Energy Efficient Construction Techniques

Energy efficiency in building construction encompasses a variety of issues, ranging from building design and material selection to the employment of energy-efficient construction techniques to improve the building envelope - the barrier between the interior of the building and the outside world. This includes things like orienting the building to shade the windows and roof in the summer while maximizing solar gain in the winter; placing windows to provide natural light while reducing the need for electric lights to be on during the day; and using high-efficiency windows, insulation, heating and cooling devices, and appliances. All of these difficulties have been addressed by advanced technologies, but possibly the most revolutionary changes have occurred in the art of building construction itself.

Insulated Concrete Form construction, also known as ICF building, is a method of building that maximizes energy efficiency, ICF blocks for sale. In ICF construction, interlocking expanded polystyrene foam (like Styrofoam) blocks are piled in courses, steel rebar is inserted inside, and then they are filled with concrete. When the concrete hardens, the foam layers on the interior and exterior work as insulation, forming an impenetrable thermal envelope that effectively inhibits air leakage and heat loss, as well as reducing water vapor migration. The ICF blocks are standard size, not tailored to a specific building's specifications, and while they snap together in courses, they must be cut to meet a set length. Corner block pieces are available in 90° and 45° angles to accommodate the architect's concept. Before the concrete is poured, holes for windows, doors, and service utilities can be simply cut out of the foam by hand, and a choice of interior walling and exterior siding options are available.

The ICF building technology generates a well-sealed thermal envelope, which can lower utility expenditures by up to 50% while also reducing the need for larger, more expensive heating and cooling systems. It also means that there are no cold spots or drafts in the building, that indoor air pollutants are reduced, that there is less likelihood of excessive moisture accumulation, which can cause structural damage and negatively affect the health of the occupants, and that the atmosphere in the building is much more comfortable and quieter than in a frame building. ICF concrete house walls are significantly stronger than stick construction and meet or surpass all existing building code requirements for tornado and hurricane-prone zones. They are also four times more resistant to fire. ICF construction is a game-changing advancement in building technology. It is far faster to assemble than any prior building approach and requires less specialized personnel, which has significant implications for housing the world's impoverished and disaster relief efforts.