Akron Straw Bale Home Features Superior Walls® Foundation System

February 15, 2012

NORTH EAST, PA. - You can "huff and puff" but the new Straw Bale home constructed in downtown Akron by Calvin Smith Builders won't come down --- and cold air won't get inside this energy-efficient home. Built with a Superior Walls® Xi^TM precast concrete foundation, this environmentally-friendly home will be open for public viewing on February 18 and 19 from 8:00am to 4:00pm each day.

Located in at 181 North Maple Street in Akron, the home features earth plaster (a combination of shredded blue clay, mason sand and chopped straw) to create an energy-efficient exterior. "This is an extremely green, extremely energy efficient system being performed on a stick-built, full basement home, which is new for straw bale construction," says builder Calvin Smith.

The Superior Walls foundation that forms the base of the house is made of precast concrete panels that were custom created for the project by Superior Walls of NWPA. The wall panels include DOW® insulation and, with added insulation, provide an R-42 insulation factor for year-round comfort and energy efficiency.

"The Superior Walls product helps start off this project with an energy-efficient foundation," says Scott Musarra of Superior Walls of NWPA. "The walls are more aesthetically appealing both inside and outside than poured concrete, they're easier to finish and they have customizable exteriors. Combine those features with the faster installation time and the built-in thermal breaks in the walls and you've got a winning foundation for the Straw Bale home."

New homeowners of the project, the Maher family, will enjoy the benefits of Superior Walls foundation systems in the home. The energy-efficient walls help lower energy costs and reduce energy leakage while providing increased living space in a comfortable setting.

Energy-Efficient Foundations
Top-of-the-line Superior Walls Xi wall panels feature steel reinforced concrete and 2-1/2-inches of DOW® Styrofoam^TM insulation to create a permanent barrier against sidewall water penetration. The panels are custom designed and constructed in a factory-controlled setting. Unique features of the Xi wall panels include:

- 5,000+ PSI concrete
- Steel-reinforced top bond beams, concrete studs and footer beams
- Horizontal steel rebar inside top and bottom beams
- Vertical steel rebar inside each stud
- Access holes for ease in wiring and plumbing
- Galvanized steel stud facing ready for drywall finishing
- Insulated corners, studs and bond beams

"Superior Walls products are resource efficient, using up to 70 percent less concrete in a new home than conventional foundations," says Musarra. "The Xi panels can have additional insulation added to help them achieve an R-50+ rating."

Green Approved Product
The Superior Walls Xi insulated precast concrete wall systems used by Calvin Smith Builders of LaGrange, Ohio have earned the Green Approved Product designation by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center. Builders starting new home projects can earn a total of 13 potential points towards National Green Building Certification when using energy-efficient Superior Walls insulated precast concrete foundation panels. Superior Walls is the first and only foundation manufacturer whose products are approved to contribute points toward certification of a building under the National Green Building Standard^TM.

The Green Approved Products Certificate #00071 provides builders the following points for the use of Superior Walls foundation systems:
• Practice 601.2 - 3 points - Structural systems/advanced framing techniques optimize material usage.
• Practice 601.5 (1-3) - 4 points - Precut/preassembled components, panelized, or precast assemblies are utilized for a minimum of 90% of floor, wall, and/or roof system.
• Practice 607.1 - 3 points - Products containing fewer materials are used to achieve the same end-use requirements as conventional products.
• Practice 701.4.3.1 (1) - Mandatory - Insulation is installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions or local code. Mandatory for certification.
• Practice 903.2.2 - 3 points - Capillary break is added on footing.

For additional details on Superior Walls products, visit www.superiorwalls.com or http://www.superiorwallsnypa.com/index.php. For information on Calvin Smith Builders, visit http://www.calvinsmithbuilders.net/.
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