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Heating and cooling is typically the largest home
expense after the mortgage payments. Structures built with
SIPs use an average of 40% less energy than conventionally
framed structures. Structural Insulated Panels have a 31%
better insulation value than stick built with no drafts
or cold spots. The R-Value of a typical SIP wall is R-25.
The lifecycle costs of building with SIPs are unmatched.
"The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)
found a 12% to 17% energy savings from using SIP construction.
The FSEC also monitored side-by-side SIP and conventional
wood-framed structures for several winter months. The airtightness
of the SIP house (measured at 0.21 air changes per hour
[ach]) and was better than the conventional wood-framed
house (measured at 0.27 ach)."
- U.S. Department of Energy's website on Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Structural Insulated Panels are completely compliant with
international building codes, and provide a structure inherently
stronger and more suited to withstand natural disasters.
"An increasing number of houses are being
built with SIPs. They are attractive because of their relatively
high-uniform R-values, square, flat and plumb walls, and
ease and speed of construction. Problems with natural pests
can be minimized with adequate prevention measures. Buildings
made of SIPs appear to be safer than some other types, even
in fire."
- U.S. Department of Energy's website on Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The Inconsistency of R-Values
"Although R-values are a convenient and common yardstick
to measure thermal performance, the usefulness of them is
limited. In a 2000 study by Brock University in Ontario,
two almost identical homes - one built with stick frame
and the other with SIPS - were compared for energy efficiency.
Thermal analysis revealed the 2-by-6 stick-frame house (rated
at R-20) actually performed at an R-4 equivalent while the
4 1/2-inch-wide SIPs home performed at a true R-17 level
in 13-degree temperatures. The reason for the wide discrepancy
is because, unlike frame systems, SIPs offer continuous
insulation values across large areas of airtight walls,
unbroken by studs that would otherwise conduct hear and
let cool air into the building. In terms of real-world energy
conservation, the SIPs home consumed only a quarter as much
energy over one year as its stick-built counterpart, even
though R-value ratings were comparable."
Mother Earth News - October/November
2005
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