Matt and I have the pleasure of working with all sorts of people who are trying to make a difference.  Our friends at Progressive Foam Technologies are some of those people.  Through their unique processes and work with polystyrene foam, they are insulating homes to save energy costs and consumption therefore helping save people money and protect our natural resources.  To learn more about insulated siding visit their website www.progressivefoam.com.

The following is an article from their technical newsletter that talks about how far ahead of us our European neighbors are in reducing their carbon footprint.

Energy-Efficiency and Modern Building Design is Job #1 in Europe
The president of Progressive Foam, Pat Culpepper, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Expanded Polystyrene Molders Association (EPSMA). He recently represented the North American building and construction molders at the European Union Molders of Expanded Polystyrene annual conference held in Aachen, Germany in May.

The purpose of the conference was to hold a world-wide forum to discuss many issues that affect our industry with a focus on recycling, resource-efficient manufacturing processes, new material types, and energy-efficient
building technologies.

Europe leads the world in reducing its consumption of non-renewable, carbon-based energy resources. This leadership position has been achieved by a top-to-bottom commitment to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, beginning at the highest levels of government. Although many technological advances have made this possible (such as improvements in solar, wind, nuclear, and geothermal power), approximately 40% of the improvement has come through a significant commitment to an old technology: insulation.

Governments and homeowners throughout Europe have realized that the quickest and lowest cost method of reducing their dependence on fossil fuels and their carbon footprint is to simply improve the energy-efficiency of their current housing stock. They have come to realize that conservation of resources is a logical first step in any strategy to improve the environment and reduce costs. By bringing their residential housing up to modern standards, energy consumption is reduced immediately and permanently.

The number one choice for insulation in Europe continues to be EPS. As a comparison, realize that most North American building codes specify R-19 sidewall insulation in new construction.  In Denmark, the modern standard for sidewall insulation is R-40! One of the primary methods of achieving these levels is to add up to 15 inches of EPS to the walls.

Progressive Foam has done a great deal of research to understand how buildings will be constructed in a new world that is facing much higher energy costs and expectations by consumers for a more environmentally responsible home. Insulated Siding is a logical building material available in North America to insulate the sidewalls of new and existing housing stock, estimated by the US Census Bureau at over 115 million homes.

To read more about insulated siding, check out our article, “How Siding can Insulate your Home”.  We are proud to have Progressive Foam Technologies as one of our sponsors.  Together we have a relationship based on believing in each others ideals and the desire to work together to make a difference. 

Matt and I will add more articles as the information becomes available.  They are technical, but extremely informative and just right for those of you who are looking to make significant changes in your home’s energy efficiency. 

Shari

 
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