With StoTherm® NExT, Energy Efficiency is the Key to Sustainable Construction

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Aug 16, 2008

Sto Corp., the innovative world leader in cladding, coating and restoration systems, announced that its StoTherm® NExT Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS) products promote sustainable building with energy efficiency and durability.

The environmental issues of climate change and global warming have driven a movement toward carbon-neutral buildings. The 2030 Challenge, developed by Architecture 2030 (www.architecture2030.org/), sets a goal that all new and renovated buildings achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2030. This challenge has been adopted by many organizations, including the American Institute of Architects (AIA), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and US Conference of Mayors. In addition, many state and local governments have incorporated carbon reduction goals into their energy policies.

What is Carbon Neutrality?
Being carbon neutral, or carbon neutrality, refers to neutral (meaning zero) total carbon release. A two-pronged strategy commonly used to achieve carbon neutrality is to:
1) reduce the amount of energy required to operate the building; and
2) use non-carbon based sources (such as wind and solar) for the energy that is necessary.

StoTherm® NExT cladding systems provide a cost-effective way to reduce energy usage. “Many of the “green” programs for both residential and commercial construction recognize plenty of factors that allow a building to use resources wisely,” said Mike O’Neil, product manager for StoTherm® at Sto Corp. “The energy efficiency factor allows it to truly meet the sustainable construction criteria. Energy efficiency is the key to sustainability in terms of achieving carbon reduction goals.”

StoTherm® NExT (EIFS) and Energy Use
A majority of the energy that a typical commercial or residential building requires is used to heat and/or cool the interior of the building. One of the key components to reducing the heating/cooling energy load in a building is the building envelope. StoTherm® NExT systems deliver a well insulated, airtight building enclosure, resulting in significant energy savings and superior indoor climate control and comfort.

Insulation and R-Values
StoTherm® NExT insulated wall claddings provide a continuous blanket of insulation around the exterior of the structure, eliminating the many thermal breaks characteristic of between-the-stud insulation. A broad range of R-Values may be achieved by using EPS in varying thickness from 3/4” to 4” (19-102 mm).

Air Infiltration and Heat Loss
StoTherm® NExT systems, with proper installation and details, can reduce exterior air and moisture infiltration at foundation and wall joints, wall outlets and vents by as much as 55% compared to typical construction. StoTherm® NExT systems greatly reduce heat-loss through the walls, which can account for up to 40% of the heat-loss in non-EIFS construction.

Superior Moisture Protection
StoTherm® NExT incorporates the StoGuard™ waterproofing/air barrier system to create a continuous secondary air and moisture barrier behind it to protect the sheathing and other construction components. StoGuard™ prevents moisture from penetrating and saturating the sheathing, while still allowing water vapor to pass through. In addition, StoGuard™ minimizes air infiltration through the building envelope. A 2005 NIST Study, “Investigation of the Impact of Commercial Building Envelope Airtightness on HVAC Energy Use – NISTIR 7238”, showed that use of an air barrier can result in annual energy cost savings of up to 40%.

EIFS Is The Best Performing Wall System
Recent testing from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has proven that EIFS provide superior thermal and moisture control compared to brick, stucco, concrete block and fiber cement siding.
“The best performing wall system was the EIFS wall consisting of 4 inches of expanded polystyrene insulation board without any interior stud insulation (no fiberglass),” reads the study summary issued by ORNL. “This wall outperformed all other walls in terms of moisture while maintaining superior thermal performance.” This is consistent with independent studies conducted by ORNL for Sto Corp. The testing results of this important result can be found on the industry association’s website at www.eima.com.

About Sto Corp.
For more than 50 years, Sto has been committed to the concept of sustainability and energy efficiency. Our mission statement, summarized by the three words "Building with conscience" focuses on this commitment
to environmental, economic and social sustainability. StoTherm® NExT is an integral part of Sto’s commitment to this ideal.

Sto Corp., based in Atlanta, Georgia, is an innovative world leader and producer of a broad range of versatile cladding and coating systems for building construction, maintenance and restoration. Sto Corp. is ISO 9001 certified and operates production plants strategically located to serve more than 200 distributor shipping locations across North America. At research and development laboratories in the U.S. and Europe, Sto continues to revolutionize the industry with the highest quality products and application technology.

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