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| Home with innovative CertainTeed hybrid insulation system  An innovative hybrid insulation system, consisting of three CertainTeed Insulation products, is contributing toward the LEED Platinum certification of a Centennial, Colo., home that will be used as an example to educate homeowners and the building industry about sustainable practices, systems and products. One of the first LEED Platinum homes to be built in Colorado, the Wallace Home stands on the site of the former home of Al Wallace, founder of the Energy Environmental Corporation. Wallace's family was forced to evacuate on November 22, 2007, when a devastating fire engulfed the original structure. With 10 years experience in the sustainable building industry, Wallace decided to build an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly new home this year on the site to meet LEED Platinum standards. The home features a team of building products, such as CertainTeed Insulation, specified to achieve the desired LEED Platinum certification. The insulation system specified for the project is designed to maximize the home's energy efficiency, thermal control, and moisture management throughout with the high-efficiency combination of foam insulation, fiberglass insulation and a breathable vapor retarder. The wall cavities in the Wallace Home contain a 1-inch layer of CertainTeed Closed-Cell CertaSpray polyurethane foam insulation, a 4 1/2-inch blown-in layer of OPTIMA Fiber Glass Insulation, and MemBrain - The Smart Vapor Retarder, which protects the wall cavity and increases the system's drying potential. OPTIMA and MemBrain were also used to insulate the attic rafters. Denver contractor Division 7 Quality Insulation Systems installed all of the insulation. The hybrid insulation system used in the home provides superior R-value and efficiency, similar to a wall cavity completely filled with closed cell foam insulation. For instance, an insulated cavity with 2-inch x 6-inch walls and batt insulation alone would produce an R-value of between 18 and 21. With OPTIMA insulation alone, the R-value would be 23, and with the hybrid system, the R-value climbs to 25.2. The hybrid system is catching on across the nation with sustainable builders, who want a more affordable way to boost the R-value in a home and utilize the sustainable attributes of both fiberglass and foam insulation. "This application combines the air-sealing characteristics of foam insulation with the time-proven performance and lower cost of fiberglass insulation and the superior moisture management of a breathable vapor retarder," says Randy Straight, Manager of Residential Technical Services for CertainTeed's Insulation Group. "CertainTeed is the only company that offers all of these products, providing contractors a one-stop shop for insulation needs. The combination of CertaSpray, OPTIMA and MemBrain is ideal for sustainable construction projects, such as the Wallace Home." The Energy Environmental Corporation plans to use the new timber-frame LEED certified home as a teaching tool to educate homeowners and building professionals about sustainable practices, systems and products. The home was featured during the 2008 ENERGY STAR Summit last November. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Construction News :: home page |