Lake Placid Passive Home Employs Spray Foam Insulation

LAKE PLACID, FLORIDA - March 16, 2011 - Spray foam insulation is a key component of Gary Filip's passive home in Lake Placid, Florida, reports the Highlands Today.

The concept of a passive home is simple - rather than employing solar panels or other renewable energy sources, the house is just designed to consume as little energy as possible, especially in terms of heating and cooling. To that end, Filip - an experienced homebuilder in his own right - sprayed the entire inside of the roof covering his 2,800-square-foot abode with Icynene spray foam insulation.

"The attic never gets over 80 [degrees], even on the hottest days," Filip told the paper.

Sealing attics with spray foam is particularly important for passive homes, because attics tend to be one of the major sources of air leakage in most homes. By ensuring a complete and secure building envelope through the attic and the basement, homeowners can maximize their insulation investment.

Another benefit of using spray foam in the attic space is that it can cover the ducts of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC), letting them run with greater efficiency.