Kingspan showcases net-zero energy modeling

Kingspan Insulated Panels Inc., Deland, Fla., is demonstrating energy modeling programs to illustrate how far Envelope First Strategies could advance beyond Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Energy Code and the Department of Energy Net-Zero Energy goal of 2025. Kingspan will showcase the models in their exhibit (#954) during the Greenbuild 2009 International Conference and Expo, November 11-13 in Phoenix. Envelope First is one of the most important overall strategies for optimizing building energy efficiency. As a global leader in innovative design and manufacturing of sustainable high-performance solutions for the building envelope, Kingspan is dedicated to providing products and solutions that can help contribute to achieving net-zero energy buildings. To demonstrate, Kingspan’s director of environment and sustainability, Paul Bertram, Jr., will present the company’s energy modeling programs during Greenbuild. Using three different building types – a warehouse, a school and an office – Kingspan created energy models that provide a whole energy analysis of the building and show how high-performance building envelope systems are key in delivering net-zero energy buildings. Kingspan’s energy modeling provides data that indicates annual energy costs savings, carbon emission reduction, decrease in BTUs, relationship to LEED energy efficiency targets and DOE baselines – useful energy efficiency baseline references for architects, building owners, facility managers and contractors. “Given the right inputs, modeling programs are sophisticated enough to reasonably predict performance outcome. Energy models typically provide only an estimate of a building’s future energy performance and require follow up on how a building actually performs once in use. Kingspan’s modeling focuses on comparisons of differential performance between the envelope designs, different ECMs (Energy Conservation Measures) and the addition of renewable solar energy,” said Bertram, Jr. “We take an ‘Envelope First’ approach to energy efficiency – examining how the various components of a building envelope can sequentially integrate with optimized energy efficiency and aesthetic appeal.” Kingspan’s insulated wall and roof systems are energy efficient, cost effective, durable and sustainable, providing the easiest and most economical route to reducing building energy costs. Designed as single component systems that increase the speed of build, Kingspan insulated panels provide superior R-values and thermal performance, unsurpassed airtightness and moisture and vapor drive control to increase energy savings and reduce greenhouse gases. Building energy modeling has shown that Kingspan’s insulated roof and wall panels can yield as much as a 30 percent reduction in a building’s energy use – a significant step towards the development of practical net-zero energy buildings. For more information on Kingspan’s total building envelope solutions visit www.kingspanpanels.us.