Concrete Construction with ICFs

Save Energy with Insulated Concrete Forms

ConcreteConstruction — Wed, 18 May 2011 18:39:53 +0000

EnergyMiser Bulding Products supplied some ICFs to a local building in Williams, Arizona for a house project. The project went great and the owner was very satisfied with the house until the winter came. His house was heated with forced air and was complaining because his heating bill in February (the coldest month) was about $80. Having not lived in the area before he didn’t realize this was actually amazingly good. He stopped complaining when others were talking about their $300-$600 heating bills for the same month.

At the time lived in a stick-built house which I spend a great deal of time on insulating the best I possibly could. I used my wood burning stove to heat the entire winter with my forced air coming on early in the morning if the fire went out and the temp went below a certain temperature. Even then my gas bill was $120 and the HVAC was barely used!

For more information check out this document provided by the IFCA: ICFA Tech – ICF Effect(1)

ICFs hold up to Hurricanes, Floods, Tornados and Drunk Drivers

ConcreteConstruction — Wed, 18 May 2011 18:17:17 +0000

One of the best benefits to using ICFs for building a residential or commercial project is the durability and inherent resistance to destructive forces.

In one case an out of control driver ran off the road and into a house. Had the building been stick-built the end result would have been disastrous as the point of impact was the master bedroom. Instead the driver hit an ICF wall which stopped the car with minimal damage to the building with no structural damage reported. If you live on a busy road building green with ICFs would be a huge safety factor for a family.

Other reports of the durability and resistance to natural disasters is amazing. There are documented cased of these homes withstanding hurricanes and tornadoes with no structural damage whatsoever. If you are going to build, build to last.

With all the damage being caused by the flooding in the south building out of an ICF would be a no-brainer. A traditionally built house once flooded is a complete loss due to the nature of wood, not to mention mold. When building with ICF the inside would, of course, need to be gutted but the building would remain and could be lived in while a “remodeling” process takes place.

Not only will and ICF give you a better, more secure building but they are also a green building product.

Check out this PDF for more information: ICFA Tech – ICFs Stand up to Storms

ICF Energy Tax Incentives

ConcreteConstruction — Wed, 18 May 2011 18:02:42 +0000

In 2005, the Federal Energy Policy Act (H.R.6) was signed into law. This bill has since been extended, most recently on Oct 3, 2008. The energy efficient new home tax credit is extended through 2009 and the energy-efficient buildings deduction through 2013. The procedures and benchmarks outlined in the original 2005 law remain the same. For current information, log on to: www.energytaxincentives.org

Check out the Below PDF for more information.

ICF Tech – Energy Tax Provisions 10-3-2008

Top Growing Industries for 2010-2016

ConcreteConstruction — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:58:20 +0000

Wall Street Journal posted this article today http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2011/05/16/top-10-thriving-industries/tab/print/

Interesting that 3 of the top 10 industries are based in the Green Industry. These are Wind, Solar and Environmental Consulting.

Housing Crisis

ConcreteConstruction — Fri, 13 May 2011 18:49:52 +0000

Here is an interesting OP/ED piece from Forbes Magazine.

http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0328/billionaires-11-fact-comment-steve-forbes-dump-uncle-sam.html

In light of this when thinking about building a home it would be best not only to consider the initial cost but the operating costs. Companies do this and that is how they (hopefully) stay in business. A home costs the construction plus maintenance and utilities. If the utilities and such were decreased then we would be saving energy all around.

Concrete Construction with ICFs

Save Energy with Insulated Concrete Forms

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ICFs hold up to Hurricanes, Floods, Tornados and Drunk Drivers

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ICF Energy Tax Incentives

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Top Growing Industries for 2010-2016

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Housing Crisis

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