The role of modern building materials in sustainable home building

The residential construction industry is evolving to meet rising consumer demands for sustainability, energy efficiency, durability, and resilience. Modern home builders are under increasing pressure to use materials that enhance a home’s performance while aligning with regulatory standards and green building certifications. Thanks to modern building materials, builders don’t have to sacrifice one of these qualities for the others. 

Among the many innovations reshaping the industry, advanced insulation technologies like spray foam have emerged as a key solution, helping homebuilders create more sustainable, high-performance homes. This article explores the role of insulation in achieving these goals, highlighting spray foam insulation as a modern and innovative approach. 

The demand for more efficient building solutions 

Homeowners and developers are prioritizing energy efficiency to lower utility costs, reduce environmental impact, and improve indoor comfort. The US government has incentivized sustainable construction through programs like the 45L Energy Efficient Home Credit, which offers financial benefits to homebuilders for meeting above code efficiency requirements. These programs encourage the widespread adoption of materials that enhance home performance and reduce long-term energy consumption. 

At the same time, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe. As a result, both builders and buyers should be considering more durable materials that enhance resiliency and long-term protection. Spray foam plays a crucial role in meeting these evolving industry standards and consumer expectations, ensuring homes remain efficient and well-protected.  

Spray foam insulation as a key solution 

Spray foam insulation has emerged as a superior alternative to traditional insulation materials, offering benefits such as an airtight seal, moisture resistance, and stable R-value over time. Compared to fiberglass or cellulose, spray foam helps reduce air leakage, which accounts for up to 40 percent of a home’s energy loss, according to the US Department of Energy.  

There are two primary types of spray foam insulation, each offering unique benefits for residential applications: 

Open-cell spray foam is a flexible and cost-effective insulation that expands to fill gaps, creating an effective air barrier. It also provides the added benefit of sound dampening, making it an ideal choice for homes in busy areas. 

Closed-cell spray foam offers a higher R-value per inch and enhances structural reinforcement, in addition to superior moisture resistance. Research conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has shown that walls installed with closed-cell spray foam have a racking strength up to 300 percent greater than walls without it.  

Beyond improving energy efficiency, spray foam insulation delivers additional advantages: 

Energy savings, by easing HVAC strain and lowering heating and cooling costs.  

Long-term performance, resisting settling, sagging, and degradation over time. 

Sustainability impacts by cutting energy consumption and reducing a home’s carbon footprint. 

A home built with spray foam and proper ventilation may allow for an HVAC unit with less tonnage. Since this home would stay comfortable with less energy input, HVAC professionals can often downsize the system, leading to equipment cost savings and potentially lower energy bills.  

The 2024 NAHB New American Home: A case study in sustainable innovation 

The 2024 NAHB New American Home exemplifies how modern insulation technologies contribute to energy efficiency and sustainability. To achieve this, the builder used Enverge EasySeal .5® open-cell spray foam insulation, creating an airtight envelope that resulted in a blower door test score of 0.35 air changes per hour at 50 pascals, far exceeding industry standards. As a testament to its effectiveness, the home achieved a HERS Index rating of -54, highlighting the important role of advanced insulation in reducing overall energy consumption.  

Regulatory and financial incentives supporting energy efficiency 

Programs like the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) initiative and ENERGY STAR for Homes set performance benchmarks, helping builders achieve maximum energy efficiency. According to ENERGY STAR, certified homes are at least ten percent more energy efficient than those built to minimum code thresholds, with an average improvement of 20 percent. Additionally, the 45L Tax Credit rewards builders who incorporate energy-efficient technologies, offering up to $5,000 per single-family home that meets DOE ZERH criteria. 

With increasing regulatory support, builders who adopt high-performance insulation solutions can gain a competitive edge while enhancing sustainability and benefiting from tax incentives.  

The future of residential construction: prioritizing energy efficiency 

The rising adoption of spray foam insulation signals a broader industry shift toward high-performance materials that improve home efficiency and resiliency. Spray foam insulation represents a modern, innovative solution that not only improves energy efficiency but also supports homeowners in achieving long-term savings and comfort. 

Advances in insulation technology continue to drive the industry forward, enabling builders to meet stricter energy codes without compromising design flexibility. Enverge is at the forefront of this transition, offering advanced spray foam solutions that enhance airtightness and provide superior durability. Projects like the 2024 NAHB New American Home serve as proof of concept, demonstrating the impact of advanced insulation materials in achieving net-zero energy goals. 

As demand for energy-efficient homes grows, partnerships between builders, material manufacturers, and insulation specialists will remain key to innovation. By leveraging cutting-edge materials, financial incentives, and evolving building codes, the industry can ensure homes are more sustainable, durable, and resilient than ever before*.   

*Holcim and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors.  

www.envergesprayfoam.com  

Aaron Davenport is Director of Building Science, Enverge Spray Foam, a leader in the spray foam insulating market. It is on a mission to change the way the world insulates by providing high-performance spray foam insulation products, industry-leading training and support, and building expertise to customers and partners to create healthier living environments and more energy-efficient buildings.