A Tough Decision Made...

What am I really? A conservative Chemical Engineer or a dirt-worshiping tree-hugger? We've just made one decision that brought those two sides of my world view into direct conflict. The decision on which waterproofing and insulation system to use directly affects the "greenness" of the home via material selection. The conflict has to do with how to implement the underground (therefore irreversible) waterproofing and insulation system that will be installed on the poured-in-place concrete basement walls on the up-hill side of the house.

The tree-hugger in me desperately wants to be a leader in the emerging Green building movement. He wants to use a slick new spray-on soy based foam system that allegedly is stable for years and waterproofs at the same time it insulates. The blowing agent (what makes it foam up) is not a greenhouse gas contributor and so the advocate for renewable resources and climate protection in me loves it! It's reaaaallllly green. BUT...Sue and I have said from the get-go that we want to be leaders in the green building field; not fanatics.

The ChE in me knows that there is nothing more waterproof and stable over the long haul than dead dinosaurs (petroleum based mastic). It's been underground for millennia not just years. We know how it will fare underground over the life of the building and we know (if done right) it will not leak and will not need to be dug up and replaced in a decade or so. We also know that Styrofoam (Dow's trademarked, closed cell, extruded polystyrene foam) is stable for decades because it, too, is made from dead dinosaurs. The problem with petroleum mastic and Styrofoam is that both are the definition of non-renewable. There ARE no more dinosaurs who will die, rot, be compressed for eons and kindly re-supply us with petroleum products. Further, the blowing agent used in Styrofoam production for 60 years is a VERY powerful contributor to global warming (much more so than the CO2 that everyone hears about).

As someone who KNOWs global warming AND depletion of resources to be a problem, I was really torn. Which system is the responsible choice?

At the end of the decision day, I had to go with the conservative Chemical Engineer in me and opt for tried and true. Petroleum mastic and 3 inches of Dow blue Styrofoam. My decision ultimately came down to resting on two principals of green building. THE most important factor in sustainability is "build to last". Do not build something with built-in obsolescence that will be pulled down and replaced in a few years or even decades. The second most important principal in sustainable building is energy conservation. Build a house that is very energy efficient and over it's life, the minimised energy uses of the building will be both economical and green. Leadership always involves compromise. The challenge is in picking the right compromises to make. I hoped I was making the right compromise.

As it turns out, a week after agonizing over this choice I got some great news. My buddies at Dow have been busy(I used to work in a Dow environmental consulting group and my last engineering assignment was at Dow's Freeport, TX facility). Dow Styrofoam is now formulated with a non- greenhouse gas blowing agent. Beginning in early 2009, they've converted their Styrofoam production facilities to the new technology; starting in Dalton, GA. It's sill not renewable.... but my hot button; Global Warming Potential (GWP) has been relieved. Had I known this two weeks ago, the decision would have been much easier. Now I know we made the right call!