Looking to the success of University of Colorado, five universities (including University of Maryland, MIT, and University of Cincinnati) chose Warmboard in the 2007 Solar Decathlon for its industry-leading energy efficiency. Tony Gasparich, President of Warmboard Inc. said, “It has been a pleasure and honor to be included in the homes that have great potential to shape our future. We truly enjoyed being a sponsor.”

Recognition as a team sponsor in the past has allowed Warmboard to continue gaining additional exposure in the green building community. As healthy, green, and energy efficient building trends rapidly unfold, more companies are beginning to realize that to be green is not a pop culture fad, but a way of life.

Warmboard’s contribution to the Solar Decathlon teams has allowed Warmboard to expand into the green building movement that continues to encompass smarter and more energy efficient products for home building.

Warmboard’s multiple application usage from standard water heaters to solar and geothermal systems, will continue to keep it on the cutting edge of green technology.

2007 Solar Decathlon Results

University of Maryland Finishes Strong at Solar Decathlon Competition

University of Maryland – 2nd
University of Texas at Austin – 10th
MIT – 13th
University of Cincinnati – 15th
Lawrence Technology Institute – 20th

University of Maryland’s LEAFHouse, using Warmboard Radiant Subfloor, placed second at the Solar Decathlon competition in Washington, DC and finished an impressive first among the 17 competing U.S. teams.

Maryland won the energy balance and communications contests and scored highly in the other events. Warmboard was also used in the University of Texas at Austin’s BLOOMhouse which finished tenth overall in the competition and took a first place in the hot water contest, second place in the engineering contest, and third place in the comfort zone contest.

When talking to the Maryland team about why they selected Warmboard, Amy Gardner, Faculty Advisor, states “Warmboard’s solution to radiant floor installation provided the LEAFHouse team and several other Solar Decathlon teams with an easy to install, low-mass radiant floor panel. It was a great fit with the LEAFHouse’s overall design goals, construction needs, and radiant floor system design.”

For more information on the Solar Decathlon visit: www.solardecathlon.org

2007 Solar Decathlon Results PDF

Click here to see the results from the 2009 Solar Decathlon Competition.

The Solar Decathlon is a project of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in partnership with DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The Solar Decathlon is a unique competition that draws a crowd of about 350,000 people. Twenty college and university teams design, build and showcase energy efficient, state-of-the-art, solar powered houses, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Each of the teams compete in ten categories, including architecture, comfort zone, and hot water. Warmboard has been selected as a part of the radiant heat systems in many of these homes.

The Ohio State University

Iowa State University – Interlock House

Team California (Santa Clara U/California College of the Arts) – Refract House

Team Missouri (Missouri University of Science and Technology) – Show-Me Solar

The University of Kentucky – s.ky blue House

Click on the photos below to see various stages of Warmboard installation.

Click here to learn more about Warmboard’s history with the Solar Decathlon.

2009 Solar Decathlon

Warmboard Greenlighted by Solar Decathlon Teams

The Solar Decathlon is a project of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in partnership with DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The Solar Decathlon is a unique competition that draws a crowd of about 350,000 people. Twenty college and university teams design, build and showcase energy efficient, state-of-the-art, solar powered houses, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Each of the teams compete in ten categories, including architecture, comfort zone, and hot water. Warmboard has been selected as a part of the radiant heat systems in many of these homes.

The Ohio State University

Iowa State University – Interlock House

Team California (Santa Clara University / California College of the Arts)

Team Missouri (Missouri University of Science and Technology)

University of Kentucky

HISTORY

In 2005, Warmboard was chosen by the University of Colorado in Boulder and the University of Texas at Austin to contribute to the heating system for their homes. It was a thrill for Warmboard when both schools made it into the top 10. In fact, University of Colorado won the competition.

Looking to the success of University of Colorado, five universities chose Warmboard in the 2005 Solar Decathlon. Tony Gasparich, President of Warmboard Inc. said, “It has been a pleasure and honor to be included in the homes that have great potential to shape our future. We truly enjoyed being a sponsor.”

Recognition as a team sponsor in the past has allowed Warmboard to continue gaining additional exposure in the green building community. As healthy, green, and energy efficient building trends rapidly unfold, more companies are beginning to realize that to be green is not a pop culture fad, but a way of life.

“Warmboard fits perfectly into a complete solar off-grid house. We conducted an analysis of our radiant system by combining Warmboard’s performance data with our building simulation data, and concluded that these two systems would be able to provide adequate heating for 87 percent of the year,” said one university team representative.

Warmboard’s contribution to the Solar Decathlon teams has allowed Warmboard to expand into the green building trends that continue to encompass smarter and more energy efficient products for home building.

Warmboard’s multiple application usage from standard water heaters to solar and geothermal systems, will continue to keep it on the cutting edge of green technology.

2007

Solar Decathlon Results:

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND FINISHES STRONG AT SOLAR DECATHLON COMPETITION

University of Maryland – 2nd
University of Texas at Austin – 10th
MIT – 13th
University of Cincinnati – 15th
Lawrence Technology Institute – 20th

University of Maryland’s LEAFHouse, using Warmboard Radiant Subfloor, placed second at the Solar Decathlon competition in Washington, DC and finished an impressive first among the 17 competing U.S. teams.

Maryland won the energy balance and communications contests and scored highly in the other events. Warmboard was also used in the University of Texas at Austin’s BLOOMhouse which finished tenth overall in the competition and took a first place in the hot water contest, second place in the engineering contest, and third place in the comfort zone contest.

When talking to the Maryland team about why they selected Warmboard, Amy Gardner, Faculty Advisor, states “Warmboard’s solution to radiant floor installation provided the LEAFHouse team and several other Solar Decathlon teams with an easy to install, low-mass radiant floor panel. It was a great fit with the LEAFHouse’s overall design goals, construction needs, and radiant floor system design.”

Warmboard is proud of the company’s history at the Solar Decathlon competition. In 2005, Warmboard was selected by the University of Colorado in Boulder to contribute to the heating system for their home. It was a thrill when University of Colorado won the competition and took first place.

www.solardecathlon.org.

Located at Bass Cove on Lake Sammamish, along the West Lake Sammamish Parkway, the Zero Energy Idea House will combine innovative green building products and technologies with inspiring and modern design elements. The Zero Energy House is endorsed by Built Green™, ENERGY STAR® Homes, and the US Dept. of Energy’s Building America program.

In order to achieve net zero energy consumption, the home will generate its own power by use of photo voltaic panels and a wind turbine. The home will also be equipped with an energy monitor that measures and displays energy input and output in real-time.

Specs:

- 1630 square feet of living space
- 2 BR, 2 BA

Features:

- Warmboard radiant heat subfloor
- 1200 square feet of vegetative roof
- photovoltaic solar power generation
- solar hot water
- wind power generation
- SIPs (structural insulated panels)
- non-toxic materials and finishes
- rainwater harvesting system
- vegetated “living wall” privacy screen
- energy efficient windows

The Warmboard hydronic in-floor radiant heating system is described by Mike Lubliner of Washington State University Extension’s Energy Program as the most efficient heating system available. Lubliner’s office manages the Northwest ENERGY STAR® Homes program as well as the US Dept. of Energy’s Building American program, which has adopted the project as a case study.

Computer modeling by Lubliner’s team estimates the home’s total energy bills will come in at less than $500 a year. The WSU specialists will conduct a series of tests to see how well the home performs and will also install a monitoring system to provide real-time reports on energy use.

For more information and updates: http://www.zeroenergyideahouse.com/

The exhibit home – designed by Michelle Kaufmann Designs™ and built by All American Homes™ - is open May 8 through January 4, 2009. Celebrating exciting new directions in sustainable living and spectacular, environmentally-friendly technology, Smart Home: Green + Wired will offer guests guided tours of the 2,500 square-foot home and grounds, located in a park on the east side of the Museum. Within the home, guests are able to view the latest innovations in reusable resources; smart energy consumption; eco-friendly landscaping; and clean, healthy-living environments in a contemporary setting.

One of the high performance, energy efficient building systems being used is Warmboard Radiant Subfloor.  Warmboard radiant floor heating is utilized as the heat source on the first and second floors of the building because of its contributions to both energy efficiency and healthy, clean Indoor Air Quality. Germs, dust, pollen and mold spores generally associated with forced air systems do not apply to Warmboard radiant heat. Additionally, the high conductivity of the Warmboard radiant panel leads to lower water temperatures, creating greater efficiency that ultimately benefits the environment.

“Smart” technologies are incorporated throughout the home, including a full-home automation system that allows homeowners to control heat, window coverings, lighting, security sensors and cameras. A touch screen will track electricity and water consumption in the home on a real-time basis. The technologies will demonstrate how a home can inspire lifestyle choices and be equipped to save resources while residents are away, as well as keep a home and its occupants protected.

Smart Home: Green + Wired is a must-see exhibit for anyone who wants their home, and life, to be smarter, more efficient and more in tune with the environment than it is today.

Smart Home Exhibit Resource Guide PDF

Links

‘Smart Home’ Exhibit Features Warmboard, Radiant Panel Report, June/08

‘Smart Home’ Shown in Museum, Santa Cruz Sentinel, May 19/08

Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry – Smart Home: Green + Wired Exhibit

Michelle Kaufmann’s Blog

All-American Homes

- Winner of the 2008 National Green Award for Custom Home of the Year (presented by the NAHB)
- Winner of the Green Hammer Award from the Master Builders of King & Snohomish Counties

Dave and Anna Porter decided that they wanted to change their lifestyles to better help the environment in 2004. In 2006 they decided to remodel their home right on the beach.

Warmboard radiant floor heating was installed in order to provide this 100 year old home with energy efficient, environmentally responsible heat. In order to make this project an inspiration and model for others “Going Green at the Beach” was created.

“Going Green at the Beach” aims to set a record by meeting the requirements of all five residential green building certification programs active in this area:
- Built Green™
- ENERGY STAR® Home
- American Lung Association Health House®
- Environments for Living®
- LEED® for Homes

In meeting the requirements of those programs, the “Going Green at the Beach” house will highlight products and systems relating to all aspects of green building. The following is a list of just some of the home’s many green features.

Energy Efficiency
- 1.2 KW photovoltaic solar system
- Geothermal heat
- Warmboard radiant floor heating system
- High efficiency windows
- ENERGY STAR® appliances
- Compact fluorescent lights
- Passive solar
- Spray-foam insulation and air barrier
- Heat recovery ventilator

Water Conservation
- Dual flush toilets
- Low-flow showerheads and faucets
- Rainwater collection system
- Tankless hot water with recirculation system
- Drip irrigation
- Drought-tolerant lanscaping

Reused Materials
- Deconstruction of original structure (80% of material diverted from landfill)
- Salvage and reuse of doors, cabinets, and other items from original structure
- Wine racks made from salvaged decking from original structure

Sustainably Produced and Durable Materials
- FSC certified wood products
- Recycled glass tile
- Cork flooring produced from leftover material from wine cork production
- 50-year siding
- 40-year metal roof
- Locally manufactured materials when possible
- Sustainably produced materials
- Fireplace façade made from local stone

Healthy Indoor Air
- Warmboard radiant heat
- Low VOC paint
- Nontoxic finishes on flooring and cabinetry
- Formaldehyde-free insulation
- Minimal use of adhesives
- Formaldehyde-free cabinets
- Operable windows
- No carpet
- Efficient ventilation
- ENERGY STAR® ventilation fans
- Heat recovery ventilator

Efficient Use of Space
- Modest-sized home on a small lot
- Home rebuilt on footprint of original structure
- Multiple-use rooms
- Built-in bookcases
- Guest retreat
- Universal Design features to allow for use by individuals with disabilities

Low Impact Site Development and Natural Landscaping
- Use of compost for stormwater management
- Jobsite recycling
- Vegetated “green” roof segments for energy and stormwater management
- An “insectory” designed to attract beneficial insects
- Edible landscaping
- Drought tolerant plant selections
- Pervious paving material

Website: http://www.goinggreenatthebeach.com

This will be the first house in Park Meadows which is located adjacent to Hurricane Ridge in Port Angeles. To our knowledge, this is the first exclusively “built green” subdivision to this extent in the area of Port Angeles, Sequim, and Port Townsend. All houses will be built utilizing low impact and sustainable construction techniques.

Specs:

• 1950 square feet of living space
• 11,903 square feet of property
• 3 BR, 2 BA
• 2 car garage

Features:

• 6″ wall SIPs and 8″ roof panel SIPs
• 4KW photovoltaic system and solar hot water
• Warmboard radiant heated subfloors
• Bamboo and ceramic floor coverings in the bathrooms
• Cork floor covering in the kitchen
• Complete EnergyStar appliance package with all CFL or flourescent lighting
• Paperstone countertops (recycled paper and resin) from the Ecohaus in Seattle
• Pervious concrete and walks with native plants and rain gardens to add to stormwater management
• Solar powered exterior path, yard and deck lighting
• Jetted tubs in both bathrooms

The SIPs package (structural insulated panels) was provided by Premier Industries located in Fife, WA. It was assembled in approximately 5 days by a team of 3-5 people.

The roof is made from 85% recycled content and is 100% recyclable with a 50-year transferable warranty. FSC lumber was used for supports and steel studs used for interior framing. The home has fiber and cement siding with a 25-year paint warranty and is outfitted with Sierra Pacific windows made of aluminum clad fir.

The Warmboard radiant heat panels were simple to install and the plans provided were easy to read and follow. Warmboard radiant heat was chosen to be used in this subdivision for its energy efficiency, high product quality, and ease of installation. Eco-Green Builders also liked the controlled zoning flexibility of Warmboard and the structural soundness of the product.

The homes will be healthier than stick built houses for many reasons. There is no potential for mold as there are no air spaces in the walls due to the use of SIPs. Warmboard radiant heat contributes to the clean indoor air quality of the home because germs, dust, pollen and mold spores generally associated with forced air systems do not exist with radiant heat. All paints used are non- or low-VOC and water based interior finishes will be used for the woodwork. No urea formaldehyde is present in any of the wood materials. A whole house air exchanger will be utilized to refresh the air and eleminate the potential for Radon gas.

The energy savings of the home are unknown at this time, but testing will be done upon completion.

For more information:
http://www.ecogbi.com/

Sunset, in a joint venture with Meridian Builders and Developers, have created a 2007 Idea House in San Francisco that takes the magazine’s Idea House Program into a dense urban area for the first time and demonstrates how to make the most of a compact site.

The San Francisco-based home will be one of the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified residential remodeled homes in the nation. In the United States, LEED certification is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability.

Launched in 1998, the Sunset Idea House Program combines the magazine’s most exciting new ideas with the smartest home products available. Two themed homes are built in the West each year and opened to the public, providing a dynamic, hands-on experience for readers and customized opportunities for advertisers and sponsors. “It’s an exciting time at the magazine to be able to bring an Idea House into such an urban area,” Katie Tamony, editor-in-chief of Sunset said. “With our offices just outside San Francisco, we are thrilled to build our house in the heart of such an amazing city.” The three-story remodeled home is in San Francisco’s Mission District. Key features include a spa and exercise space that opens onto an entertaining patio, a glass elevator, and an urban roof garden atop the garage.

The house is designed by John Lum Architecture and is being built by Meridian Builders and Developers. The landscape architect is Arterra LLP and interior design by John Lum, John Lum Architecture.

The building — which includes a main house and an apartment — occupies a 50- by 70-foot corner lot. Lum’s plan maximizes natural light and airflow on each of three levels, with rooms leading off an open, central stairway made of glass and steel. The main living and dining areas and kitchen are on the top floor to take advantage of views across the city. “It’s kind of an upside-down house,” Lum explains. “The public spaces are at the top, and the more private master suite and guest rooms are below.”

But what makes the home truly groundbreaking are the eco-features it incorporates, some of them still in experimental stages. For example, hot water will be provided by rooftop tubes that collect solar energy, says Matt Golden, founder and CEO of Sustainable Spaces and a project consultant. The home’s electricity will come from SunPower solar panels and a wind turbine installed in the backyard — a power source so unusual in San Francisco, the builder had to get a one-year provisional test permit before it could be installed. A high-tech resource-monitoring system will keep tabs on energy and water use.

Warmboard Radiant Subfloor was used on the main and upper floors to provide comfortable, energy efficient heat.  The upper floor features hardwood in the hall and a 3/4 epoxy concrete-like finish in the remaining areas

Sunset Magazine is the premier guide to life in the West, covering the newest and best ideas in Western home design and landscaping, food and entertaining, and regional travel in 13 Western states. The magazine has five zoned editions and is read by nearly five million people each month.

A leader in lifestyle information, Birmingham, Ala.-based Southern Progress Corporation (www.southernprogress.com) publishes Southern Living, Cooking Light, Health, Coastal Living, Southern Accents, Cottage Living, and Sunset magazines, and books through Oxmoor House. It also operates a direct-selling division, Southern Living At HOME. Southern Progress is a subsidiary of Time Inc.

Sunset Magazine 2007 Idea House – San Francisco

With three children and a need for a home office, Margy and Kurt Gonzales wanted a bigger house. That meant two stories. Yet they were dreading the anticipated increased energy costs. To compensate for higher utility bills, they wanted thermostats on each for each floor to control the temperature. What they found was even better.
Download The Power Play PDF

Our donation of Warmboard panels for this project is a big part of the efficiency of this home. In fact, Warmboard is the most energy efficient way to heat your home using radiant heat. Our panels run the lowest water temperatures in the industry while still providing the correct amount of BTU output for any heating need. Also helping on the project was hydronics and heating specialist Mark Eatherton from Advanced Hydronics, Inc. – Denver, CO. See below to read some excerpts from his post at HeatingHelp.com.

Update: CU wins the 2005 Solar Decathlon! Our congratulations to the University of Colorado for successfully defending their title and once again winning this years competition. Warmboard is proud to have been a part of the winning team and pleased that our energy efficient, solar friendly radiant system helped bring CU to victory!

Date: June 09, 2005 09:57 PM
Author: Mark Eatherton
Subject: And it is green… “Warmboard Green that is…

The cat can now be let out of the bag. I’ve been working for over a year with a group of Mechanical Engineering and Architectural students from the University of Colorado on a super secret project that will be unveiled in Washington DC sometime in August.

Myself, Professor Jim Eastman (a frequent Wallie), Dale Chavez of Warmboard and numerous students put the WHOLE radiant floor system together in under 2 days. The tubing took about 2-1/2 hours. Jim will continue working with the students after the home has been dried in and will be tying all the mechanical systems together.

As for the Warmboard, I don’t think it can be matched for performance and functionality by any other product on the market. It will be going into my personal home that I’ll be building in the next few years, and is being speced whereever possible in our day to day work.

My sincerest thanks to the good folks at Wirsbo for donating so much of the tubing, manifolds and all, and also the wonderful folks at Warmboard for their contribution of the Warmboard sub floor system, and last but not least, Dale Chavez with Warmboard and Jim Eastman with Marmot Heating. I couldn’t have done it without you guys. Thanks a million.

We congratulate the University and wish them well in this year’s competition!

Learn more about the Solar Decathlon at: http://solar.colorado.edu/

Mark Eatherton can be found at: Advanced Hydronics, Inc. Phone: 303-778-7772