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Superior Insulating Properties
For maximum energy efficiency, EPS rigid foam insulation can be specified
to achieve the desired thermal resistance and can significantly reduce air
leakage that may occur in roof, wall and below grade assemblies. The amount
of insulation required will vary depending on the building design, climate
and energy costs, making it important to choose the most cost effective
R-value per inch.
EPS delivers R-value ranging from 3.60 to 4.20 per inch. It is the only
rigid foam insulation that offers stable thermal resistance from the point
of manufacture. Foam insulation is effective in buildings with space
limitations and where higher R-values are needed. EPS rated at R-4 per inch
of thickness can provide up to 2 times greater insulation than traditional
insulating materials of the same thickness.
Other rigid foam insulation materials require testing to determine their
long-term thermal resistance (LTTR) which can add to product development
costs and render a calculated ‘guess’ at the insulation’s performance over
time. EPS does not have to conduct such tests because it does not experience
thermal drift, meaning its R-value remains constant throughout the life of
the building.
EPS Slab-On-Grade floors are one example that
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Plastics Energy Conservation
In Building & Construction
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In a one-year
study, plastic building and construction materials saved 467.2
trillion Btu's of energy over alternative construction
materials.
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The energy saved by using
plastic building and construction materials in one year is
enough to meet the average annual energy needs of 4.6 million
U.S. households
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This is equal to all the
household in 11 states (twenty percent of states in the U.S.):
Nebraska, Utah, Nevada, Main, Indiana, Hawaii, Montana, South
Dakota, North Dakota, Arkansas and Wyoming. |
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Source:
Franklin Associates, Ltd., U.S. DOE and U.S. Census Bureau |
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demonstrates energy savings. According to the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE), Office of Building Technology, insulating the exterior edge of the
foundation slab can reduce winter heating bills by up to 10 to 20 percent1.
An insulated slab also provides thermal mass to store heat and moderates
indoor temperatures.
Studies designed to evaluate newer building systems applications, like
structural insulated panels (SIPS) and insulated concrete forms (ICFs) have
shown increased energy savings over competing materials, up to 25%. In a
1993 test conducted by the Florida Solar Energy Center, a building
constructed with EPS insulation tested at only 1.8 air changes per hour
(ach) versus 3.9 ach measured for a conventional, stick frame construction.
Similar results for ICFs made using EPS are shown in a study performed by
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, “Dynamic Thermal Performance and
Air-Tightness Effects of Concrete and Masonry Walls” and the Department of
Housing and Urban Development, “Insulating Concrete Forms: Installed Cost
and Acoustic Performance. Houses built with ICF exterior walls require an
estimated 44% less energy to heat and 32% less energy to cool than
comparable frame houses.
When properly installed, EPS insulation reduces the transfer of heat flow,
either out of or into the building. Structural systems like SIPs and ICFs
further improve the resistance to heat flow by providing tighter
construction. Additional studies from the Cement Association of Canada (CAC)
and the Northwest Territories Housing Corp. (NWTHC) show that homes
constructed with ICFs above and below grade wall construction have reduced
air infiltration compared to other wall assemblies.
1. Slab Insulation Technology Factsheet. Office of Building Technology,
State & Community Programs Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. U.S.
Department of Energy. December 2000.
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