Southern yellow pine has one unique property that other lumber does not: sticky yellow resin. Scientists have known for years that resin stores lots of energy. Usually the resin is extracted from the tree and injected into gypsum board to improve the heating and air- conditioning efficiency of houses.
Now forest products engineer Michael Sykes has developed and patented a technology that uses the southern yellow pine trees themselves, as Energy Wood, to help a house heat and cool itself.
The process uses the thermal inertia of the wood as the energy carrier, thus the name Enertia Building System. During winter Energy Wood soaks up solar energy that is released slowly at night and during the next few sunless days. In summer the Energy Wood exterior captures heat before it penetrates the living space, making the inside cooler and lessening the need for air conditioning.
To learn more about the science and technology of Enertia homes, visit http://enertia.com..
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