A mass wall is a heavy wall that is more than half above grade wall and is constructed of a fairly massive material (e.g., concrete, block, insulated concrete forms, masonry cavity, non-veneered brick , adobe, compressed block, rammed earth, and solid logs). A basement wall is a wall that is more than half below grade and encloses conditioned space. Insulation requirements for basement walls and mass walls depend on the location of the insulation and the type of insulation (whether it is continuous or insulation installed in a cavity). Requirements also vary by climate zone. Below is a table detailing the insulation requirements in the energy code.
| Wall Type | Insulation Location and Type | Climate Zone 4 | Climate Zone 3 | Climate Zone 2 |
| Basement Wall | Interior – Continuous | R-10 | R-5 | R-0 |
| Basement Wall | Interior – Cavity | R-13 | R-13 | R-13 |
| Mass Wall | Interior-Cavity | R-13 | R-13 | R-13 |
| Mass Wall | Exterior or Integral- Continuous | R-5 | R-5 | R-4 |
| Mass Wall | Interior – Continuous | R-10 | R-8 | R-6 |
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If you are a glutton for punishment, go there and read. More next week.
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