Rebuilding with EPS foam – can this be a solution for homes destroyed by Hurricane Sandy or similar disasters?
In 2011, a wildfire destroyed a community of 67 homes near Austin, Texas. The residences needed to rebuild and naturally they wanted the recovery to be as quick as possible. According to an article by Julie Schaeffer in the American Builders Quarterly the homeowners turned to Solid Green Systems, LLC. Solid Green Systems offered them a solution that was energy efficient, affordable and able to be built in 60 days. Unlike traditional stick construction Solid Green Systems is a framing system of light-gauge steel and expanded polystyrene, (EPS) foam. This construction method creates a thermal envelope, that not only gives the homeowners a lifetime of heating and cooling savings, there are initial construction savings with lower requirements for HVAC systems.
We foresee that EPS building systems will become the preferred method for new home and business construction. Hopefully this could reduce rebuilding projects in the future.
“When a wildfire raged across the outskirts of Austin, Texas, and destroyed 67 residences in 2011, the community needed to rebuild—fast. Among the firms on hand to answer the call was Solid Green Systems, LLC, and once funding and grants were secured, it helped complete the first of the area’s new homes in just 60 days. It did so using its patented framing system made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam and light-gauge steel, which is gaining more attention each day for its affordability, ease of use, and sustainability.
EPS foam is an energy-efficient building material, and when combined with light-gauge metal framing, it provides the necessary structural strength for exterior walls and roofs. Solid Building Systems manufactures its product cheaply for contractors in need of a quick, eco-friendly structural skeleton,” reports Julie Schaeffer.
For the complete article – 60 Days to Build a House
To read more about this type of construction – Building with EPS and Ultra Energy Efficient Homes.
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This article was posted on July 16, 2013, by Insulation Corporation of America (ICA) – a Women-Owned manufacturer of Geofoam and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), which is commonly but mistakenly referred to as Styrofoam™. ICA is located in Allentown, PA and services the entire Mid-Atlantic Region from Virginia to Maine to Ohio.
