Residential Building

Commercial Building

Learn more about energy
efficiency in residential
buildings

Learn more about energy
efficiency in commercial
buildings

The Importance of Energy Efficiency

 

How can builders and homeowners save energy...while helping the environment?

 

Polyurethane and polyiso foam insulation, that's how!

 

Today nearly 40 percent of our nation's energy is used to heat, cool, and operate our homes and buildings, so this is a great place to look for significant savings. By choosing building and construction materials that help reduce energy consumption, building and homeowners can save on their monthly energy bills.

 

Why are rigid polyurethane and polyiso foam insulation at the center of the energy savings discussion? It's because it works to reduce heating and cooling loss. As building science has advanced, we've gained a much better understanding of how heat, air, and moisture act in a building. By trapping gas inside the insulation, polyurethane foam acts as a barrier to reduce air movement and infiltration into our homes and buildings. This dramatically cuts the energy needed to help a building stay cool or warm.

And saving on energy use does more than help a building or homeowner's wallet...it also helps the environment. As the ENERGY STAR program notes, when looking to build or buy a green building, energy efficiency is the place to start. That's because much of the energy used in a building comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and risks of global climate change. So, the less energy used, the less air pollution generated.

 

Obama: "Insulation is Sexy"

President Barack Obama's announcement, dubbed by some as "Cash for Caulkers," proposes giving tax breaks for energy-efficient retrofits in homes! Plastics can help maximize this effort. Whether you're building a new home or looking to remodel, plastic can help you achieve a more energy efficient home - from simple fixes like plastic window insulation to insulating your home with foam plastic insulation.

- Watch Obama: "Insulation is Sexy" (Source: CNN)

 

Sustainability: How Does Polyurethane Perform

 

According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, sustainable development is a "continuing process of economic and social development, in both developing and industrialized nations, that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Continued use of diminishing fossil fuels for energy, coupled with greenhouse gas emissions that lead to climate change, clearly are not sustainable.

What role is there for the wide-ranging building industry? Since buildings consume at least 40 percent of U.S. energy - and 70 percent of electricity - building professionals will need to design, build and retrofit projects with significantly improved energy efficiency throughout the entire building envelope.

Learn more about how rigid polyurethane and polyiso foam insulation products can lead us to sustainable development.

Benefits of Rigid Polyurethane and Polyiso Foam Insulation

Once the air in a building is heated or cooled, rigid polyurethane and polyiso foam insulation helps it stay in the building, helping to lower energy bills.

Learn more about benefits including:

  • Keeping the Outside Air...Outside
  • Versatility
  • Performance
  • Comfort

"R-value" and "U-value"

The widely used "R-value" measurement simply refers to thermal "resistance value" - that is, a measure of insulation's ability to impede heat flow, thereby keeping hot or cold air outside. A higher R-value means that insulation works more efficiently.

"U-value" (or U-factor) measures heat transfer through insulation or a building component over time. Since it's an inverse measurement of R-value, a low U-value number indicates a superior insulator.

Learn more about R-value.

Green Building Rating Systems

As concern for the global environment rises, "green" has become the latest buzzword. What does it mean when it comes to buildings?

Simply put, green buildings help minimize negative impacts on the environment and occupants by efficiently utilizing materials, energy, water and other resources -- from design through construction and over the life of the buildings.

So how to we measure a building's "greenness?" Learn more about green building rating systems to find out.

Resources

  • Polyurethane Related Organizations
  • Other Associations / Organizations
  • Codes and Standards
  • Government & Regulatory
  • Other Resources

Find a Supplier

The member companies of the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry represent the entire supply chain of the polyurethane industry -- they can provide information, services and products for all of your insulation needs.

View the list of CPI Member Companies to find:

  • Suppliers of polyurethane resins and chemicals
  • Polyurethane manufacturers
  • Machinery manufacturers
  • And more...

Stay Informed