By Alan Harmon

EH Systems, LLC, a local manufacturer of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) has called New Braunfels its home for the past three years. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) typically consist of outer skins of structural grade oriented strand board (OSB) with an expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam core attached to each other with a structural adhesive. Stock SIPs are used for load bearing walls and as self-spanning floor and roof panels in thicknesses of 4 1/2 to 12 1/4 inches. Panels are produced in four foot widths up to 24 feet long and in jumbo sizes of 9 by 24' feet. With EPS R Values of approximately 3.6 per inch of thickness, the EPS panels by themselves have R Values ranging from R14 for the 4 1/2 inch panel to R45 for the 12 1/4 inch panel. SIPs are primarily used in residential and light commercial applications. SIP structures are stronger than stick construction, are erected quicker, offer have better thermal performance and provide superior control of infiltration, allowing for improved indoor air quality.

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Mexico City is making an aggressive push in its struggle to fight pollution in one of the world's most polluted cities. Mayor Marcelo Ebrard is leading the fight to limit green house gasses with an ambitious $5. 5 billion "Green Plan" that will tackle a number of initiatives including the elimination of 6 million cars from the already congested city streets, adding subway and bus lines, and introducing new regulations to curb traffic. Undoubtedly the Green Plan's most aggressive course of action is a proposed initiative to canvas 500,000 sq. ft of Mexico City's dense urbanity with breezy green roofs. The plan, if implemented in its entirety would be complete by 2012 and place Mexico City just behind Chicago as the hemispheric leaders in green roofing. Jeremy Shwartz from the Mexico City Bureau of The Austin American Statesman discussed the challenges that Mexico City faces in meeting their ambitious objective.

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