Rural Builder - Summer 2010

BaySystems helps bring hope to New Orleans nonprofit

BaySystems donates energywise energy efficiency program to help Girls Hope House realize substantial long-term savings in new facility

aySystems continued its support of worthwhile non-profit construction projects with a donation to the Girls Hope House in New Orleans, La. The new 6,700– square-foot home replaced the residential facility for disadvantaged girls destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

BaySystems provided it’s energywise Energy Cost Savings Guarantee program to the home, which will result in approximately $3,000 annual savings in energy bills. energywise is a residential program that combines energy performance analysis, HVAC system sizing and spray polyurethane foam insulation to guarantee savings in energy costs. BaySystems donated Bayseal OC SPF insulation and Bayseal CC SPF insulation systems to efficiently seal the building.

New Orleans architecture firm Garrity + Accardo Architects designed the new home with energy efficiency in mind.

“Being able to provide BaySystems’ energywise
program and SPF insulation in this home was ideal,”
says Donna Accardo, principal of Garrity + Accardo.
“The house is a large pier and beam wood construc-
tion home for eight girls and four staff residents.
It’s easier to raise money for one-time expenses
than on an ongoing basis, so we went with the en-
ergywise program because the guaranteed lower
monthly energy cost will be a significant savings
for Girls Hope’s annual energy expenditures. The
energywise program helped relay to the owner the
exact savings in monthly costs as well as how we
could reduce the amount of air conditioning equip-
ment installed during construction.”
The Girls Hope House project represented an
opportunity for BaySystems to further its com-
mitment to sustainable rebuilding along the Gulf
Coast. The company also donated Bayseal SPF in-
sulation to the Long Beach, Miss., community revi-
talization program following Hurricane Katrina.