NEWSLETTER • DECEMBER 2009
PLASTICS MAKE IT POSSIBLE SHOWCASES EXCEPTIONAL
INNOVATIONS IN PLASTIC. THIS MONTH WE LOOK AT HOW
PLASTIC IS USED IN THE FIELD OF CONSTRUCTION.
SM
SPOTLIGHT ON
White Roofs Keep Things Cool
Homeowners and commercial builders are looking
for innovations that are sustainable and affordable.
With the focus on energy efficiency, sustainable
construction has become both a responsibility and a
necessity. Today, plastics are at the center of the
solution.
It's well known that that wearing dark clothes in the
summer absorbs more heat and can make you hotter,
while wearing white or light colors reflects more of
the sun's rays, keeping you cooler.
This same principle also applies to the roof on a
building, and in a big way. Roofs made of darker
materials, such as asphalt, can reach temperatures as
high as 150˚-190˚ F, leading to increases in cooling
energy and higher utility bills, increased air pollution
and accelerated deterioration of the roof itself.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), 90% of roofs in the United States are
made of dark colors which absorb heat, and in
warmer climates, increase air conditioning costs.
Fortunately, new white and light-colored roofing
materials are now being used to create “cool roofs” for
both commercial and residential buildings. The
alternative “cool roof ” reflects solar energy and
has a high degree of thermal emittance, or the
ability to efficiently cool itself by releasing
heat absorbed from the sun.
Three Do It Yourself Home
Improvement Projects Using Plastic
Save Energy, Decrease Waste and Keep Money in Your Pocket
Wrapping pipes with plastic insulation protects them from freezing in cold
winter months and also prevents heat loss, reducing energy bills.
(See ROOFS, Page 2)
Jodi Marks
Homes and buildings can be big energy users.
According to ENERGY STAR, an average-size household spends about $1,500 a year on energy bills.
Buildings consume 70% of all electricity and 28% of all
water used in the United States. And the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the typical home loses
more than 25% of its heat through windows alone.
Jodi Marks, longtime host of HGTV’s “Fix it up!”
suggests three simple projects utilizing plastic that can
improve heating and cooling insulation, contribute to
greater energy efficiency, and save money.
Windows: Plastic window wrap over the glass can reduce infiltration of
outside air by about 10-50%. Plastic window kits are affordable seasonal
alternatives to double glazing for doors and windows; one inexpensive kit can
cover five windows! Each kit contains sheets of plastic film, which look like
cling-film but slightly thicker. Double-sided tape is applied to the window frame,
and then the plastic is cut to size and fixed to the tape. Finally, a hair dryer is used
to shrink the plastic sheeting tight. Properly fitted plastic creates an air-tight gap
which helps prevent drafts and condensation. The application can be done by
one person and takes less than 20 minutes per window. In warmer months you
can remove the tape and plastic easily without harming the window frame.
#1
(See PROJECTS, Page 2)
PA G E 2
New Payne Road Bridge Makes
Use of Geofoam for Stability
PROJECTS, from page 1
Caulking and Foam: Applying polymer-based caulks
and foam sealants is a quick, easy fix for drafty
windows, doors and other cracks and holes. This inexpensive
project can pay for itself in energy savings in one year. As a
general rule, caulk can be applied wherever two different
building materials meet on the interior or exterior of a home
because different building
materials expand and contract
at different rates. Read the
product instructions for
appropriate places to apply
foam or caulk, for instructions
about installing a thermal
barrier, and for other safety
and handling instructions.
Installation locations can
include where brick and wood
siding meet; between the
chimney and siding; between
the foundation and walls;
around electrical and gas service entrances, cable TV and
phone lines, outdoor water faucets, and where dryer vents
pass through walls; through cracks in bricks, siding, stucco
and foundation; and around air conditioners, vents and fans.
#2
The new Payne Road Bridge, a six-lane, 368-foot-long , three-span bridge over
the Maine Turnpike in South Portland, Maine, makes use of Geofoam for
stability. Used in a city where ground soil regularly freezes and thaws,
Geofoam will help this bridge to last longer without needing costly repairs.
Geofoam can be used in slope stabilization, embankments, retaining structures
and even radon protection in residential homes. Most recently, Geofoam use
has been considered as a solution for erosion control in California after a
season of intense wildfires left hills and slopes more prone to mudslides.
ROOFS, from page 1
One of the best ways to create a cool roof is by using white plastics (vinyl or
TPO) that are inherently reflective. A roof covered with a white polymer
membrane, for example, can reflect 80% or more of the sun’s rays and emit at
least 70% of the solar radiation that the building would otherwise absorb.
For building owners who don’t have the time or funds to embark on extensive
improvements, roof energy savings also can be achieved by applying coatings to
an existing roof. These coatings are made using plastic-based materials that can
deflect nearly 85% of the heat hits them, reducing the surface temperature by as
much as 50 degrees. This allows homeowners to maximize energy efficiency,
durability and performance – improvements made possible by modern advancements in plastic materials.
Consumers can calculate cost savings resulting from the use of cool roofs using
several online tools, including the Cool Roof Calculator developed by the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE).
Piping: Un-insulated metal hot water pipes can
transfer heat to the air. Heat loss prevents pipes from
working efficiently, causes hot water heaters to work harder,
and ultimately results in an increase in energy bills. Insulating
hot water pipes helps decrease energy loss. And what’s more,
insulating cold water pipes can help prevent condensation
from forming and can help keep pipes from freezing and
cracking in the winter. Insulating your piping with plastic
foam can take as little as one hour. Pipes should first be
cleaned with a mild cleanser (note that hot pipes may be too
hot to touch or treat with cleaner unless heat first is turned off
for an appropriate period). Next, a plastic tubular sleeve
appropriate for hot piping is wrapped around the pipe and
secured with an acrylic tape. And when leaky pipes need to
be repaired, consider replacing them with plastic pipe to
eliminate leaking caused by metal corrosion and reduce heat
loss at the same time.
#3
Whether you’re doing a complete eco-renovation or looking
for smaller ways to save energy at home, plastics help make it
possible. Visit www.americanchemistry.com for more
information.
WE NEED YOUR INNOVATIONS!
At a glance...
The monthly Plastics Make it Possible Newsletter is published
by the American Chemistry Council to promote innovations
in the use of plastics.
• Plastic window wrap can reduce the infiltration
of outside air by 50%, and energy costs can be
recouped in as little as 2 months
Please send stories about your innovations to
[email protected].
• Homes lose 20-50% of indoor energy through
doors, windows and joints
We will be pleased to consider
them for publication.
• Homeowners may be able to prevent 25% of
energy loss from their pipes by insulating them
SM
Thank you.