Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are an alternative to stud frame construction for homes and small commercial buildings and there are two reasons I build with them. The first is energy efficiency. All else being equal, a home built with SIPs will use 50% less energy than an identical house built to code with a wood frame. The second reason I like SIPs is strength. They make a building that’s roughly 3x stronger than more typical wood frame construction, all while adding less than 5% to construction costs. SIPs are new to many people, so click on the video above to learn the basics.