SIPs Take Center Stage At MN State Fair

Visitors to the Minnesota State Fair in Saint Paul, MN, had multiple opportunities to learn about the benefits of SIP construction at elaborate demonstration homes built by SIPA members. Minnesota-based dealer/distributor PanelWorks Plus and Iowa-based manufacturer Energy Panel Structures staffed exhibits that showed real world applications for SIPs.

The Minnesota State Fair is the largest state fair in the nation and drew nearly 1.7 million attendees during its twelve day run from August 21 through September 1.

Eco Experience

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency sponsored the Eco Experience exhibit, a pavilion devoted to green living and environmentally sustainable technologies. At the center of the exhibit sits the Eco House, a 1,120 sq. ft. SIP demonstration home displaying the cutting edge in green building technology.

SIPs provided by Extreme Panel Technologies of Cottonwood, MN, were used for the floors, walls, and roof of the home. SIPA member Panel Setters Plus of Andover, MN, assisted in the setup of the home.

In addition to the energy-efficient SIP building envelope, the home features a passive solar design with concrete floors to absorb radiant energy, photovoltaic solar collectors, energy and water saving appliances, and sustainable landscaping. The home qualified under the Minnesota GreenStar Certified Green Home standard and was LEED for Homes certified.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency estimates that over 300,000 people toured the Eco Experience Exhibit. Curt Stendel of PanelWorks Plus said he received an overwhelming response from fair attendees in his third year of participating in the Eco House.

“The big thing we were hearing this year was that people were starting to get what was going on, starting to understand the importance of energy efficiency,” said Stendel. “We received a very positive response all around.”

The SIP School was on hand to host a 3-day SIPs 202 course in advance of the fair’s opening. Licensed building contractors and building officials received seven hours of continuing education credits for attending the classroom portion of the course. All contractors are required to complete a minimum seven hours of continuing education annually to maintain their license in the state of Minnesota.

Stendel reported that approximately 40 people attended the seminar, including several building officials. Some attendees volunteered to assist in the assembly of the Eco House.
At the conclusion of the fair on September 1, the Eco House was disassembled and shipped to Richland, MN, where it will be reassembled into a permanent residence.

Energy Panel Structures Near Zero Energy House

SIPA manufacturer member Energy Panel Structures exhibited at a permanent near zero energy house that was constructed on the fairgrounds in 2007. The 1,200 sq. ft. demonstration home served as a model for the real energy savings possible with SIP construction, boasting average utility costs of only $0.92 per day. The SIP building envelope was supplemented with solar photovoltaic collectors on the roof and radiant heating fueled by a ground source heat pump.

Energy Panel Structures has a long history of involvement with the Minnesota State Fair. In 2006, they were one of many building material donors involved in the construction of the Future Farmers of America Chapterhouse. The Chapterhouse and attached livestock birthing center were both energy-efficient structures featured in the 2006 Winter Issue. After exhibiting inside the Chapterhouse during the 2006 state fair, Energy Panel Structures built the demonstration house to exhibit at future state fairs and other events at the fairgrounds.