DuPont’s Vision for a More Energy-Efficient Future
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DuPont, a leader in weatherization solutions, is dedicated to continuously innovating its products and services to transform the market and lead the shift towards more energy-efficient, high-performance homes.
Energy efficiency is a major concern for consumers, but it's just one part of the carbon puzzle. DuPont is committed to enhancing the energy efficiency of its products and reducing its embodied carbon through ongoing product innovation.
In a recent interview with Green Builder Media CEO Sara Gutterman, Shawn Hunter, Global Sustainability Director for DuPont, highlights this shift, stating, “We’re thrilled to see builders redesigning their building envelopes to integrate continuous insulation and comply with the latest codes and standards, such as the 2021 ICC code or ENERGY Star 3.2.”
The growing discussion among builders and future occupants about continuous insulation reflects a heightened awareness of the broader environmental impact of weatherization products.
For example, “One thing that's moving quickly is the conversation around environmental product declarations (EPDs),” notes Hunter. “Over the last six months to a year, more and more builders are asking about our EPDs. It's exciting to see because it's how we, as an industry, address the carbon side of the equation in addition to energy efficiency.”
EPDs are not a new strategy for DuPont. In fact, the company has been providing EPDs for several of its products over the past decade, using them to optimize manufacturing processes, reduce embodied carbon, and enhance innovation while educating consumers about environmental impact.
For some consumers, understanding what a reduction in embodied carbon looks like can be intangible and challenging. At DuPont, EPDs are used to simplify this concept and demonstrate how product improvements lead to significant advancements.
Hunter notes, “We recently innovated to reduce the embodied carbon of our Styrofoam brand XPS insulation product, achieving an impressive 94% reduction. We’re communicating this progress through our EPDs, providing customers with both the embodied carbon for the new product and a comparison to the previous version. This way, they can clearly see the impact of the 94% reduction.”
DuPont is excited to contribute its weatherization products to the VISION House Las Vegas project and to see their impact on the project's carbon modeling.
"There’s a lot we can learn about decarbonizing the housing sector through the carbon modeling and LCA process of the VISION House," notes Hunter. "At DuPont, we believe in building and innovating as if our future depends on it—because it does."
“The VISION House Las Vegas is not just a project; it's a platform for DuPont to push the boundaries of innovation and energy efficiency, driving the future of sustainable building forward.”
Victoria Muharsky is an ESG specialist at Green Builder Media, where she leads the ESG for Building Working Group. Under her guidance, the group has successfully overseen the release of the groundbreaking ESG Defining Principles. Crafted collaboratively by industry experts, these guidelines are revolutionizing the homebuilding sector's approach to ESG and sustainability.
DuPont’s Vision for a More Energy-Efficient Future
DuPont, a leader in weatherization solutions, is dedicated to continuously innovating its products and services to transform the market and lead the shift towards more energy-efficient, high-performance homes.
Energy efficiency is a major concern for consumers, but it's just one part of the carbon puzzle. DuPont is committed to enhancing the energy efficiency of its products and reducing its embodied carbon through ongoing product innovation.
In a recent interview with Green Builder Media CEO Sara Gutterman, Shawn Hunter, Global Sustainability Director for DuPont, highlights this shift, stating, “We’re thrilled to see builders redesigning their building envelopes to integrate continuous insulation and comply with the latest codes and standards, such as the 2021 ICC code or ENERGY Star 3.2.”
The growing discussion among builders and future occupants about continuous insulation reflects a heightened awareness of the broader environmental impact of weatherization products.
For example, “One thing that's moving quickly is the conversation around environmental product declarations (EPDs),” notes Hunter. “Over the last six months to a year, more and more builders are asking about our EPDs. It's exciting to see because it's how we, as an industry, address the carbon side of the equation in addition to energy efficiency.”
EPDs are not a new strategy for DuPont. In fact, the company has been providing EPDs for several of its products over the past decade, using them to optimize manufacturing processes, reduce embodied carbon, and enhance innovation while educating consumers about environmental impact.
For some consumers, understanding what a reduction in embodied carbon looks like can be intangible and challenging. At DuPont, EPDs are used to simplify this concept and demonstrate how product improvements lead to significant advancements.
Hunter notes, “We recently innovated to reduce the embodied carbon of our Styrofoam brand XPS insulation product, achieving an impressive 94% reduction. We’re communicating this progress through our EPDs, providing customers with both the embodied carbon for the new product and a comparison to the previous version. This way, they can clearly see the impact of the 94% reduction.”
DuPont is excited to contribute its weatherization products to the VISION House Las Vegas project and to see their impact on the project's carbon modeling.
"There’s a lot we can learn about decarbonizing the housing sector through the carbon modeling and LCA process of the VISION House," notes Hunter. "At DuPont, we believe in building and innovating as if our future depends on it—because it does."
“The VISION House Las Vegas is not just a project; it's a platform for DuPont to push the boundaries of innovation and energy efficiency, driving the future of sustainable building forward.”
For more insights from Shawn Hunter, watch this interview.
By Victoria Muharsky
Victoria Muharsky is an ESG specialist at Green Builder Media, where she leads the ESG for Building Working Group. Under her guidance, the group has successfully overseen the release of the groundbreaking ESG Defining Principles. Crafted collaboratively by industry experts, these guidelines are revolutionizing the homebuilding sector's approach to ESG and sustainability.Also Read