Working with low-income communities in Latin America and Africa has allowed MEDLIFE the opportunity to craft solutions and work towards making a positive impact in those communities by listening to their needs. Access to a safe home is one of our main missions as we work towards our long-term vision of a world free from the constraints of poverty. It’s with this in mind that we often look towards new technology or innovative solutions when tackling these issues.
Many people in the communities we work with don’t have access to a safe home. Building projects are often complicated in the rural towns we work in, as they can be difficult to get to. However, SIPs are a new, innovative solution to quality, affordable housing. SIPs are breaking traditional barriers and leading the way in “value engineering” for housing.
What are SIPs?
Structural insulated panels, or SIPs, are among the newest innovations in energy-efficient housing. These panels are made with a foam center that is then sandwiched between an interior and exterior sheathing. While it sounds simple, the engineering behind these panels is exceptional. SIPs are extremely versatile and can be made to fit almost any type of building plan. Their design provides excellent structural and thermal characteristics.
What makes SIPs so great when it comes to finding housing solutions for low-income, rural communities like those that MEDLIFE serves? Well, most importantly, they’re lightweight and affordable. However, there are several advantages to using SIPs, in all types of different housing.
Advantages of SIPs
Affordable housing is an urgent issue not only in the communities that MEDLIFE serves but also all over the world, and SIPs are thought to be an adequate solution. For example, in the UK the idea is being pushed in order to solve the housing deficit and create mass-built social housing.
Of course, these same advantages would hold true in providing low-income communities with quality housing in Africa and Latin America.
Fast construction
The walls and roofs used in SIP constructions are manufactured with extreme precision in factories. This means that when on-site, the actual construction of these buildings is streamlined. Put simply, construction is fitting the panels together like pieces of a puzzle. With as much as 55% less labor time than usual construction sites, SIPs are incredibly cost-effective. Potentially, a house could be built in as little as one week.
Safe and healthy
SIPs are airtight which actually allows inhabitants of these buildings to enjoy better air quality. The panels serve as ventilation which filters out harmful contaminants or allergens. Additionally, because of the way in which the panels are sealed, they prevent condensation that wards off dangerous mold, mildew, and rot from forming. SIPs are extremely durable and won’t deteriorate over time.
Sustainable and eco-friendly
Because of SIPs’ design, they are airtight, which means they have excellent insulation. This allows each house constructed with SIPs to reduce its energy use and lessen its carbon emissions. Additionally, the manufacturing process uses less energy than other materials used in housing construction such as steel or concrete. SIPs also reduce construction waste by using less heavy-duty machines, shorter labor time, and fewer materials.
Creative and versatile
SIPs are able to meet the needs of the local environment–wherever that may be. Home layouts can vary to fit any project or architectural design. As well as being safe, affordable, and sustainable, they can be aesthetically pleasing and fit into the local community seamlessly.
SIPs: a logical solution to affordable housing
We’re living in an exciting time. New technology and engineering designs have the potential to make a positive impact on the global community, particularly when it comes to accessible housing for everyone. SIPs have the potential to provide quick, reliable, and low-cost housing to even the most remote areas without needing ample workers, materials, and machines. And, as a lightweight material, SIPs can quite literally climb mountains to combat poverty anywhere in the world.
Homelessness is a global issue affecting most countries in the world. Affordable and sustainable housing solutions are key in combating the housing crisis. MEDLIFE works with many communities that lack proper, safe, and healthy housing for its residents. Creative and sustainable solutions, such as SIPs, are ways in which we can come together as a global community, providing solutions and a better life for those in low-income communities.
