January/February 2002
Home Energy Magazine
Al Cobb, Insulspan's Panelwrights' president, wrote, "The Lowdown on Structural Insulated Panels" for the
January/February 2002 Issue of Home Energy magazine. Al explains the increasing interest in panel construction. He
credits some of that interest to the spike in energy costs. As proof of the remarkable differences in potential
energy savings, Al sites whole-wall R-value tests as well as HERS score tests conducted by Oak Ridge National
Laboratory and the Florida Solar Energy Center respectively.
He equally emphasizes the need for training in the building community; stating improper installation as the primary
reason for breakdowns in panel performance. Al maintains a hopeful outlook for panels as a mainstream building
practice as long as manufacturers and those with experience focus on proper training and installation.
