Foam Plastic Insulation: An Energy-Efficient Choice

Foam plastic insulation is an innovative building material that can help architects, contractors and

other construction professionals meet the stringent energy code standards of today and tomorrow for both

new construction and renovation projects. This energy-efficient and versatile product can effectively seal gaps

and close air leaks, which helps maintain indoor air temperature to improve a building’s energy performance.

• A 2000 study by the consulting firm Franklin Associates estimates that if all U.S. homes used foam plastic

insulation, the annual energy savings would be 3.5 trillion Btus. That’s enough energy to meet the yearly

energy consumption of nearly 3.8 million U.S. households.

• According to a 2009 study by the consulting firm McKinsey, continuous foam insulation can improve a wall

assembly’s R-value by as much as 32 percent in a typical wood-framed home. In steel-framed construction,

that improvement is expected to be even greater.

• The DOE found that in commercial construction,

new buildings can achieve a 50 percent

energy savings over standard or typical

construction materials and methods

when a variety of energy-efficient

design elements, including

continuous rigid foam

plastic insulation, are

incorporated into the project.

• Properly insulating and air-sealing

a home can save homeowners up to

20 percent on heating and cooling costs,

according to the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency. Foam plastic

insulation can help achieve

these savings.

R-value measures the ability of insulation to resist the flow of heat. The higher the R-value, the better the product’s insulating power.

Approximately half of the energy used in U.S. homes is for heating and cooling, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Under-insulated buildings with air leaks, gaps and holes can drive up energy bills. The use of foam plastic insulation can help to reduce these costs.

Energy Efficient Foam Coalition • 700 Second St., NE, Washington, DC 20002 • Phone: 202.249.7000 • Fax: 202.249.6100

Energy EfficientFoam Coalitionwww.foaminsulationcoalition.org Energy EfficientFoam Coalitionwww.foaminsulationcoalition.org

Why is foam plastic insulation an energy-efficient choice?

Foam plastic insulation is an innovative, energy-efficient building material that can be made of a variety of plastics, including polyisocyanurate, polystyrene and polyurethane.

It can insulate almost any part of a building—from the roof, to the walls, to the foundation.

It helps reduce drafts and control indoor temperature, which can lower energy use.

It has high insulating value for relatively little thickness.

When properly installed, it can provide a barrier to moisture, which can reduce an insulation’s R-value.

ReferencesFranklin Associates. http://www.greenbuildingsolutions.org/Main-Menu/Resources/White-Papers/Early-House-Sheathing-Insulation-Report-Dated-2000.9027.pdf

McKinsey & Company. http://www.mckinsey.com/client_service/electric_power_and_natural_gas/latest_thinking/unlocking_energy_efficiency_in_the_us_economy

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_sealing.hm_improvement_methodology

U.S. Department of Energy. http://www.pnl.gov/main/publications/external/technical_reports/PNNL-19004.pdf

U.S. Department of Energy. http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/09/f18/61628_BK_EERE-EnergySavers_w150.pdf