Dow demonstrates benefits of insulation

Dow Building Solutions, a business unit of the Dow Chemical Co., and Cobblestone Homes, a Great Lakes Bay Region home builder, have joined together on a living case-study to broaden awareness of opportunities for energy efficiency in retrofits.

Revitalize Home is a remodeled demonstration home that showcases practical, energy-efficient remodeling projects that help builders and remodelers "revitalize" the renovation process and offer homeowners solutions with tangible benefits in the areas of comfort, indoor air quality and energy savings. The energy-efficient upgrades demonstrated in the Revitalize Home will enable approximately 30% in energy savings annually.

"The Revitalize Home is a true 'living' case-study that demonstrates real-life remodeling techniques and solutions to help solve some very common homeowner challenges," said Kaethe Schuster, retrofit market manager, Dow Building Solutions. "Remodelers, contractors, builders and homeowners will be able to learn how energy efficient remodeling projects deliver real value in terms of comfort, health and financial return. The project serves as an educational tool to help homeowners understand how their homes work, and how they can enjoy their home more while protecting what is likely their largest single investment." 

The 1,500-sq.-ft. home, located at 2250 Jefferson in Midland, Mich., showcases solutions from Dow that work together to seal the entire building envelope, bringing the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) index score of the home down from 131 to 85. The Revitalize Home is also expected to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions by nearly 33% per year, significantly lowering its environmental footprint.