Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: foam core panels

[Dan Everett (dme]

Hi all,

        Someone mentioned foam core panels...

        Southface energy institute in Atlanta is building their new center out
of these things. They like the idea of R-20 walls without using dimensional 
lumber.
The drawbacks:

        1. Projected cost savings relative to stick construction may not 
materialize,
        because these are new and contractors don't have experience with them 
yet.

        2. The panels have to be precut at the factory for windows and doors. 
So you
        better not decide to change the location of these. Traditional post and 
beam
        construction is more forgiving.

Glen Orcutt (gorcutt [at] prowess.com) writes: 

>   1. Air-tight homes are problematic from a toxic standpoint (Cooking/cleaning
>   odors, bodily odors, etc).  There isn't a constant air-exchange which
>   replenishes the household air.  This can be circumvented via vents or
>   leaving windows cracked.

Southface is very big on reducing this kind of "uncontrolled ventilation" to a 
bare
minimum (0.35 air changes per hour is what they like) and designing the 
ventilation
to be where and how much you need it. They compare the typical practice of 
ventilating
through unknown leaks to having your nose on the bottom of your shoe.

Enjoy...

Dan Everett
Kenney Ridge Community
Athens, GA

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