Report Provides Detailed Comparison of System vs. Conventional Foundation Designs;
Builders Tap New Revenue Source as Agencies Offer Credits for Documented Carbon Offsets


PLEASANT HILL, Calif. (June 15, 2008) — Pacific Housing Systems ™ today announced that every WAFFLEMAT foundation installed will now include a custom report detailing the project’s carbon footprint savings when compared to the previous foundation design. Based upon a model developed and implemented by recognized environmental engineer Sam L. Altshuler, the 26-point analysis performs production cycle CO2 emissions and cost savings calculations relating specifically to a home’s foundation, then quantifies and documents accompanying carbon reductions.

Tom Richards, President and CEO of PHS, said: “Public and private agencies in every country are increasingly offering hard dollar credits for carbon offset. As they do – and when implemented, they likely include a retroactive period – builders will be in line for significant monies, and having this analysis will provide a documented base for reimbursement.”

Sam L. Altshuler, Sr. Consultant, P.E., and Board Certified Environmental Engineer, said: “Whereas LEED examines efficiency and design in regards to the overall house, our model concentrates specifically on the foundation, analyzing & quantifying carbon offsets involved when using WAFFLEMAT. For example, the manufacture and transportation of concrete produces significant amounts of carbon dioxide, the main anthropogenic gas contributing to the buildup of emissions in the earth’s atmosphere. Since WAFFLEMAT is made up of foundation-forming WAFFLEBOXES that displace concrete, less is utilized in the foundation of a home when compared to most conventional ribbed or uniform thickness foundation slabs. That alone translates into several tons less CO2 released into the atmosphere. The model takes areas like that, quantifies the carbon offset compared to the previous foundation design, and provides documentation for builders and homeowners to utilize with appropriate agencies.”

Dr. David Sunding, professor of environmental and resource economics at the University of California Berkeley, and former senior economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisors, said: “Using products that lower CO2 emissions is not only good for the environment, it’s also good for business. For example, in California, Governor Schwarzenegger's recent executive order to begin implementation of a market-based compliance program encourages businesses to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. It’s also clearly a step in the right direction towards cleaning the air of harmful carbon particulates.”

About Pacific Housing Systems
PHS is a leading provider of next-generation foundation solutions for residential homebuilders developing projects on marginal soil. The company’s products and systems enable developers to increase the speed, quality, and quantity of construction, providing savings in material costs, building cycle-time, and future reliability issues in areas where hillsides, high water tables, firm clays/organics, expansive, rocky, and hydro-collapsible soils are prevalent. For information, call 925.683.2739, or visit www.pacifichousingsystems.com.