Commercial
Comfortably Living With Green Materials
By Isaiah Montoya
There is a type of construction material available that is lighter, faster and more energy saving than standard construction materials and processes, but why is it not being utilized yet on a larger scale?
According to Lalo Azcona of Esacto U.S.A. at 201-1 Quinella, Sunland Park, New Mexico; standard building procedures and materials are hard to part with for many El Paso/Juarez construction companies.
Azcona gave City Beat Magazine a tour of the Esacto facility, which manufactures structural insulated panels (SIPs) for the construction of housing and light commercial buildings. “SIPs consist of two layers oriented strand board (OSB) with an insulation layer of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS). These elements provide superior and uniform insulation compared to more traditional construction methods offering energy savings of 30-50 percent.” Said Azcona.
Esacto recently completed a 60-unit housing area on the Ysleta Pueblo Del Sur, Tigua Indian Reservation, in Socorro, a suburb of El Paso.
At the site Azcona said of the myriad benefits that are evident due to the use of SIPS, “Insulation is in the roof, not in the ceilings. The ductwork is below the roof area; thereby reducing heating and cooling loss through the ducts. The slab perimeter is insulated. Construction is tight. Maintenance and energy costs are less. In the long run, a SIPS-made homeowner can save 40% in savings on energy bill payments. There is also greater comfort, with no air drafts or cold spots.”
The R factor is a measure, which gauges resistance – a regularly constructed house is at 11, which means it takes 11 hours for the weather outside to affect the inside temperature. remodeling These houses are at 23. It can be 100 degrees outside and still there would be no need for constant air conditioning because the SIPs allow the home to retain the cold that the AC produces.
They have a high ENERGY STAR rating.
SIPs are a key component in a green building systems approach, according to Beltran. “The integration of these components can still bring key benefits to existing structures. The panels can be from four and a half to eight and a half inches and can be directly shipped to the project site. SIPS can significantly cut the carbon dioxide emissions released by our homes and commercial buildings.”
Art Beltran, co-owner of Esacto added, while giving City Beat Magazine a tour of the reservation subdivision, “I have been working with these for 20 years. I started building near Ruidoso, New Mexico and they caught on in New Mexico. In El Paso we are still trying to educate the builders for change. They are caught in the old school. They are used to stick frame housing, and they do not want to change.”
Regarding the Tiguas, he said, “The Indian reservation wanted to do some green building and so I talked to the director of housing for the reservation, whose name is Al Joseph. I made a presentation and he said, ‘this is what we are looking for.’ We finally sold them.”
In conclusion Beltran said, “I want to educate builders that this is the way to go. Green building is the direction in which to go. It is six times stronger than conventional material, and it is easily configured into shapes and sizes and it is versatile. They are quick and easy to erect.”
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