Structural Insulated Panels
A highly efficient alternative to conventional framing, SIPs are gaining more traction with builders.
By now familiar to most builders, SIPs are made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) or polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation sandwiched between two structural sheets of oriented strand board. About 12,000 homes were built with SIPs in 2002, according to the Gig Harbor, Wash.-based Structural Insulated Panel Association.Considering how many houses are erected annually, this number is barely a blip on the national radar. The technology, however, is gaining acceptance. Even the nation’s largest home builder, Pulte, is testing the viability of producing large quantities of SIPs houses.
Vapor Retarders and Air Barriers
A primer on air barriers and vapor retarders.
Air barriers, which prevent air leakage, and vapor retarders, which control moisture diffusion, are both important for controlling moisture in a building envelope.
(Via BuildingGreen.com News.)
Building Green = Durability
This commentary explains perfectly our decision to design and build “Green”. Building for the long haul and building correctly not only saves materials and energy, but saves the owner money in utility costs and repairs.
No matter whom I speak to about green building, the conversation always seems to circle back to what I and many consider to be the most important aspect of a sustainable home: durability. It’s a term I define broadly as a house built using proper installation techniques, with an awareness of building science principles and the right combination of products and details that will keep it leak-free, mold-resistant, and rock solid for years to come.
Via EcoHome Magazine
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