Reward Home Could Be Pennsylvania’s Most Energy Efficient

The Sagans remain comfortable both winter and summer without a furnace or air conditioner.

When Ken and Deb Sagan of Bellefonte, Penn., decided to build a new home, their goal was to make it the most energy efficient home in Pennsylvania. By incorporating the most energy efficient materials, techniques, and systems into the structure, the Sagans hoped to achieve a home that not only conserves energy, but also uses renewable resource materials that protect the environment.

In addition to using iForm for the basement and aboveground walls, the Sagans included such components as a ground source heat pump, low voltage lighting, a tankless hot water heater, and optimum orientation for passive solar heat. To verify that they were achieving their goals, they engaged Comfort Homes, an independent energy audit company, to evaluate their complete home package and provide an energy efficiency rating. The results of the audit were an amazing 93% energy efficiency rating, and by planning to use a 1 ½-ton geothermal system (the smallest size available, yet oversized based on the heat/loss calculation), the Sagans received projected annual heating and cooling costs of approximately $250, or less than 70 cents per day.

Although they moved into their new home last May, their geothermal heating and cooling system has not been installed as yet. “We went through an exceptionally warm and humid summer,” says Deb, “but although it sometimes got a little uncomfortable inside the house, it never really got unbearable.” This winter, the Sagans have heated their entire home with a gas fireplace located in the great room. According to Deb, the bedrooms on the main floor and the basement have no heat at all, yet they are comfortable—partly because of the passive solar heat that enters through strategically placed windows, and partly due to the heat retention of the Reward walls. Asked how their actual heating and cooling costs compare to the estimate now that they are living in the home, Deb responded, “We don't know—we don’t have a furnace or air conditioner yet!”

PROJECT PROFILE

• Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

• One-story with walkout basement

• 4,000 square feet

• Textured Acrylic Finish System (TAFS) exterior finish

• Expanding foam on roof deck

• Fiberglass shingle roof materials

• 1 ½-ton geothermal heating and cooling

• Reward Distributor: Construction Supply Centers

• General Contractor: E & D Construction

• 11" iForm

“inFORMation Quarterly”, Winter 2006

Reward Wall Systems, Inc.