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Gray Case Study
Building a Case
When Charon and Gene Gray retired, they wanted a passive solar home to save energy and help the environment. They pulled together many different features to achieve their goal, including the use of Thermocore wall and roof panels. As a result, their electric company certified the home as Touchstone energy-efficient, qualifying the Grays for cost reductions and incentives.
But despite all the unique features, the home looks like any other. "Unless we tell people we have panels, no one knows," Charon said.
Worth the Distance
Once the Grays decided to use structural insulated panels, they investigated all the options. Even though a closer plant offered panels with expanded polystyrene (EPS), when Charon saw a sample shipped from Thermocore, her choice was clear. The higher insulation value of Thermocore's panels — R-24 in every wall panel and R-40 in roof panels — caught her attention, and the construction quality sealed the deal. "Thermocore's panels are very sturdy and strong and offer features other panels do not," she said.
Static Temperatures
After the Grays poured an insulated concrete slab and erected the Thermocore panels, the house never got colder than 55 degrees--even before the heating and cooling system was installed. That made interior construction work much easier through the winter, and continues to bring down energy costs each month.
Eager to Please
Charon general contracted the house herself, something she'd never done before. “Of all the people I had to work with during construction of my house, Thermocore was the easiest,“ she said. Though she might do some things differently now that she has more experience, “the panels are not one of the things I'd change." Four years later she confirms, "They've lived up to expectations.”
Easier Breathing
Her new home even offers health benefits. While the heat exchanger handles air circulation, Thermocore panels provide an airtight barrier to keep away outside toxins that would otherwise irritate Charon's asthma and allergies. “When the electric company came in to test the house, it was super-tight,” Charon said. Outside air stays out and indoor air quality stays healthy.
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- Charon Gray,“Of all the people I had to work with during construction of my house, Thermocore was the easiest.”
Kentucky
