Insulated Concrete form or ICF construction in a method of using Styrofoam forms to construct a
reinforced concrete wall for the exterior wall of your home or building. The styrofoam then stays in place to offer insulation and has built in studs to attach interior
and exterior finishes to. A concrete home looks just like any other home, but with many advantages. We build these homes in just a few steps.
Despite more awareness about green building, there is still a lot of confusion about exactly what green building is. There are four main characteristics that define it:
• Minimizing energy loss.
The use of sunlight and shade for heating and cooling is as old as mankind, but today there are home plans and building materials specifically designed to maximize energy efficiency and keep the home nearly airtight. With less outside air infiltrating the home, the indoor climate is much easier to control.
• Promoting a healthy indoor air environment.
Airtight houses are critical to energy efficiency. Green builders will often employ fresh-air ventilation systems to exhaust the stale indoor air to the outside, bring in fresh air and conserve energy.
• Material conservation and waste reduction.
Green builders use sustainable and recycled products in design and construction. Conventional wood frame building construction and operation consumes large quantities of wood, water, metals, fossil fuels and other natural resources.
• Environmentally friendly site selection or "footprint”.
Some of the factors involved are orientation of the house to maximize natural sunlight for heat and light, as well as shade for cooling. Locating the home near shopping and other services will keep the amount of driving down – another win for the entire environment.
Cost Savings
Although the up-front construction cost of a LOGIX home may be slightly higher than a traditional wood-framed home, the actual “overall living” cost is often lower when energy savings and other savings are considered. Utility bills are up to 60% lower, homeowner insurance is up to 30% lower, and several large tax credits are available to the owners of energy efficient green homes. These saving make an ICF home cost effective and gives the owner savings year after year that are only going to increase in value.