As a proud sponsor of the EarthCraft House program, Icynene expresses its appreciation for all the great work that EarthCraft has done and expects them to continue the tradition of promoting building excellence well into the future!

In this interview, Southface Executive Director, Dennis Creech, shares with Icynene his perspective on the future of green building and the role of spray foam insulation in support of better building.

Icynene: Since you started the EarthCraft House program what is the biggest change you’ve seen with building products and technologies?

Mr. Creech: Probably the biggest change has been that many of the products and technologies that contribute to high-performance houses are no longer special order items, they are off-the-shelf products.  Manufacturers are recognizing the consumer and builder demand for better, environmentally friendly products and the benefits to sustainable building practices.

Icynene: In your experience, what are some of the key advantages of building a sustainable home with spray foam insulation versus conventional insulation products?

Mr. Creech: The biggest benefit is that spray foam tightens the building envelope while giving a quality R-Value.  Grade I insulation installation and a tight building envelope contribute significantly to a better Home Energy Rating which makes it easier for any builder to meet green certification standards. 

Icynene: Why do you think so many builders have chosen Icynene^® spray foam insulation as a component of an EarthCraft home?

Mr. Creech: We know a number of builders use spray foam for new homes but we have found many EarthCraft Renovators like to use Icynene^® to seal attics and crawl spaces.  It is typically much more difficult to seal the building envelope during a retrofit but spray foam is an excellent product to separate conditioned and unconditioned space.  Sealing air leaks can save money, improve comfort, prevent moisture problems and is a great contributor to a healthier living environment for the homeowners.

Icynene: Has our current economic state crushed the green building movement or helped it?

Mr. Creech: Market share for the EarthCraft program has been increasing in the region.  Many builders recognize that green building doesn’t have to be a big increase in costs of construction and most builders are very interested in maintaining their quality building practices.  We believe that green, high-performance building standards are getting better every year

Icynene: Despite the tough economy, do you see more people looking to purchase homes that are certified green? If so, why do you think this is?

Mr. Creech: There is always a demand for quality, especially when people purchase a home.  When a home owner walks into an EarthCraft House they begin to understand the house is built as a complete system which gives the home owner the benefits of green building standards – a more durable home with lower maintenance costs, a healthier indoor environment and lower utility bills.  Home owners value EarthCraft’s independent testing, verification and certification standards. 

Carson Matthews is an Atlanta real estate broker who has tracked some of the sales of green homes in the Metro Atlanta area.  His findings are that green homes tend to sell at a premium around 5% more, and the days-on-market tend to be about half that, of standard code-built homes.  It’s too early to tell exactly how this will affect the market for green homes but the early numbers are promising.

Icynene: Since the program’s inception in 1999 what is the most common feedback you have received from homeowners who have Icynene^® installed in their homes?

Mr. Creech: An airtight, super insulated building shell is critical to a quality home. People truly marvel at how quiet their home is, how comfortable the entire home stays, year-round, top to bottom, and that their utility bills are much lower than for their previous home, even though their new home is often larger.

Icynene: How has the EarthCraft House program evolved to meet changing market demand?

Mr. Creech: After a few years honing their green building expertise, builders asked EarthCraft to create a tiered program that recognized advanced design and superior products. The tiered program helps builders set realistic performance goals for their homes and inspire their subcontractors to achieve high performance homes. Builders also use the tiers to differentiate themselves in a competitive marketplace.

Based on the success of the single family new home program, other construction professionals have asked EarthCraft House to expand into renovation, multifamily and entire community design. Recently, the land development community identified a problem with the EarthCraft Community program. While the program emphasized mixed-use development, EarthCraft did not address the type of light commercial buildings, such as club houses or retail shops, typically found in their communities. EarthCraft for Light Commercial buildings provides them a builder-friendly solution.

Icynene: What is next for the EarthCraft House program – where are you taking the program in the next 5 years? How can building product manufacturers help you do this?

Mr. Creech: Manufacturers have been steadily moving to get better products to the marketplace.  Icynene has responded to market demand with their new ICYNENE LD-R-50™ product that replaces some of the petroleum in spray foam with castor oil.  That’s a great example of stake-holders in green building programs working together to solve problems with a sustainable solution.  This type of relationship is where green building programs offer the best, market-driven benefit to the consumer, builder and product manufacturers. 

Icynene: What is on the horizon for green building and green certification programs?

Mr. Creech: Top notch green certification programs begin by educating builders and consumers, so there will always be a need for information on current technology, techniques and best-building practices.  Once the builders and consumers are informed the open market determines what will become the accepted market standard.

Many of the green standards for homes and buildings are becoming part of local code compliance.  As an example, here in Georgia the standard code for windows has improved significantly so the consumer is automatically getting some benefits of best-building practices.  Water is a major issue and many local codes reflect the need for water saving standards.  Within a short period of time we’ll begin to address climate change and the lower levels of greenhouse gases produced by an energy-saving home.

Learn more about building an EarthCraft House by visiting http://www.earthcrafthouse.com/resources/how-to.htm