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For Immediate Release:
Date: 05/17/04
Headline: SIP Research House Energy Build averages 45 cents a day.
Total annual heating and cooling cost for SIP research house averages 45 cents a day.
The Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) built four “net zero energy” research homes, in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Loudon County Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Lenoir City, TN, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and other project sponsors, which are expected to return nearly as much energy to the power grid as the homes use.
The homes, located in the Habitat for Humanity Harmony Heights subdivision of Lenoir City, Tennessee, have all been equipped with integrated heating, cooling, and appliance technologies to maximize energy savings. Fifty sensors have been measuring energy performance since November 2002. SIPA has provided building expertise and SIPs for the floors, walls, and roofs.
The first test home, completed in October 2002, achieved a HERS rating of 90.2, representing 51% energy savings over the 2000 Model Energy Code, which established a HERS rating of 80 as a standard. During a colder-than-normal winter, sensors revealed that heating costs were only half as much as those for a comparable wood framed house across the street. The total heating cost for one year was $92.00. The total cooling cost was $74.00 bringing the total heating and cooling costs to 45 cents a day.
One of the two new SIP near zero energy houses with a geothermal heat pump instead of an air source, through the winter of 2003-2004 is using almost 20% less than the first test house that for a full year cost the homeowner only $0.82 per day for all their off site energy needs in Lenoir City, TN serviced by the TVA.
According to Bill Wachtler, SIPA’s executive director, “SIPs can make a home up to 70% more energy efficient, and they are also resource efficient. By using SIPs in conjunction with other energy-efficient and affordable features, builders will be able to offer net-zero energy houses of all types to many more American homebuyers over the next few years.” “I believe the research results will demonstrate that homes built today with SIPs can achieve the Department of Energy’s goal of achieving 70% energy savings by the year 2020. It’s really great to be out in front of the pack when it comes to energy efficiency, especially when you see the cost of energy rising the way it has during the last few months.”
As the primary structural components for a home, combining sheathing and insulation in a single step, SIPs make traditional wood framing look obsolete when it comes to building an energy efficient building envelope. Typically, SIPs consist of a rigid foam core sandwiched between two oriented strand board “skins.” Jeff Christian, Director of the Buildings Technology Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, reports that SIPs have “tested six to eight times more airtight than conventional construction.” The result is a building system that is stronger and more energy efficient than wood framing.
A SIP-based system offers superior insulation, exceptional strength, and fast installation. Besides these benefits, the total construction costs are less with SIPs compared to wood framed homes, especially when you consider speed of construction, less expensive HVAC equipment required, reduced site waste, reduced construction financing costs, more favorable energy efficient mortgages available, and the lower cost of owning a home built with SIPs. For greater structural integrity and immediate cost savings, a SIP home is a wise choice for builders and homeowners alike.
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