On a recent trip to Washington D.C., accompanied by SIPA Executive Director Bill Wachtler and Past President Frank Baker, I had the opportunity to meet with a number of government officials, trade organizations and energy efficiency advocates. I was astounded by the amount of interest in SIPs we encountered from nearly everyone we visited.
Much of the recent enthusiasm comes from the dramatic increases in energy efficiency being enacted through changes to the International Energy Conservation Code, the popular ENERGY STAR for Homes program, and other building performance programs like the Builders Challenge, the 2030 Challenge, and LEED. The amount of additional effort and materials required to meet these more rigorous energy efficiency standards with conventional wood frame construction is significant.
As these standards increase, SIPs become the clear solution. I’m convinced that now is the ideal time to promote SIPs as the building system of the future and push SIP construction into the mainstream. We have the best product out there for what everyone is trying to accomplish—a high R-value building system with minimal thermal bridging and excellent air sealing that will help builders meet increased energy codes.
There was plenty of other promising news on the trip. We met with representatives from the Forest Products Laboratory to explore how we might partner on future research projects, such as seismic testing. We also stopped by the NAHB Research Center, who recently received a $300,000 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to examine deep energy retrofits with retrofit insulated panels.
At the federal level, SIPA is an active member in a lobbying coalition led by RESNET that is advocating incentives for energy-efficient construction. The latest incarnation of such legislation is the SAVE Act, which would modify mortgage and appraisal standards to include consideration of energy efficiency.
I know that this trend towards energy-efficient construction will be one of the key topics at the SIPA Annual Meeting & Roundup, April 10-12, 2012 in San Antonio, Texas. SIPA is putting together an impressive lineup of speakers, networking events, and even a tour of the Vantem Panels SIP manufacturing facility. Registration is now open online, so I encourage you to register and make hotel reservations early before the hotel rooms fill up. I look forward to seeing you there.
Terry Dieken, Extreme Panel Technologies
SIPA President
