Sustainability

Sustainability in housing

Recycled Carpet Reduce waste by using new carpet that is at least partially made from recycled materials and recycling old carpet.

Low-Energy Lighting Replacing old fixtures with new low energy lighting fixtures, using CFL light bulbs, and using timers and motion sensors.

Reduce Water Use Low flow showerheads and faucets, replaced all toilets with 1.6 gallon (or less) per flush models, and installed water-efficient appliances such as dishwashers, washers and dryers.  Also, drip lines can be installed in yards to reduce watering usage. 

Yard Turf can be used instead of grass.  It doesn’t need to be watered, taken care of, and grass seeds do not need to be used to touch up spots that die.  Gravel can also be used.  It does not need to be watered or taken care of. 

Geo-Thermal

ICF Insulating Concrete Forms.

Lower energy bills

Homes built with ICF walls require about 44% less energy to heat and 32% less energy to cool than a comparable wood-frame house.  They retain heat in the wintertime, and stay cool during the summer time.

Greater comfort and quiet

Those who live in ICF homes say the absence of cold drafts and unwanted noise. Houses built with ICF walls have more even air temperatures and are far less drafty. The barrier formed by the foam-and-concrete sandwich cuts air infiltration by as much as 75% when compared with a typical frame house. The high thermal mass of the concrete also buffers the home's interior from extreme outdoor temperatures, while the continuous layer of foam insulation minimizes temperature fluctuations inside the home by eliminating the cold spots that can occur in frame walls along the studs or at gaps in the insulation.

ICF walls are equally effective at keeping out loud noises. The greater mass of concrete walls can reduce sound penetrating through a wall by more than 80% when compared to stick-built construction. Although some sound will still penetrate the windows, a concrete home is often two-thirds quieter than a wood-frame home.

Pest proof

ICFs and concrete are an unappealing food source for termites, carpenter ants or rodents that often dine on or reside in wood-framed walls.

Healthier indoor environment

ICF walls contain no organic material, so they won't support the growth of mold, mildew and other harmful microorganisms. They also reduce the infiltration of air that can bring in outside allergens. The foam used in many ICF walls is completely nontoxic and free of formaldehyde, asbestos and fiberglass. In tests of the indoor air quality in ICF homes, no harmful emissions were detected. In areas where radon is a concern, ICF foundation walls help to minimize the leakage of radon gas into homes.

Safe haven from high winds

Homeowners and builders in hurricane- and tornado-prone areas, including those rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, are increasingly turning to concrete structural walls to stand up to fierce storms, a manufacturer of ICFs, even offers a $1-per-form discount to families who must rebuild homes destroyed by a devastating storm in regions officially declared federal disaster areas. Tests have shown that ICF walls can withstand flying debris from tornadoes and hurricanes with wind speeds of up to 250 mph. And the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends ICF construction for building tornado-resistant safe rooms.

Fire resistant

Insurance companies recognize concrete as being safer than any other form of construction. The plastic foams used in ICFs won't add fuel to a fire because they are treated with flame-retardants to prevent them from burning. In firewall tests, ICF and concrete walls withstood continuous exposure to intense flames and temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees F for as long as 4 hours without structural failure.

Less repair and maintenance

Because ICF walls use non-biodegradable materials, they are not vulnerable to rot or deterioration as is untreated lumber. The reinforcing steel, which is buried in and protected by the concrete, won't rust or corrode.