Icynene Icynene^® & The New American Home 2007 Demonstrate that Going Green Gets Builders Gold

The New American Home Icynene^® (TNAH) is the official show home of the North American Home Builders' Association's International Builders' Show (IBS). The project is a ‘real-world' laboratory demonstrating that “housing performance” can be incorporated into the most simple or most complex homes, and that it's equally as important as aesthetics.

The showcase home has once again been developed in partnership with Building America, the U.S. Department of Energy program that researches and certifies energy-efficient home building to provide a catalyst for the development of high-performance homes.

Building TNAH to superior performance standards is easier when incorporating smart products like Icynene Icynene^®, a 100% water-blown and environmentally-friendly insulation and air barrier material. Icynene^® is sprayed into walls, ceilings, attics, and floors and then it expands 100 times its initial volume in seconds to create a soft foam insulation. It is an effective air barrier and with this unique air-sealing ability, Icynene Icynene^® supports sustainable construction of TNAH in three ways:

1. Energy efficiency – As a dual-performing insulation and air barrier, Icynene Icynene^® works to keep the home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, so less energy is required to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. TNAH 2007 uses 73% less energy for heating and cooling and 54% less for hot water than a central Florida home of comparable size, according to certification figures. This represents annual savings of $1,132, said John R. Broniek, senior building performance specialist for IBACOS, the Pittsburgh-based building science and consulting firm that provided technical assistance for this year's home. Additionally, the home has a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rating of 51, putting it halfway between a rating of 100 for a typical home and zero for a zero-energy home that produces at least as much energy as it consumes.

2. Meeting green criteria set forth by the FGBC and NAHB – In addition to stellar ratings from Energy Star Icynene^®, Icynene Icynene^® helped TNAH achieve certification as a "green" or environmentally friendly home under standards set forth by the (FGBC) Florida Green Building Coalition, an organization dedicated to eco-friendly construction practices. TNAH 2007 has also achieved a preliminary score of 400 points in the North American Home Builders' Association (NAHB) Model Green Home Building Guidelines certification system – a gold rating. Points are awarded for each of seven guiding principles in order to assure that all aspects of green building are addressed and that there is a balanced, whole-systems approach. A key component of the integrated systems approach, Icynene Icynene^® adheres to and integrates well with other building components to deliver improved airtightness levels and create a healthy, efficient building envelope.

3. Payback for builders and homeowners – When applied to production building, this whole-systems approach can be a money-saver for both builders and homeowners, according to Building America.  For instance, in attic and crawlspace applications, Icynene Icynene^® offers a conditioned area for ductwork and air handlers, so the HVAC equipment can be right-sized. In turn, right-sizing the HVAC system allows homeowners to maintain the desired indoor temperature while consuming less energy, saving them money on their utility bills every month. Those savings can be used to purchase options and other upgrades. Further, improved building performance and occupant comfort will reduce callbacks, saving builders time and money.

For more information on TNAH 2007, visit our Project Gallery.