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Benefits of Insulating
Concrete Form Construction
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Insulating Concrete Form Structures are
Comfortable and Quiet
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When
planning a new house, consider the greater
well-being that comes from living with more even
temperature, sharply reduced drafts, and
noticeably greater quiet. That's what you get
with an insulating concrete form home.
When
surveyed, over 80% of ICF home owners mentioned
the great comfort of their home, compared with
just 22% of frame home owners.* |
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*Portland Cement
Assoc. |
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 Greater
Comfort
The high thermal mass and minimal air
infiltration of insulating concrete form walls
create a more uniform and stable temperature
throughout your home. You'll have no more hot
spots or cold drafts.
Healthier Air
ICF walls reduce air infiltration by 75%: The
effects of hay fever, asthma, and other airborne
allergies can be greatly alleviated as a direct
result of the reduced leakage of outside air,
which brings dust, pollen, and other pollutants.
Indoor air pollution is a great health concern
today. ICF walls are non-toxic. The measurement
of air contents of actual ICF houses shows an
almost complete absence of any emissions.
Quieter
Insulating concrete form homes provide
unparalleled peace and quiet and true protection
from outside noise. In sound transmission tests,
ICF walls allow less than one-third as much
sound to pass through than regular frame walls.
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Insulating
Concrete Form Structures are
Energy Efficient
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Energy efficiency is the core feature of
insulating concrete form construction because so
many owner/occupant benefits stem from it.
Actual studies show that homes built with ICF
exterior walls require an estimated 44% less
energy to heat and 32% less energy to cool than
comparable wood frame houses.* However, homes
and structures built with the proper complement
of windows, doors, HVAC systems, and methods,
generally accomplish at least a 50% savings in
heating and cooling. And in some cases,
depending on the area and climate, homeowners
experience as much as an 80% decrease in energy
use and costs.
At a time when energy costs are soaring, many
building owners are deciding it makes more sense
to spend money on a safer, longer lasting, and
more energy efficient structure than to spend
that same money on utility bills.
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 Effective
R-Value
The
Total Effective R-Value performance of ICFs
consists of three factors:
(1)
the R-Value of the expanded polystyrene,
(2) the thermal mass of the concrete, and
(3) the enormous reduction in air leakage
(infiltration). |
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Insulating Value
First, the R-Value of BuildBlock's
polystyrene alone is R-22, compared to
wood frame's R-9 to R-15. So ICF walls
are expected to cut the conduction
losses through foundation and
above-grade walls by about half.
Air Infiltration
Air leakage accounts for as much as 40%
of the heat load requirements of a wood
framed structure. Nothing blows through
solid concrete! ICF walls reduce air
infiltration by about half, compared to
wood frame.
Thermal Mass
But ICF walls do more than cut down on
the biggest types of energy loss. The
concrete gives them the heat-absorbing
property "thermal mass." This is the
ability to smooth out large swings in
temperature. It keeps the walls of the
house a little warmer when the outdoor
temperature hits its coldest extreme,
and keeps the house a little cooler when
the outdoor temperature is hottest.*
As a result, with the
combined performance of these three
factors, ICF walls actually perform as
high as R-50 in some areas of the
country. |
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*Energy
loss graphs and thermal mass information
from Portland Concrete Association,
Tech. Brief 1
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Insulating Concrete Form Construction is
Affordable
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A home built with insulating
concrete forms is more affordable than you may
think!
The old saying goes: “It takes
money to make money.” It also takes money to
save money. Insulating concrete forms cost a
little more — about 3-5% on average — than
traditional stick wall construction, but that
additional investment is quickly recouped by the
tremendous savings in energy, interest, and
insurance costs. Then consider the reduced
maintenance costs and higher resell value and
you can see why insulating concrete home
structures are actually more affordable than
wood construction.
How much does an ICF house
cost?*
Typical new U.S. homes cost
$60-100 per square foot. Building walls of ICFs
adds $1.00-$4.00 to this figure. But since ICF
houses are more energy-efficient, the heating
and cooling equipment can be smaller than in a
frame house. This can cut the cost of the final
house by an estimated $.75 per square foot. So
the net extra cost is about $.25-$3.25.
Increased Home Value
Not planning on staying in
your home for more a than few years? A recent
study conducted for the EPA Energy Star Homes
Program concludes that home value increases by
about $20 for every $1 reduction in annual
utility bills. This means you can profit by
investing in energy efficient homes even if
you're uncertain about how long you might stay
in the home. You'll enjoy positive cash flow for
as long as you live in your home and can also
expect to recover your investment when you sell
the home. Visit the Residential Energy Service
Network website for more details.
Insurance Savings
Because ICFs are included in
the masonry construction class, they qualify for
a lower premium than a home in the traditional
wood frame class. Also, more and more insurance
providers are recognizing the fire and natural
disaster-resistance of insulating concrete form
structures and are offering special discounts on
top of those lower premiums. (Check with local
agents for availability in your area.)
Mortgage Qualification
Because of the proven energy
savings, certain mortgage companies offer
"Energy Efficiency" Home Mortgages which take
into consideration the decrease in energy costs.
This allows you to qualify for a higher mortgage
payment. That means you're taking that same
money which would be going to the utility
companies and instead putting into your home!
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Strength & Safety
of Insulating Concrete Form
Construction
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Strength that Lasts
The high-mass walls of an insulating concrete
form structure give it a remarkably solid feel.
And make it a remarkably solid investment, too.
While wood structures are expected to last
decades, it only makes sense that a building
made from steel reinforced concrete and
high-density foam will last centuries.
The strength and durability of concrete
construction increases the value of your
investment, whether it be your personal
residence, a multi-family dwelling, or a
commercial structure. When you build with
concrete, you build for keeps.
Neither polystyrene nor concrete will ever rot
or rust. Reinforcing steel, buried deep inside
and protected by concrete's alkalinity, does not
corrode. After years of service, an ICF
structure can be completely refurbished with new
interior and exterior finishes to achieve an
updated style or new use.
Priceless Safety
For many people, the greatest
benefit of an ICF home is the peace of mind that
comes with being surrounded by the strength of
concrete and steel. Insulating Concrete Forms
create a monolithic concrete wall that is
10 times stronger than wood framed
structures. |
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Fire Resistant
In fire wall tests, ICFs stood exposure
to intense flame without structural
failure longer than did common frame
walls. The extremely low flame spread
and smoke development make ICF walls
safer from the hazard of fire. |
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Earthquake Resistant
Built according to good practices,
concrete homes can be among the safest
and most durable types of structures in
an earthquake. Homes built with
reinforced concrete walls have a record
of surviving earthquakes intact and
structurally sound. |
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Tornado and Hurricane
Resistant
In severe
weather, the walls of your ICF home
provide protection for your family that
is far superior to wood frame
construction. A Texas Tech University
study proves that walls built with
Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs)
withstand the damage and projectiles
launched by tornado and hurricane
strength winds. A Safe Room is the
perfect complement to an ICF home.
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Insulating
Concrete Forms and
Green Building
Green. It
seems to be the new buzzword in the construction
industry. And with good reason. The construction
practices of the past are simply unsatisfactory
for the world of today - and tomorrow. It's more
important than ever that we conserve natural
resources and reduce waste and pollution. There
are countless reasons why we should do every we
can to protect the environment.
Insulating concrete forms not only offer the
owners and tenants unbeatable benefits, but
they’re also environmentally responsible.
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Building an ICF home instead of traditional
stick frame home saves at least 10 trees.
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The enormous reduction in energy use — up to
70% — saves our natural resources.
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The energy savings also result in less
carbon monoxide being released into the
atmosphere on an ongoing basis.
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ICF blocks — especially BuildBlock ICFs —
result in less construction waste.
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BuildBlock ICFs contain no HCFC,
formaldehyde, asbestos, or fiberglass, and
no harmful CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) are
used in their manufacture, nor is there any
degree of "off-gassing."
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Insulating concrete forms significantly
contribute to LEED®
Certification.
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