Next Generation Wall Retrofit Panels with Integrated VIPS

Lead Performer: Home Innovation Research Labs Inc. – Upper Marlboro, MD

Buildings

March 14, 2023

Lead Performer: Home Innovation Research Labs Inc. – Upper Marlboro, MD
Partners: 
-- Oak Ridge National Laboratory – Oak Ridge, TN
-- Kingspan Insulation, LLC - Atlanta, GA
-- Structural Insulated Panel Association - Fort Lauderdale, FL
-- Albany Housing Authority – Albany, NY
-- Panelwrights, LLC – Shanandoah Junction, WV
-- Foard Panel - West Chesterfield, NH
-- LaRocque Business Management Services - Averill Park, NY
DOE Funding: $4,500,000              
Cost Share: $1,250,000
Project Term:  September 16, 2022 – February 28, 2026
Funding Type: Advanced Building Construction FOA Award

Project Objective

In this Phase 2 ABC Integrated Building Retrofit project, the project team will:

  • Finalize the design for the Vacuum Insulated Panel (VIP)-Enhanced Retrofit Insulation Panel (RIP) based on retrofitting two multifamily buildings in Albany, New York. These properties are managed by the Albany Housing Authority and include buildings at the Creighton Storey Homes development.
  • Establish the baseline energy usage of the specific multifamily buildings (i.e., Creighton Storey Homes) being retrofitted within the field. Confirm that the 67.4% energy use intensity (EUI) energy savings target has been met during the one-year monitoring period.
  • Identify the market opportunity, competitive advantage, and value proposition of VIP-Enhanced RIPs compared to other retrofit insulation options. Determine barriers to adoption, ease of installation, and industry perceptions of the VIP-Enhanced (RIP) product. Develop a tech-to-market plan for the VIP-Enhanced (RIP) product.
  • Demonstrate that the VIP-Enhanced (RIP) product can be mass-produced within a manufacturing environment and confirm the cost (preliminary estimates are between 3% to 15% of additional manufacturing cost and the additional costs of VIPs).
  • Define the comprehensive whole-building retrofit “package” will include building envelope leakage improvements (i.e., weatherization), enhanced insulation of the building envelope using the VIP-Enhanced (RIP), mechanical systems upgrades (where warranted), and roof insulation improvements (where warranted).
  • Field-validate the retrofit VIP-Enhanced (RIP) for low-rise multifamily buildings and confirm that the expected 67.4% EUI improvement (based on actual building characteristics) have been realized.

Project Impact

The project will use a nail-based system to deploy both retrofitted insulated panels and vacuum insulated panels that are comparably lighter, smaller, and less expensive to increase the R-value of exterior walls by a factor of four. The technology could benefit the nearly 2 million existing, older multifamily buildings of similar vintage built in the 1970s and 1980s across the United States.

Contacts

DOE Technology Manager: Sven Mumme
Lead Performer: John Peavey, Home Innovation Research Labs Inc.

Related Information

Visit the following page for information on the Phase 1 prototype project that preceded this Phase 2 demonstration project: