Discover what going beyond sustainable can mean to your company

Join BASF and a team of industry experts at this year's IBS show and discover what going beyond sustainable can mean to your company

The Science of Sustainability

Sustainability in residential construction can mean many different things to many people. It’s more than just rating systems and laws. A variety of elements can go into the production of a home that can help it become more sustainable.

By cost-shifting your build approach, your business can lead the market in creating affordable, sustainable homes that will last for generations.

On the surface, sustainability can define a home that uses less energy or one that is net-zero. It could also have to do with VOC off-gassing, wastewater recycling and a host of other eco-friendly components. One thing that most can agree on is that the process of creating a sustainable home starts with designing the house as a system, not just a collection of individual parts.

A holistic approach to construction

In most of today’s homes built to current codes, individual components are not interdependent upon others. For instance, we don’t consider the framing as anything more than the skeleton of the home. Sure, its sizing and spans are important, but only in facilitating enough space for insulation and strength for loading. The components stand individually; not as a system.

That’s where BASF looked to change the game. By planning for each component’s effect on the next, it has revolutionized the process through its Center for Building Excellence. There, the wall is considered alongside loads, R-values, mechanicals, moisture management and a host of other components comprising the comprehensive system of the house. By re-engineering the plan set for the builder and placing boots on the ground alongside the trades, the Center for Building Excellence has created tight, energy efficient homes that reduce lumber content, minimize energy use, enhance indoor air quality and exceed current codes. The result is a stronger home built through a holistic approach to construction.

The cost of green

Having your own team of building scientists can prove daunting. Yet the direction of upcoming code changes demands that builders get in front of the curve in order to control their own destiny. The opportunity to leverage the services of the Center for Building Excellence as your building science team can allow your company to create a market difference. By cost-shifting your build approach, your business can lead the market in creating affordable, sustainable homes that will last for generations.