Pushing the Envelope

Spray Foam Magazine – Show 2026 – At the 2026 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, thousands of attendees marveled at The New American Home (TNAH) 2026. They walked through a 16,000-square-foot masterpiece of modern architecture, admiring the floating staircases and the views of Winter Park. But the home’s most impressive feature wasn’t something they could see—it was something they could feel.

Hidden behind the drywall, a sophisticated thermal engine was at work. This engine, composed of a hybrid insulation assembly installed by Orlando-based Synergy Foam, enabled the massive residence to target a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index potentially lower than -40. In an industry where “zero energy” is the gold standard, this home went further, acting as a power plant that conserves more energy than it consumes.

At the heart of this building science triumph was a specific material strategy: the precision application of Enverge EasySeal open-cell spray foam.

The Physics of Negative Energy

To understand how a luxury mansion achieves a negative HERS rating, one must look past the solar panels and into the wall assembly. Alair Homes, the official builder, knew that standard insulation methods would not suffice for a project of this magnitude in the humid Florida climate. They needed an assembly that could manage heat rejection, air sealing, and acoustics simultaneously.

The solution was a hybrid approach executed by Synergy Foam.

In the 2x6 exterior walls, Synergy Foam’s crews applied four inches of Enverge EasySeal open-cell foam. This specific depth was calculated to leave a controlled two-inch air gap within the wall cavity. Once the foam cured, a Fi-Foil radiant barrier was installed to create a reflective insulation layer.

This “high-performance duo” leverages two distinct thermodynamic principles:

• Conductive Resistance: The Enverge foam halts air movement (convection) and slows heat transfer (conduction).
• Radiant Rejection: The foil layer reflects radiant heat back across the air gap.

The result is a wall system with an effective R-value of approximately R-24 that performs exceptionally well against the intense solar gain of the Sunshine State. The same assembly was utilized on the home’s roof deck to create a fully sealed, unvented attic, improving thermal stability and directly supporting the home’s negative HERS rating.

Why Enverge Easyseal?

For Alair Homes, the choice of Enverge EasySeal over closed-cell alternatives was driven by the specific needs of the client and the structure.

The home serves as a venue for Jonathan’s Landing, a non-profit founded by the owner, Jason Eichenholz, Ph.D., to support adults with autism. To function as both a bustling event space and a private sanctuary, the walls needed to effectively dampen sound. The cellular structure of Enverge EasySeal absorbs sound waves effectively, creating the quiet environment essential for the home’s dual purpose.

Furthermore, the dimensional stability of Enverge EasySeal ensures the airtight bond remains intact over time. As noted in the project details, the foam adhered cleanly to the wooden substrate with minimal preparation, and EasySeal open-cell foam allows for a lasting seal that can also be easily cut if future renovations require access to plumbing or wiring.

Total Air Control

While the Enverge foam provided the primary thermal and air barrier, the push for a -40 HERS score demanded “ultra-low air leakage levels.” To achieve this, the physical insulation was supplemented by AeroBarrier.

After Synergy Foam completed their installation, the house was pressurized, and an atomized sealant was released into the air. This sealant sought out and clogged microscopic gaps—pinholes invisible to the naked eye but costly to an energy model.

“It basically finds and seals every tiny opening,” Daniel Kennerly, partner at Alair Homes, explains. “It’s amazing to watch, and it gets us incredibly close to the airtightness we’re targeting.”

This airtight envelope works in concert with the home’s 108 solar panels—generating approximately 43 kW—to push the energy meter backward.

Synergy Foam: The Strategic Execution

The best building science fails without expert application. For Synergy Foam, Alair’s exclusive partner for over seven years, TNAH 2026 was a logistical gauntlet.

With a non-negotiable deadline for the February debut and a massive footprint to cover, Synergy Foam had to orchestrate their workflow with military precision. They split their crews into two specialized teams, tackling the first and second floors simultaneously to keep the project on track without sacrificing quality.

“We’ve used spray foam exclusively for more than seven years,” Kennerly emphasizes. “For us, it’s not an upgrade. It’s the standard. And this home is the best example yet of what’s possible because of it.”

A New Standard for Luxury

The New American Home 2026 stands as a decorated testament to what is possible when collaborative contributions and high-performance materials align. The project has garnered a list of top green certifications, including ENERGY STAR, NGBS Emerald, DOE Zero Energy Ready Home, and Indoor airPLUS.

By utilizing Enverge EasySeal, Synergy Foam helped transform a 16,000-square-foot philanthropic vision into a fortress of efficiency. The project proves that with the right installer and the right product, even the largest luxury homes can achieve a negative carbon footprint, raising the bar for the future of residential construction.

Spray Foam Magazine does not take editorial positions on particular issues; individual contributions to the magazine express the opinions of discrete authors unless explicitly labeled or otherwise stated. The inclusion of a particular piece in the magazine does not mean that individual staff members or editors concur with the editorial positions represented therein.