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"For decades, we've known that panels like Thermocore's save at least 50%--sometimes up to 60 and 70%--of energy costs," said Steve Haroth, owner of New York-based Stephens Construction. "Once we have the technology in hand to build a better way, I wouldn't feel comfortable building a 2 x 6 home [with traditional construction techniques] again. I'll never go back."
Building a Case
Here's why Steve uses Thermocore panels:
Unless you build a home right, you can't get the highest return on your investment. "If you look at the lifetime energy use of an average home, mine comes in at half of that--in some cases even a third," Steve pointed out.
The panels are five to six times tighter on air changes than traditional construction methods. "A big part of the money savings comes from building a virtually airtight envelope and minimizing the air that goes in and out of the house," Steve said.
The temperature stays where you put it in Thermocore homes. One of Steve's customers has never turned on the air conditioning in two-and-a-half years of living in his new home. Another customer dials down his radiant floor heating because the Thermocore envelope holds heat so well.
The panels are stronger than a 2 x 6 home. "The walls are very quiet and solid," Steve said. "There's a security you feel when you're inside the home."
Thermocore panels use fewer resources. "Expanded polystyrene (EPS) panels require more thickness for the same R-value; it just doesn't make sense to consume more materials when we can use Thermocore panels with polyurethane," Steve concluded. With outside layers of oriented strand board, Thermocore panels consume only half the lumber of stick framing.
Maximizing Energy Savings
Because of Steve's reputation for energy-efficient results, one of his homes was accepted into the High-Performance Residential Design Challenge sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). With the help of NYSERDA, Steve and the homeowner upgraded to the most energy-efficient design elements with the best return on investment. That included 6 1/2-inch Thermocore panels with an R-value of 40.
When finished, the 2,500-square-foot home is projected to boast a HERS Score of 92.8, besting the Energy-Star required score of 86. Steve also plans to apply for LEED Gold-level certification.
"The highest and best use of a home is to house the family with comfort and storage in mind while costing the least amount of energy in the long-term," Steve maintains. "Using Thermocore panels is a no-brainer."
Why build the old way when you can choose proven technology that returns your investment every single month for the entire life of your home?
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