Oct 12 2007
Honeywell has announced that leading universities have selected closed- cell polyurethane foam insulation using Honeywell Enovate(R) blowing agent to help design and build high energy-efficient homes for the 2007 Solar Decathlon. Honeywell also is a supporting sponsor of the international competition, which is managed and fully sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Students from 20 of the world's top universities are competing in the event and will convene on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., from Oct. 12-20 to design, build, and operate the most attractive and efficient solar-powered house. The homes will be judged in a number of areas, including comfort, livability and appliances.
"This event is ideal for educating consumers, builders and government officials that Honeywell plays a vital role in helping to build homes that are energy efficient, without sacrificing design, comfort and aesthetics," said Terrence Hahn, vice president and general manager of Honeywell's Fluorine Products business. "As demand for energy continues to rise, Honeywell is committed to helping homeowners maximize energy efficiency and reduce heating and cooling costs. We are proud to be part of the DOE's 2007 Solar Decathlon."
Honeywell's blowing agent causes insulating foam to expand and helps provide many of the foam's key performance characteristics. Students will use the energy-efficient foam to insulate walls, roofs or floors, or as a sealant. Some homes also will include appliances that use such high-performance foam insulation.
Twelve of the 20 competing schools are using the rigid foam insulation with Honeywell's blowing agent, including MIT, Penn State University, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid and The University of Colorado, the two- time, undefeated champion of the Solar Decathlon.
As part of its sponsorship, Honeywell offered teams up to $3,500 for materials, as well as technology education and guidance and a list of local contractors. This year's Solar Decathlon, the third of its kind, is expected to draw more than 100,000 people.
Honeywell's Enovate blowing agent, a non-flammable, zero ozone-depleting hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) liquid, is rapidly being adopted to insulate homes, especially walls and roofing, as well as in novel applications such as insulating solar water heaters in China and hurricane-proofing commercial facilities such as the Louisiana Superdome.
Major appliance makers also use foam with Honeywell Enovate to insulate refrigerator and freezer cabinets and doors to achieve ENERGY STAR ratings. Honeywell recently announced a multi-year supply agreement with Hisense Kelon, a leading home appliance manufacturer based in Guangdong Province, China, and an extended long-term supply agreement with Whirlpool.
Honeywell is a leading innovator in high-performance foam insulation blowing agent technology. The company continues to innovate through its ongoing materials development programs, which include a low global warming potential (GWP) solution for one-component foam used to seal around windows and doors in Europe.