STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS: This Stud Frame Alternative Cuts Heating Costs in Half

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are an alternative to stud frame construction for homes and small commercial buildings and there are two reasons I build with them. The first is energy efficiency. All else being equal, a home built with SIPs will use 50% less energy than an identical house built to code with a wood frame. The second reason I like SIPs is strength. They make a building that’s roughly 3x stronger than more typical wood frame construction, all while adding less than 5% to construction costs. SIPs are new to many people, though these panels have been approved for use for 50 years. Click on the video above to learn the basics.