The Quest for the Tight Envelope
The drive for energy-efficient building comes down to a quest for the so-called “tight envelope”. In builder lingo, the better a structure keeps out the wind and the rain, the tighter its envelope. And if you can achieve that tight envelope while using some kind of renewable, recycled material? Well, that’s all the better.
But here’s the rub – while many new energy-efficient products enter the market each year, some builders shy away from them because of the higher costs. In many cases, just adding a layer of insulation or a specially glazed window can increase the cost of materials by 20 to 30 percent.
However, the experts in energy conservation argue that in most cases, those more efficient materials will lead to lowered costs of heating and cooling a house. So the homeowner will typically recover that money within several years. And that’s where the real savings start to add up.
Steel: The Recycled Superhero
If you check out the material produced by the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI), you might want to skip the wood beams when building your next house. According to the SRI, builders are simplifying the framing process by ordering customized steel beams and panels to fit each specific design.
The SRI touts the durability of steel in areas subject to high winds and earthquakes. And get this – while a 2,000-square-foot house requires 40 or 50 trees to build a frame, a frame from recycled steel would require no more than the material that comes from six scrapped cars.
That’s a pretty incredible statistic, if you ask me. Not only is steel more resilient, but the recycling process also saves a ton of energy. At least 65 tons of scrap steel are recycled every year, reducing the energy produced in making the steel by 75 percent. That’s a win-win for the environment and your wallet.
Concrete Goes Green
The Portland Cement Association, one of the top makers of concrete forms, defines them as “cast-in-place concrete walls that are sandwiched between two layers of insulation material.” Essentially, concrete is poured into forms that serve as insulation layers and remain in place as a permanent part of the structure.
An industry-funded study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that buildings made from insulated concrete forms saved 20 percent over the energy consumed by wood-frame buildings in cold climates like Chicago. That’s a pretty significant difference, don’t you think?
Now, I know what you might be thinking – concrete sounds like a heavy, energy-intensive material. But the reality is that these insulated concrete forms provide excellent thermal mass, meaning they absorb and store heat, helping to regulate the temperature inside your home. And with the added insulation layers, you get the best of both worlds – the durability of concrete with the energy-saving benefits of proper insulation.
Surfing the Wave of Plant-Based Foam
After the number one maker of surfboard material went out of business and got fined by the Environmental Protection Agency for using a toxic chemical, a surfboard maker in San Diego started producing a foam material that comes from plants.
Ned McMahon, the chief operating officer of Malama Composites, is manufacturing this so-called “rigid foam” from materials such as bamboo, hemp, and kelp. And when used as insulation, the foam offers high moisture and heat resistance, excellent acoustics, and protection against mold and pests. Not to mention, it has a higher R-value than fiberglass or polystyrene, meaning it insulates better.
I don’t know about you, but I find it pretty exciting that we’re taking waste products from the surfboard industry and turning them into high-performance, eco-friendly insulation. It’s a testament to the innovative spirit of the green building movement.
Straw Bale Houses: Building Blocks of the Future?
Ever build with LEGOs? Then you can build a house. That’s the philosophy of Mark Jensen, who supervises the building of straw bale houses for Native American communities. Straw is a byproduct of the grain industry that often would be burned otherwise.
According to the California Straw Building Association, straw, if kept dry, can last for thousands of years. And the best part? Straw bales bond well to stucco and plaster walls, providing excellent insulation in the process.
A 2,000-square-foot house needs about 300 medium-sized straw bales for its construction. Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Straw bales? Isn’t that a fire hazard?” Well, the National Association of Home Builders says that while few jurisdictions account for straw bale construction in building codes, local authorities manage the construction on a case-by-case basis. So it’s definitely an option worth exploring, especially if you’re looking for a renewable, low-cost insulation solution.
Reflective Roofs: The “White T-Shirt” of the Building World
The Cool Roof Rating Council explains it like this: “If you want to stay cool on a hot day, it’s better to wear a white T-shirt than a black one, because it reflects rather than absorbs heat. A cool roof is like that white T-shirt – it reflects heat from the sun and stays cooler, thus transferring less heat into the building.”
In the past, the roofing materials themselves needed to be light-colored for this concept to work. But new treatments allow consumers to choose darker materials that will still reflect heat back into the atmosphere. Of course, these materials cost more than traditional roofing – Eco Home Magazine cited one estimate at $0.80 per square foot more.
But the experts argue that a lower electric bill in the blazing days of August will help you recoup those costs quickly. It’s kind of like investing in a high-quality, energy-efficient appliance – the upfront cost may be higher, but the long-term savings make it worth it.
Structural Insulated Panels: The Sandwich of the Building World
Think of an Oreo cookie, and you’ve got the idea about a structural insulated panel (SIP). SIPs are made from a layer of foam insulation that’s sandwiched between pieces of plywood, strand board, or cement panels.
In 2009, this material was used in less than 2 percent of new homes. But by some estimates, SIPs save 50 percent in energy costs over houses built from conventional materials. That’s a pretty impressive number, if you ask me.
Now, I know what you’re thinking – “But aren’t SIPs kind of ugly?” Well, the National Association of Home Builders says that the surfaces can be given finished looks like wood grain or stucco. And siding, bricks, and stone can be installed on the panels too. So you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics for energy efficiency.
Composite Lumber: The Plastic-Wood Hybrid
Ever wonder where those plastic bags go? If you’ve recycled them, they may turn up in the construction of your next deck or on the local playground. According to the National Association of Home Builders, this 50-50 combination of wood fibers and waste plastics is more durable and less toxic than conventional treated lumber.
The material is also more rigid than pure plastic lumber because the wood fibers add extra strength. And while it’s more resistant to mold and rot, the composite lumber is more rigid in the cold and more pliable in the heat than plastic lumber.
Of course, all of these benefits come at a cost – this stuff is significantly more expensive than conventional treated lumber products. But if you’re looking for a more eco-friendly, long-lasting option for your outdoor projects, it might be worth the investment.
Low-E Windows: The Heat-Blocking Champions
The “E” in low-E stands for “emissivity”, and a clear coating of metallic oxide on these windows keeps the heat inside the house in the winter and outside in the summer. Typically, this coating is used on external storm windows in houses that don’t have double-pane windows.
The technology comes in soft coatings, which go between layers of glass, and hard coatings, which go on the outside. And while low-E windows typically cost between $60 and $110 each – that’s 10 to 15 percent more than clear glass storm windows – the benefits are undeniable.
They can reduce heat flow through the glass by half and help reduce heating costs by 10 to 20 percent. That’s a pretty significant energy savings, if you ask me. And when you factor in the improved comfort and reduced strain on your HVAC system, it’s easy to see why these windows are worth the investment.
Vacuum Insulation Panels: The Ultimate Insulation
In a 1-inch panel, the vacuum insulation panel (VIP) provides as much as seven times the insulating protection as traditional products. This technology may well be the ultimate insulation panel, but it’s currently only available for commercial, industrial refrigeration, and specialized container systems.
The VIP looks like something out of the old NASA films about spacecraft technology – it’s a textured silver rectangle that holds a core panel enclosed in an airtight envelope. Manufacturers can make the panels in any size, but the National Association of Home Builders reports that the biggest installation problem is the panels’ fragile surface, which has to be encased in a protective covering.
The association is working with The Dow Chemical Company, the chief manufacturer of the product, to make the panels available as insulation for attics in future residential construction. So keep an eye out – this could be a game-changer for home insulation in the years to come.
Earthen Walls: The Renewable, Renewable, Renewable Option
If you want to build with walls of rammed earth or adobe, the great advantage is that the material is abundant, free, and doesn’t have to be transported to the job site. The downside? You’ll have a hard time finding specialized craftsmen who know how to build with dirt.
Countries including China, Peru, and New Zealand actually account for this type of building in their codes, but the United States has not established codes for building from the earth. And the difficulty of finding craftsmen who can do the job led the National Association of Home Builders to estimate that costs for labor could run at least $80 per square foot.
Even so, researchers at the association note that earthen walls provide excellent thermal mass, and the material comes from the ultimate in renewable sources. So if you’re willing to put in the time and effort to find the right builders, this could be a truly sustainable option for your home.
The Insulation Buffet: Exploring All Your Options
When it comes to insulating your home, you’ve got a veritable buffet of options to choose from. Whether it’s steel framing, insulated concrete forms, plant-based foam, or even straw bales, the world of energy-efficient building materials is constantly evolving.
And the best part? Many of these cutting-edge solutions not only save you money on your energy bills but also have a smaller environmental footprint. It’s a win-win for your wallet and the planet.
So as you embark on your next home improvement project, I encourage you to think outside the traditional insulation box. Explore the latest and greatest that the industry has to offer, and you might just find the perfect solution to help you insulate and save at Plug ‘n Save Energy Products. Your home (and your bank account) will thank you.