Start From the Bottom Up to Gain Energy Efficiency in the Home

“If you’re constructing a home, the foundation selection is critical for building an energy-efficient structure,” says Jim Costello, president of Superior Walls. “Choosing a precast Xi™ or Xi Plus™ concrete foundation can potentially save up to 50% of total heat loss in a home. That’s a ‘bottom up’ consideration that has long-term financial benefits for a homeowner.”

As opposed to concrete blocks or poured concrete, precast concrete panels by Superior Walls are steel-reinforced and created in the manufacturing process with DOW® Styrofoam™ boards, which provide excellent rigid foam insulation. The resulting wall panels provide a dry, warm, damp-resistant, and exceptionally energy-efficient foundation for a home.

“According to the publication Native Power – A Handbook on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for Native American Communities, an uninsulated basement can account for one-third of the total heat loss in a home,” says Costello. “This study, funded in part by the Office of Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy, and the Office of Utility Technologies, illustrates the tremendous value homeowners can achieve by shunning unheated basements and crawlspaces in favor of installing energy-efficient foundation panels.”

A separate Residential Foundation Insulation report issued by Kansas State University with support from the U.S. Department of Energy, suggests that the benefits of foundation insulation are often overlooked. According to the report, “heat loss from an uninsulated, conditioned basement may represent up to 50% of a home’s total heat loss in a tightly sealed, well insulated home.”

Superior Walls insulated precast concrete wall systems have earned the Green Approved Product designation of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center. For homeowners, the benefits of Superior Walls foundations systems are substantial. The energy-efficient walls help lower energy costs and reduce energy leakage while providing increased living space in a comfortable setting. Builders also benefit from saved job site time and labor when certified Superior Walls installation crews set the walls in place in less than one day, so that home construction can immediately begin the following day.

Each Superior Walls panel is custom made to the specifications of an individual home, including built-in openings for windows and doors. Pre-engineered access for wiring or small plumbing elements along with smart stud facing for easy drywall installation are included and help speed up the installation process.