In the US, SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) are a bit of a new thing. Most houses here are still made with wood studs and blocks, but there's a growing interest in building homes and making them super energy-efficient, and that's where SIPs are becoming more popular. This might be surprising because we've been using SIPs since the 1950s. Fun fact: The very first prefabricated panels, made with layers of plywood and tar paper, were used by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the Usonian houses back in the 1930s. Alden Dow, an architect, and brother of the Dow Chemical’s founder became inspired by a project led by Frank Lloyd Wright. He noticed that using panels could speed up construction, and he saw a chance to make things even better by adding insulation. After some experimenting, he produced a panel that had a core of insulating styrofoam, basically creating the very first SIP. He used these panels to build several houses, but it took a few decades to figure out a way to make them at a reasonable cost. During that time, labor and heating weren't as expensive as materials, so the 'new' technology didn't catch on quickly. Now, things are changing fast. In today's developed world, labor and energy costs make up a bigger chunk of building expenses. So, we're entering a new era where SIPs are becoming a big deal in construction.