News Release 7/24/07
| For Immediate Release July 24, 2007 |
Contact: | Chris Schwind chris@sips.org 253.858.7472 |
Energy Efficient and Sustainable Buildings Stand out at SIPA’s Building Excellence Awards
May 8, 2007—The Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) announced the winners of the fifth annual Building Excellence Awards at the SIPA Annual Meeting and Conference in Washington, DC. The awards recognize SIPA members that build innovative, green homes with structural insulated panels (SIPs).
To be eligible, all entries were required to use SIPs for 50-percent of the building envelope. Judges evaluated the entries based on demonstrated energy efficiency, design innovation and other SIPs-related factors that contributed to the success of the project.
Winners were named in each of the following categories: single family homes over 3,000 sq. ft.; single family homes under 3,000 sq. ft.; multifamily; agricultural; and commercial/institutional buildings. Judges also selected an overall competition winner, runner-up, and the project that demonstrates the “most unique” application of SIPs.
Heather’s Home
Ferrier Builders, Inc.
Overall Competition Winner
Winner: Single Family Homes under 3,000 sq. ft.
When Ferrier Builders Inc. owner Don Ferrier set out to build a home for his daughter, Heather, he aimed to make an energy efficient and green home on an affordable budget. Through collaboration with the Department of Energy’s Building America Program, a cost-benefit analysis was used throughout the design and construction of the home in order to maintain the mission of affordable sustainability.
The 1,994 sq. ft. Weatherford, Tex. home features walls and roof made from structural insulated panels, solar hot water, Energy Star appliances, bamboo flooring, low-VOC paints, regional landscaping and a bevy of other green technologies. Heather’s home received a LEED for Homes Platinum certification, achieved Gold under the NAHB Green Building Guidelines, and was awarded the Energy Value Housing Award by the NAHB Research Center.
Melody Lane—Zumfelde Residence
Insulspan, Inc.
Overall Competition Runner-up
Winner: Single Family Homes over 3,000 sq. ft
This hybrid home combines the elegance of oak timber framing with an energy efficient SIP enclosure and an insulating concrete form (ICF) basement. ICFs, 6-inch SIP walls and a 10-inch SIP roof provide an exceptionally airtight and well insulated building envelope. The 6,300 sq. ft. home is located in Wauseon, Ohio, and features a geothermal heat pump as well as Energy Star appliances and lighting. A third floor tower creates a designed chimney effect for natural air circulation in the home.
Community Montessori School
FischerSIPs, LLC
Winner: Institutional/Commercial
This 27,575 sq. ft. tuition free charter school received an energy efficient loan from the state of Indiana. The New Albany school was designed with SIPs in mind based on the architect’s preference for green materials. Structural insulated panels were used for both walls and the roof in conjunction with structural steel supports. Inside, the school used organic Marmoleum flooring and carpeting with recycled content.
Minuteman Commons
Panel Pros, Inc.
Winner: Multifamily
Located in Lincoln, Mass., Minuteman Commons consists of four three-story multifamily buildings. According to SIP distributors and installers Panel Pros, using SIPs saved their client precious site time while adding energy efficiency and design flexibility to the finished product. Using SIPs also allowed the HVAC equipment to be downsized, saving money for the building owner and occupants.
Jim Christenson Shop
Energy Panel Structures, Inc.
Winner: Agricultural
Jim Christenson’s personal hobby shop in Brandon, S.Dak. uses SIPs with fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) laminated to the inside surface for a clean and neat appearance and for easy clean up. SIPs and engineered trusses significantly trimmed down the installation time of the 2,400 sq. ft. shop.
Trillium Studies
Panel Pros, Inc.
Winner: Most unique application of SIPs.
This Nowell, Mass. photography studio was designed by Harvard Graduate School of Design Student Wyly Brown. The unique design features a low sloping curved roof with SIPs, as well as SIP walls and an ICF basement. Radiant heat and low-e windows make this studio extremely energy efficient. Trees that had to be cleared from the building site were incorporated back into the building as both structural components and decorative elements.
About SIPA
The Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) is a non-profit association representing manufacturers, suppliers, dealer/distributors, design professionals, and builders committed to providing quality structural insulated panels for all segments of the construction industry.
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