News Release - 5/30/2006
| For Immediate Release May 30, 2006 |
Contact: | Chris Schwind chris@sips.org 253.858.7472 |
Builders seeking an Energy Star rating for homes will have to conform to more rigid energy efficient standards as of July 1, 2006. In effort to further energy efficiency in residential buildings, the EPA has changed the scale of the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score, and added a comprehensive Thermal Bypass Checklist.
The new HERS index references the 2004 supplement to the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as a score of 100, in place of the Model Energy Code. Using the IECC as the lowest rating significantly raises the performance standards of Energy Star homes. The required HERS index depends on the home’s location in one of eight climate zones.
In addition to achieving a minimum HERS index, builders must pass a visual inspection of all items on the Thermal Bypass Checklist. The checklist insures that the home receives the full R-Value of the insulation by inspecting for gaps, voids, and potential areas of insulation compression. The primary item on the checklist is that a whole house air barrier be installed such that it will, “provide continuous alignment of the insulation with the air barrier.”
This requirement is practically automatic when building with structural insulated panels (SIPs). SIPs provide insulation consistently and flawlessly, and function as both an air and a thermal barrier. The insulating core foam core of a structural insulated panel does not have any gaps, voids, or thermal bridging studs. Building with SIPs leaves far fewer gaps to seal than conventional stick framing.
Sam Rashkin, the National Director of Energy Star for Homes, commented, “a SIP house has less cracks, less joints, and less complicated interfaces between conditioned and unconditioned spaces, and it is dramatically easier to make it tight.”
If the home uses SIP roof panels, many of the items on the Thermal Bypass Checklist such as attic duct sealing and recessed light sealing will be automatic because the attic is conditioned space.
“With SIPs it is virtually an auto check on all sixteen items of the Thermal Bypass Checklist because the air barrier details inherent in SIP construction put SIPs way ahead of the program,” said Rashkin.
SIPs can also help Energy Star builders save money. Rashkin estimates the additional costs of materials necessary for a stick built home to meet the new Energy Star standards between $600 and $1,200 for materials only. With the additional labor costs added in, of building with SIPs makes even more financial sense for builders aiming for Energy Star certification.
About SIPA
The Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) is a non-profit association representing manufacturers, suppliers, fabricators/distributors, design professionals, and builders committed to providing quality structural insulated panels for all segments of the construction industry.
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