Tiny Energy Efficient House Built Using Innovative Plastic Building Products

Plastics Make It Possible^® and Zack Giffin, co-host of FYI Network's "Tiny House Nation," teamed up to build an energy efficient tiny house using innovative plastic building products that improve a home's overall energy efficiency. The 170-square-foot tiny house exhibit–"A Tiny House That's Big on Energy Efficiency"–opened to the public at the California Science Center in Los Angeles the week of November 23.

The Department of Energy estimates that houses and buildings in the U.S. consume a whopping 41% of our nation's energy, due in part to older, less efficient building materials. The Plastics Make it Possible tiny house showcases innovative plastic building products that can improve energy efficiency in any size house–tiny or not so tiny.

California Science Center guests can explore the tiny house to learn how readily available plastic building products used on its interior and exterior can reduce energy use, improve durability, and ease maintenance–while saving homeowners money on energy bills.

"This tiny house is a great way to show how modern building materials can improve any home's energy efficiency," said Steve Russell, vice president of plastics at the American Chemistry Council, which sponsors the Plastics Make it Possible^® initiative. "In one small space, visitors can see more than a dozen ways that innovative plastic building products work together to help save energy and money on utility bills."

"Zack is a very talented builder whose conservation ethos and tiny houses can have a big impact on environmental awareness and the need for improved energy efficiency in our homes," Russell continued.

Numerous building products featured throughout the home were donated–from the airtight polyurethane foam insulation to the tough, UV-resistant polycarbonate skylight to the plastic solar shingles that both protect the roof and generate energy:

• Polyurethane spray foam insulation courtesy of Dow Building Solutions, the Center for the Polyurethane Industries and WhySprayFoam.org.
• Vinyl siding and trim courtesy of Associated Materials, the Vinyl Institute, the Vinyl Siding Institute, Inc. and National Housing Center.
• Polyiso foam insulation Thermasheath-3 and RSeal construction tape courtesy of Rmax Operating, LLC, Axiom Communications Group and Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association.
• Dow POWERHOUSE^TM Solar Shingles courtesy of Dow Building Solutions and Dow Solar Field Operations.
• Vinyl windows courtesy of TILTCO, A DIVISION OF WINDOWORLD INDUSTRIES, INC. and American Architectural Manufacturers Association.
• WASCO polycarbonate skylight courtesy of Wasco Products, Inc. and Covestro.
• Jeld-Wen Architectural Fiberglass door courtesy of Covestro and Innovation Exhibits, Ohio.
• Polyethylene cross-linked pipe courtesy of Uponor and the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association. Pipe installed is Acme-Cash.
• Luxury vinyl flooring courtesy of Metroflor and the Vinyl Institute.

Although tiny, the house is also big on style thanks to interior design firm JOHNSON NATHAN STROHE based in Denver, CO.

For more information on plastics and sustainability, visit plasticsmakeitpossible.com/tiny-house. For more information on exhibit operating hours at the California Science Center, visit www.californiasciencecenter.org. To view the Tiny House mini-documentary, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH1tfAOQZG4

Plastics Make it Possible^® highlights the many ways plastics inspire innovations that improve our lives, solve big problems and help us design a safer, more promising future. This program is sponsored by America's Plastics Makers^TM through the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council.

About the California Science Center
The California Science Center is a dynamic destination where families, adults and children can explore the wonders of science through interactive exhibits, live demonstrations, innovative programs and awe-inspiring films.