NEW HOLLAND, PA. - Money-conscious homeowners are constantly
seeking out ways to reduce their energy bills. Those consumers fortunate
enough to be considering a new home purchase have a way of potentially
saving up to 50 percent of total heat loss in a home simply by constructing
with the right foundation system.

            "Homeowners should be actively involved in the product decisions
that go into their new home construction," says Jim Costello, president of
Superior WallsR. "Consumers can build value from the bottom up in their new
homes by using energy-efficient foundation systems. The steel-reinforced
concrete panels created by Superior Walls are matched up in the
manufacturing process with DOWR StyrofoamT boards, which provide excellent
rigid foam insulation. The resulting XiT wall panels provide an
exceptionally energy efficient foundation for a home. 

 
            "According to the publication 'Native Power - A Handbook on
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for Native American Communities,' an
uninsulated basement can account for one-third of the total heat loss in a
home. This study, funded in part by the Office of Energy Research, U.S.
Department of Energy and the Office of Utility Technologies, illustrates the
tremendous value homeowners can achieve by shunning unheated basements and
crawlspaces in favor of installing energy-efficient foundation panels."
 

            A separate "Residential Foundation Insulation" report issued in
2000 by Kansas State University with support of the U.S. Department of
Energy, suggests that the benefits of foundation insulation are often
overlooked. According to the report, "heat loss from an uninsulated,
conditioned basement may represent up to 50 percent of a home's total heat
loss in a tightly sealed, well-insulated home." 

 
Superior Walls insulated precast concrete wall systems have earned the Green
Approved Product designation by the NAHB Research Center. Builders choosing
to use Superior Walls XiT and R-5 foundations can now earn up to 10 points
on a project toward a National Green Building Certification.
 

            At Superior Walls, Xi wall panels are constructed with a
concrete face shell, backed by 2-1/2-inches of DOW extruded polystyrene
insulation. In addition, the steel reinforced concrete walls create a
permanent barrier against sidewall water penetration, making the home damp
proof. 
 

            Each Superior Walls panel is custom made to the specifications
of an individual home, including built-in openings for windows and doors.
Pre-engineered access for wiring or small plumbing elements along with smart
stud facing for easy drywall installation are included and help speed up the
installation process. Foundation systems generally install in a day or less
by certified installation crews, making it possible for builders to begin
construction within 24 hours.

 
The pre-cast insulated foundation systems provided by Superior Walls help
homeowners save on energy bills and allow them to fully utilize their
basement space as functioning and comfortable living areas in the home.
 

For more information visit www.superiorwalls.com.