Who We Are
Crawlspace Energy Institute is an educational resource dedicated to crawlspace science, energy efficiency, and moisture control for Midwest homeowners. We focus on the Kansas City and Des Moines markets because these cities share a climate zone that creates specific, well-documented challenges for homes with crawlspace foundations — high summer humidity, deep winter frost penetration, and clay-dominant soils that most generic home improvement advice does not adequately address.
We publish detailed, research-referenced content covering the physics of moisture transport, stack effect air movement, insulation performance, encapsulation methods, and the real-world energy impact of crawlspace conditions. Every article is written to explain the science first and let homeowners draw their own conclusions.
Full Disclosure
Disclosure
Crawlspace Energy Institute was developed by Nashville Business Foundry, working closely with JLB Foundation Repair & Basement Waterproofing to ground every article in real-world crawlspace experience. The site's content is researched and written by Patrick Smith, director of Nashville Business Foundry. JLB's team contributes the field knowledge that comes from thousands of crawlspace projects across Kansas City and Des Moines — they are the experienced contractor partner whose practical expertise keeps this content honest and grounded.
Why This Site Exists
Most contractor websites skip the science entirely. They describe symptoms, list services, and push toward a sales call. That leaves homeowners without the information they need to evaluate what is actually happening beneath their home. We built this site to fill that gap.
Understanding why your home behaves the way it does is more valuable than being told what to buy. When you know that the stack effect pulls 40-50% of your first-floor air from the crawlspace, you understand why musty odors persist. When you understand vapor pressure differential, you can evaluate whether a dehumidifier alone will solve your moisture problem. When you see the Advanced Energy study data, the performance gap speaks for itself.
We believe informed homeowners make better decisions. A homeowner who understands the physics behind a cold floor will ask sharper questions, evaluate proposals more critically, and avoid paying for interventions that don't address the actual problem.
How We Approach Content
Every claim on this site is grounded in published research or established building science principles. We reference the Department of Energy, the EPA, and the Advanced Energy sealed crawlspace field study. When we cite a number, it comes from a measurable source.
We localize everything for Kansas City and Des Moines. National averages miss the mark because crawlspace performance is climate-dependent. We use regional psychrometric data, local frost depth requirements, soil type characteristics, and IRC code provisions as adopted by local jurisdictions.
Meet the Author
Patrick Smith
Director, Nashville Business Foundry
Patrick researches and writes all content published on Crawlspace Energy Institute, collaborating with JLB Foundation Repair's crawlspace professionals to ensure every article is both scientifically grounded and practically relevant.
Read Patrick's full bio →How This Site Is Funded
Crawlspace Energy Institute is funded by JLB Foundation Repair and Basement Waterproofing. JLB covers the costs of content production, hosting, and site maintenance. We are transparent about this because we believe homeowners should always know who is behind the information they read.
Funding does not dictate content. The articles, data references, and recommendations on this site are written based on building science research and field-verified performance data. We do not alter conclusions to favor any specific product, method, or vendor.
There are no affiliate links, sponsored placements, or paid endorsements on this site. The content exists to educate. If a homeowner reads an article, learns something useful, and never contacts anyone — that article still did its job.