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Energy efficiency is a priority in Habitat house construction
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Gary Lass shows the structure of insulated panels for Boone County's next Habitat House
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The new super energy, high performance Habitat for Humanity house soon to be erected on NW Fourth Street in Ogden goes far beyond typical code construction says Gary Lass of LASCO Construction Services, Inc. The house will incorporate structural insulated panels (SIP) made from high performance rigid foam insulation bonded to strand board or plywood.
"This is not new technology," says Lass. "It has just come into play more in the last 10 to 15 years. Using the pre-made panels, our company is able to construct a new building that is over 50% more efficient than typical stick built homes at virtually the same cost. Materials are a bit more of an investment but labor is drastically reduced."
Lass boasts the fact that the house is totally engineered and built in Iowa. Habitat for Humanity has chosen to use EPS (Energy Panel Structures) out of Graettinger as a supplier for their latest project. Lass's company is a local builder/dealer for EPS Structures, a manufacturer of high performance structures including homes, storage buildings, ag buildings and small businesses.
"With their SIP panels, it is regular business to erect a home or other buildings that are super efficient, requiring much smaller heating and cooling systems," says Lass.
For those questioning the stability of these homes, Lass explained they are rated for 126 mph winds and pass tornado and hurricane standards of Florida.
The home will be delivered May 2 with simple construction beginning May 3. Work on the wood foundation, floor set and walls will take place May 4 and if everything proceeds as planned, Lass hopes the exterior of the house, including trusses and roof decking, will be finished by May 5.
The completed home will have a 3.0 Energy Star rating, the highest given.
The new home will be erected entirely by a volunteer work force, mainly organized and supplied by EPS dealers and builders from all over Iowa and Minnesota, along with local volunteers.
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©The Ogden Reporter 2013
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