By Carol Cole-Frowe
New NE Norman home to feature energy efficient system
The almost-finished northeast Norman home of Curtis and Terena Boyer may look like just another nice, new house, but it has a secret.
Tucked away between its walls and ceiling and outer brown brick and taupe siding exterior is one of the newest energy saving systems on the market.
The 3,245-square-foot, New England-style home being built at 3304 Wauwinet Way in the Vineyard off North Porter Avenue will have the EnergyComplete system with flexible seal technology, released June 1 nationwide by Owens Corning.
A pink expansive foam -- a gasket sealant -- seals every joint and crack and potential way for air to get in or out of the house, making it more energy efficient.
The Boyers' system was installed by C -- S Supply. It's one of the first to be installed in Oklahoma.
"My goal as a builder is to bring innovation into my projects," said
Curtis McCarty, the builder. "I try to help my clients with the latest and greatest."
He is one of a handful of National Association of Builders' Certified Green Professionals in Oklahoma.
"You can't call a home green because of your choice of appliances or carpet. When designing homes with our customers, we look at the whole envelope of the house and how it operates as a system to achieve their goals," he said.
McCarty said the sealant keeps the outside air outside and the inside air inside, and is more efficient than the more traditional caulk.
The foam expands into joints and cracks when applied vs. caulk which doesn't expand and reduces air infiltration by up to 70 percent.
"Our objective with EnergyComplete is to seal up the house in a manner that cuts off the air infiltration from the outside to the inside of the house," he said.
The EnergyComplete system meets the Department of Energy recommendations and exceeds the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code requirements by about 40 percent. Homeowners can save up to one-third on heating and cooling costs.
The system keeps dust and pests out and reduces exterior noise by up to 40 percent. And it will decrease drafts.
Chad Fenbert, business development leader for Owens Corning, said in a telephone interview that the difference in the new system is affordability, safety and the performance of the full cavity spray foam system.
He said the foam is used with the "tried and true" Owens Corning pink fiberglass insulation.
The new products are significant because buildings consume 40 percent of the country's energy resources, more than transportation or industry.
"(EnergyComplete) can account for savings of 25 to 40 percent of energy usage in a home," Fenbert said.
It is easily installed with equipment that's about the size of a paint rig, McCarty said.
When the home is complete, it will be closed up and put under negative pressure for a blower door test to ensure there are no leaks.
"We will see how it is performing," he said.
McCarty said the home is planned to be certified as a Positive Energy house and an Energy Star home.
Homeowner Terena Boyer works for OG--E, which gives her a higher awareness of how energy is used. She hopes to lead by example.
"Lower utility bills are important, but the main reason to be energy conscious is that it helps everybody in the long run," she said in a statement released by Owens Corning.
Cost of the system varies from house to house, but a rough estimate is about $1 a foot.
McCarty said the return on investment is small "when you look at the lifetime of the house."
The system also can be installed in existing attics, basements, crawlspaces or during a home addition or remodel project.
"You don't have to move existing homeowners out because of safety concerns," Fenbert said.
Homeowners are eligible for a 30 percent tax credit on the cost of the EnergyComplete system for a maximum credit of $1,500 under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009.
"Energy is not getting any cheaper, you know," McCarty said. "High performance houses are the wave of the future. Energy efficiency being one of the major driving factors."
