Some might ask, “You have a product that is highly flexible in design, provides excellent energy efficiency, is cost effective versus other options and has very positive life cycle testing results. But what are the negatives?”

As it turns out…not many. A recent study by the US Department of Energy and Oak Ridge National Labs has provided us with the best look yet. A look on just how effective modern EIFS designs can be for both energy efficiency and controlling moisture in wall assemblies. New drainable EIFS literally blow the doors off other wall cladding systems such as brick, siding or stucco.

This study should finally put to rest concerns of homeowners and building owners who have resisted these systems in the past.

The EIFS Industry has been on an interesting journey. It has been at the forefront of efforts to understand and deal with water intrusion and retention issues arising from errors and omissions in construction regardless of cladding type. These efforts have resulted in innovative solutions, product development and design innovations that have benefited the entire construction industry.

EIFS has always been a great cladding option. Today’s systems are designed to facilitate easier and more accurate installation. Today’s guide specifications and details help the design professional deal with the areas most vulnerable to water intrusion in the wall assembly and related components in the building envelope.

EIFS is a continuous insulation system that works as advertised. How many products perform that well and truthfully make that claim?

So, what are some examples of the sustainability issues we are facing in construction today?

The most obvious is wasting energy. I saw a very bright building science expert, John Straube a few years ago do a comparison of one of the oldest habitable structures. It was built a thousand years ago or so in England, made out of thick stone that was measured to have an R-value of R-2. He then compared that to an incredibly modern glass high rise, built in a city just a short time ago with a similar R-Value.

He questioned that after a thousand years, this was how far we had come in energy conscious design.  Of course it is an extreme case, but how many of today’s designs really look at energy cost for the occupants, or environmental sustainability as a primary driver to the design?

We hear about a LEED project from time to time, and the crescendo is starting to rise, but the fact remains, the single biggest way to conserve our energy resources is by improving the energy use of buildings by better insulation to reduce heat loss or more efficiently cool.

Sustainability obviously goes much further. Does the building have a long life cycle capability because of its design or materials specified, such that it needs constant maintenance or constant upgrades due to poor product choices? Is it possible to make a cost effective “zero energy” building, that isn’t rejected because the cost benefit analysis cannot be shown to ever get a return on the investment? Can a building actually generate surplus power that can be sold to a power grid?

On the first two questions, I think we are there.

Sto has participated on several of these experimental “zero energy” projects. One of the more notable is the BioHaus project in Bemidji, MN. This project used common sense design and a well thought out marriage of products to produce a very energy efficient and affordable structure.

Photo Credit: Joe Hilliard

Our systems have recently undergone life cycle analysis to see how they stack up as far as overall costs and sustainability.

The last item appears to also be a reality, as I read the other day of a building to be built in China with a curved design that has wind turbines on several floors that, along with passive solar wall and roof collectors may generate more than 100% of the buildings total power needs. It will incorporate water cooled ceiling systems and vertical photovoltaic panels that one of our German affiliates, Sto Verotec has been selling for years.

I work in an industry that can deliver solutions today that are proven to be not only energy efficient, but are incredibly good on life cycle, and cost benefit comparisons to virtually any other systems available.