NDC awards U.S. Engineered Wood for its energy efficient Tstud products

Brian Iverson has a global vision to make all structures operate on 50 percent less utility costs. As the CEO of U.S. Engineered Wood, Inc. and inventor of Tstuds — or what he describes as “thermally broken, insulated wall stud assembly” products — Iverson’s noble goal seems all the more attainable.

He calls his trademarked invention the Tstud, which help minimize the effects of outdoor temperatures for homes. The BareNaked and R19 Tstuds are used for housing and commercial buildings. The mission of Tstud is to “develop and inspire sustainable, tangible, energy efficient building solutions.”

“Whatever goes on outside, that heat and cold, we minimize the ability of it to transfer through the wall to affect your utility bill on the inside. But along the way, as part of that process, we made the wall 20 percent more sound transmission compliant,” Iverson said. “In a hotel or motel, the walls are quieter.”

U.S. Engineered Wood has been operating its Newton facility, 927 N. 19th Ave. E., Building 125, and manufacturing Tstuds since November 2020. Depending on the type of insulation used in the buildings, the company claims property owners using their product are already saving 15-75 percent on their HVAC bills.

“Somebody has to get out in front and represent the earth,” Iverson told Newton News. “Everybody else is already out there representing their pocketbook and trying to figure out how to make money. I already know how to make money, because I have the Tstud. Now I’m going to go represent the Earth.”

Acknowledging his clear passion for energy efficiency and his goal to better the building and construction industry, the Newton Development Corporation on Oct. 14 presented Iverson with the Jim Tyler Entrepreneurial Award at its Salute to Business & Industry luncheon. Iverson was humbled by the award.

Past recipients of the Jim Tyler Entrepreneurial Award include Betsy Duffy of Gezellig Brewing Co., Newton Elite Properties, Phoenix Investors, MultiPackaging and Printing Inc., Van Maanen Electric, Avalanche Composites, Hawkeye Stages and Newton Enterprises, among others.

“This is craziness that all these people somehow figured out who we were and what we did and gave us the award versus somebody else,” he said. “Someway or another the word got out that we actually exist in your town … It’s been a long R&D process to get to this stage where we’re able to do a national launch.”

NDC regularly holds its yearly Salute to Business & Industry luncheon in October to honor both entrepreneurs and the industrial successes of local manufacturers. It also allows other entities a chance to provide updates to other community stakeholders, elected leaders and business owners.

Kim Didier, executive director of DMACC Business Resources, provided guests with an update on the reinvestment district, which benefits three main stakeholders: the City of Newton, DMACC and Catalyst Development. Newton was provisionally awarded $14 million for its 75-acre Iowa Reinvestment District.

The final reinvestment district application will be submitted before February 2022.

The city originally requested $15.4 million to fund the numerous projects within the proposed reinvestment district; in the end, the city provisionally received about 90 percent of the requested amount. About $100 million was allocated to six Iowa communities in this way, Newton News previously reported.

As part of the investment district, the City of Newton has requested to make a “resiliency zone,” which includes the designs, preparations and construction of a bike trail and splash pad. The city also wants to fortify its downtown grant programs for small businesses and improve road infrastructure.

DMACC is aiming to improve infrastructure at Legacy Plaza, particularly in the courtyard. Didier said the construction a public green space and commons area was also included in the proposal. Two academic programs, applied engineering technology and cyber security, would also be added to DMACC.

Catalyst Development’s project to transform Buildings 1, 2, 16 and 20 into market-rate apartments, a boutique hotel, a lobby bar and an event center has been described as the “anchor” of the reinvestment district. Didier showed guests at the luncheon updated concept images of the project and Legacy Plaza.

“We’re in the concept of putting a stage on the west end of the courtyard,” Didier said. “…All of our weddings planned for this fall want to do them outside in the courtyard. Right now, they’re doing it. We just don’t have the greatest backdrop. So having a stage like this would be incredible.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com