Date: March 13, 2015
News - Reduce Energy Needs Through Design
Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction offers homeowners and businesses substantial energy cost savings, reduced noise, and a healthier environment. These are just some of the major benefits that come up in the conversation over ICF. This alternative construction material also resists fires, high winds, and less maintenance. Overall, these are six great reasons to learn more about this type of construction.
First of all, for those of you not familiar with this material, by definition Insulated Concrete Forms are a system of formwork for reinforced concrete made with a thermal insulation and is used for permanent interior and exterior substrates for walls. The forms interlock as modular units, stack without mortar, and are then filled with concrete.
Energy Cost Savings
The easiest way to get a property owner or builder to commit to a different building product is to explain the return on investment. The facts with ICF are quite simple and clear: homes build with ICF walls require less energy to heat and cool than a comparable wood-framed house. How much less? A study of 58 single-family homes located throughout the US and Canada was completed with numbers as much as 44% less energy to heat and 32% less energy to cool. How does ICF construction save this much energy? The savings come from the high insulating values for ICF walls and its tight construction. ICF walls can have a R value as high as R-40 compared to wood frame construction that can vary from R-9 to R-15.
We’ll go into greater detail for each ICF benefit throughout the year so look out for our next feature! If you would like to learn more about ICF in person join us at Builder Mart, one day trade show for the Home Building and Remodeling Industry, this month on Wednesday, March 25th at the Timonium Fair Grounds from 11am to 6pm at Booth# 927. Experts will be on-site as well as product samples and demonstrations.