One of our stated goals at Allen is to be a clear leader in sustainability for the Santa Barbara region, which includes delivering high-performance homes and remodels that are well beyond requirements. We strongly believe that healthy, comfortable, and efficient homes are better buildings. To that end, the Allen team committed to offering three additional “beyond code” features in 2024 that have reliable sourcing and trained local trade installers. Thanks to all of our trades for your partnership in this effort.
Zip Panel is a structural sheathing that has an integrated waterproofing layer that includes a taping at all the panel seams. This saves the step of installing the water resistive barrier after you have hung all the sheathing, but more importantly, it allows you to air seal the structures from the outside. Allen is consistently getting new homes under 2 air changes per hour (ACH) at 50 pascals of pressure during blower door tests. This additional air sealing reduces the load on heating and cooling systems and reduces energy use over the lifetime of the building.
Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV). When making our buildings tighter, you gain comfort and efficiency. Additionally, it reduces moisture intrusion which increases durability, and when paired with an Energy Recovery Ventilator, can create comfortable, pollen and smoke free occupant filtered air without the use of the HVAC system.
Cellulose Insulation is one of the few plant based building products we can use in our fire prone California climate that is carbon negative, or carbon sequestering. This means, after you account for the carbon removed from the environment from the tree or plant that is used to make the product, then add the carbon generated from the milling and transportation of the product, the total carbon number is still negative. This product is readily available in our marketplace and offers the same R-value as a higher carbon fiberglass batt with a higher performing bib installation method.
