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The following links and news articles are from : http://www.forms.org/index.php?act=icfsinthenews

Insulating Concrete Forms have been in the news across North America. Listed below are articles highlighting the benefits, features and safety ICF homes provide families. If you have a local paper that has featured ICF's in a story, please send the link to ICFA.
 
Newspapers

The Gainesville Sun - Modeling a Green Future

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette - Walls of What?

San Diego Tribune - Concrete homes are energy-efficient

San Diego Tribune - Habitat for Humanity rebuilding Crest home with fire-resistant insulating concrete forms

Denver Business Times -Going green in Colorado

New York Times -Enlisting a Fortress to Battle the Elements
 

Magazines
 

Walls & Ceilings -Pushing the Energy Envelope

Concrete Homes Magazine -Found in Translation

Concrete Homes Magazine -An ICF gem

Concrete Homes Magazine - Big D finds big benefits in ICFs

Eco-Structure Magazine -Concrete Points to Green

ecoLogical Home Ideas Magazine - ICFs Make Up a Green Sandwich

ICF Builder Magazine - ICF Case Study: WaldSee BioHaus

ICF Builder Magazine - Getting a Level Footing (and what to do if is isn't)

Nation's Building News - Insulated Concrete Form Walls Tested for Terrorist Blasts

Permanent Buildings and Foundations Magazine - Fish, Forms and Finishes

Permanent Buildings and Foundations Magazine - Zero Energy ICF Home

Pro Sales Magazine - Market Matters: Consider the Alternatives

Research Works - High Performance House Maximizes Green Design

Walls and Ceilings Magazine - ICFs: Building system for today

Walls and Ceilings Magazine - Good Form

Walls and Ceilings Magazine - A Clockwork Form

Walls and Ceilings Magazine - ICF 101

Walls and Celings Magazine - Texas Hold ‘Em Up

Walls and Ceilings Magazine - The Construction Fight Against Terror

Walls and Ceilings Magazine - From Baby to Giant Steps

Walls and Ceilings Magazine - Saved by Zero

 

 

The Proof Is In! Green Buildings Get Higher Rents, Have Greater Occupancy, Says Just-Released Study

The first systematic study of occupancy rates and rents for Energy Star certified large Class A office buildings (some 223) vs. non-Energy Star certified buildings (some 2,077), showed that as of the second quarter of 2007, Energy Star buildings had about 2 percent higher occupancy rates and $2 per sq.ft. greater rents. If the cost of adding energy efficiency features necessary to get an Energy Star rating is $4 per sq.ft., for example, then the payback, just on rents, is 2 years, not counting the benefit of extra occupancy. Operating costs for these buildings run $0.54 per sq.ft. lower. The authors state, “together, the higher occupancy rates, higher rents and lower operating costs translate to significantly higher values. Our results show higher sales prices by 30% more per square foot.”

 

From: http://www.greenbuildconsult.com/blog/the-proof-is-in-green-buildings-get-higher-rents-have-greater-occupancy-say/

Home Builders Go Green, or Do They?

The NAHB National Green Building Program, an education, verification and certification program, allows builders anywhere in the U.S. to certify a green home to bronze, silver or gold levels, using third-party verifiers furnished by the NAHB Research Center. The NAHB rating system features an online scoring tool, which shows builders how to accumulate points in seven categories: water, energy and resource efficiency; lot and site development; indoor environmental quality; global impact and homeowner education. To be eligible for certification, the NAHB program requires a builder to achieve a minimum score in each category.

Whilst an improvement on the current NAHB system, which does not provide for independent third-party verification of each home, using such tools as a “blower-door” air leakage test and a duct-pressurization test, the announced program has two shortcomings. First of all, it is not yet a national standard, since NAHB has yet to complete the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Second, the third-party verifiers have yet to be certified by the NAHB Research Center. So it will likely be the summer of 2008 before all the pieces are in place.

The somewhat premature launch of this program at the annual International Builders Show in Orlando, Florida, was, I believe, an attempt to put the NAHB back in charge of green home ratings and to reduce the burgeoning number of local government rating systems and green home mandates, based on climate change concerns.

I predict this effort to forestall or eliminate competition will fail, for several reasons. First of all, for all the fanfare, builders have certified (to NAHB or similar building industry standards) only about 100,000 homes the past five years across the country, compared with six million or so single-family homes that have been built. It’s hard to convince local government officials that the industry is serious about producing energy-efficient buildings when the actual track record of certifications is so deficient.

In my view, the real story behind the NAHB announcement results from the increasing pressure builders’ organizations are feeling from the competing (and more stringent) LEED for Homes standard promulgated by the 13,000-member U.S. Green Building Council. LEED for Homes is still in a pilot (test) phase, but in two years has already enrolled more than 12,000 residential units in its program. If LEED becomes regarded as the “gold standard” of residential certification, the NAHB may have to accept local green home mandates in order to preserve some semblance of primacy as the leading authority for greening the housing industry. Home builders oppose local mandates with a singular passion, not wanting government authorities to regulate the housing choices they offer the marketplace.

 

From: http://www.greenbuildconsult.com/blog/C2/

 

Concrete Homes:

"Discover a Home That Offers Lower Energy Bills, A Healthier Living Environment and Complete Peace of Mind – Guaranteed!"
 

  • A home that stands up to fire, noise, sun, wind, rain, snow, bugs, mould and inevitable Acts of God like, earthquakes and hurricanes;
  • A proven home that provides years of hassle-free living while saving you 35% to 60% on energy bills along the way;
  • A home that is safer, stronger and healthier than any other home you have ever seen;
  • An incredible concrete home that blends character and timeless beauty with the kind of quality materials and workmanship that give you a great sense of pride and satisfaction. A satisfaction that lets you sleep peacefully at night;
  • A remarkable home to enhance your life;
  • An ICF home...

 

   

 

 

"If You Are Looking For A New Home - Here Is Your Chance To Own The Home Of Your Life..."


Your Bare Feet Will Love You...

Listen to the silence - Because of the thick walls, annoying neighborhood noises like fire trucks, barking dogs and early morning lawn mowers are reduced to a whisper.

Solid Concrete Construction means that your home is sound proof, resistant to storms, high winds and other severe weather conditions. Just imagine your family sleeping peacefully through the noisiest of thunderstorms.

Breathe the clean air - Due to our diverse southern climate with short winters and hot, muggy summers, you spend a lot of time indoors. Natural and man-made pollutants affect the quality of the indoor air that you breathe.

Some well-known offenders include mould and mildew in traditional wall systems and poorly filtered forced air heating systems that circulate dust in the home.

Picture your home designed and built with a proper air filtration and fresh air exchange system; with no noisy furnace to circulate the dust around the house. Think of how much less dusting you will have to do, or how you or someone in your family will be protected from asthma attacks.


"Which Four Letter Word Do You Use Each Month When You Pay Your Utility Bills?"...

Imagine heating and cooling bills being half of what you'd expect. Drafts are virtually eliminated and carbon dioxide emissions from your heating unit are greatly reduced. The concrete in your walls makes an excellent "heat sponge" which stops winter temperatures cold (if you pardon the pun).

Add to this: No-maintenance Low E Argon filled self cleaning windows, a 94% efficient on demand hot water heater, draft free walls, 30-year maintenance free exterior, quality interior finishing, hardwood floors, custom cabinetry, granite counter tops, whirlpool tub and the latest and best in security measures.

You will enjoy the safest, strongest, healthiest and most energy efficient home available today.


Want Proof? The Pictures Below Tell The Story...

ICF House Stands up to 271-ton Boulder: Jack Burns of Rockville, Utah awoke to a frightening event. It seems a 271-ton boulder had crashed through the rear of his house, plowed through the bathroom, and stopped four feet from his bed. . Apparently the boulder fell from the top of the butte, bounced a few times like a rubber ball, then careened into the back wall of the house and the embankment up against it, which stopped its progress. Observers measured the boulder after the fact at about 12 feet by 16 feet by 16 feet. Luckily, his home was built out of concrete using ICFs.


 

Concrete Home Burned

More Than 250 Homes Burn as Wildfires Ravage Southern California: Powerful Santa Ana winds kicked up before dawn Sunday, driving two ferocious fire storms that had already burned more than 200 homes, across more lawns and rooftops. In a canyon at the edge of Claremont, about 50 homes were destroyed. Interestingly enough, the only home left standing, was a home built out of concrete for Mr. and Mrs. Bruce. “Even though the home needs extensive renovation, all of our possessions are intact” said Mr. Bruce, “Luckily, we built it using ICFs.”


 

Concrete Homes in Storm

Will Your Home be Safe from Storms? In the summer of 2004, a series of four hurricanes struck Florida. Many houses built out of wood suffered severe hurricane damage, while homes next to them, built out of concrete, had much less damage. The hurricanes that hit Florida have given their endorsement to the new “Insulated Concrete Forms” system of building. “It is not that the wind is blowing, it is what the wind is blowing”, said Mr. Jones, the owner of the home (bottom, left), who weathered the storm in his basement. “We knew that we would be safe in our basement because we built it out of ICFs, said Mr. Jones.


 
concrete home car crash 1

I believe the ICF wall saved my life, claims Mr. Ray Demczyk of Cape Coral, Florida. Early on the morning of June 26, 2004, as Mr. Demczyk and his wife slept inside their ICF home, a potential tragedy was unfolding outside. At approximately 2:00 A.M. an intoxicated driver was speeding down the Demczyk’s street, fell asleep at the wheel, and never noticed when his Pontiac Firebird left the road, became airborne, and slammed into the exterior wall of the Demczyk’s residence at a speed of 60 miles per hour. Stirred awake by a light thud, Mrs. Demczyk left her bedroom to identify some household object that had fallen to the floor. To her great surprise she found a set of headlights shining through her living room window. The ICF wall’s strength was evident once the cleanup had been completed and damage was assessed. A 3 ft x 5 ft section of the wall’s exterior finish suffered the impact of the crash, while the concrete wall itself remained unscathed.

concrete home car crash 2

When asked if he was surprised by the strength of the wall, Demczyk responded, "Strength, wind resistance, and insulation were the reasons I built with ICFs. It should cost me less than $800 to complete repairs to my stucco finish,” Emergency workers on the scene said that the speeding vehicle would have penetrated the residence and would have gone straight through had the walls not been concrete.


So What Are ICFs?

Whether you are in the “Real Estate" or "Home Building Industry” or not, I am sure that what you just saw and are about to read will intrigue your mind for days before you really comprehend the true magnitude of it. In fact, most people can’t believe this until they live in one of these homes themselves.

Once you have built with ICFs, or lived in an ICF home, you will undoubtedly never dream of going back to the flimsiness of a stick-framed house. The difference in quality is like comparing Niagara Falls to your backyard waterfall.
 

In A Nutshell...

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) are hollow Styrofoam blocks or panels that are stacked to form the walls of a building. The forms are filled with steel-reinforced concrete to create a solid structure.

These interlocking, light-weight expanded polystyrene concrete forms are designed to remain as a permanent part of the wall after the concrete is placed.

The insulating capacity of expanded polystyrene coupled with the structural integrity of reinforced concrete is a powerful combination. These walls are stronger, safer, quieter and more energy-efficient.

It is the perfect replacement for concrete block, traditional poured concrete walls, brick, framed steel or wood walls and any other typical material used in construction. It complies with all applicable building standards (Actually exceeds them).

Building with ICFs results in a Beautiful, Fire- Resistant, Sound-Proof, Water-Proof, Strong, Wind-Proof, Super-Insulated, Extremely Energy Efficient, Seismically Superior, Sustainable, Environmentally Friendly Home that saves an average of 13 trees from the old growth forests per home.

In fact since 1996 The Energy Value Housing Awards in the United States and the R-2000 Awards in Canada continue to attract attention from construction industry professionals. As Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) wall-systems start to dominate these awards, the tolerances are becoming more and more exacting.


The list Of Awards Is Impressive:

  • National Energy Housing Quality Award.
  • Canadian Home Builders Association Enviro-Home Award.
  • Silver Georgie Award
  • CMHC Healthy Housing™ Award
  • EnerQuality R-2000 Environmental Excellence Award.

ICF projects have won awards for "Enviro-Home"," Healthy Home," Technical Excellence In Design, Environmental Excellence and Outstanding Energy Efficiency. They are recognized as a "Green Product" and as "Kyoto Friendly."


People Everywhere Are Raving About This Amazing New Type Of Home!

In test after test, Insulated Concrete Homes are proving they are here to stay. Apart from warmer and cozier winter nights there are so many more reasons not to settle for just any home:
 

  • You will enjoy a high quality and energy efficient home.
  • You will enjoy a sound resistant home.
  • You will enjoy much lower utility bills.
  • Your home will last many times longer than any wood-frame house.
  • Your home will give you peace of mind during severe weather conditions.
  • Your home won’t have any drafts or cold spots.
  • Your home will have high fire resistance.
  • You will live healthier and more comfortably.
  • No air infiltration means dust and allergens are drastically reduced.
  • Your home won’t have any wall cavities for mould, mildew, bugs or rodents.
  • Your home will be superior to all others on your street.
  • Your home will be earthquake resistant.
  • Your home will not mould, rot or decay.
  • Your home may qualify for lower insurance premiums.

"With the way utility costs are steadily increasing, existing wooden houses, and those being built today will, in 10 years, have monthly utility payments that exceed the monthly house payment..."

 

Concrete Homes - Infrared Picture

Infrared photography of two side by side homes - ICF home on the left - Enough said!


 


So, Is Your Home Energy Efficient For The New Century?


Now You Can Do More Than Just Dream About That Perfect Home...

The Ultimate Custom ICF Home can look exactly like you want it to, like any other home, and it will cost almost the same money as the stick house “Bob the Builder” wants to build for you.

The price as well as the look are decided by you and nobody else but you. This is not revolutionary thinking – just common sense, and the way things should be done.

The industry cites an extra cost of only 5%-10%, so the question "Why would you build your home out of anything else but ICFs?" is warranted.

From the outside, ICF homes look the same as wood framed homes since all finishes such as stucco, brick and siding can be used.

Inside, homeowners like the thick walls that provide deep interior window sills for use as window seats or window display areas, similar to the effect of adobe construction.


"Of All the Decisions You Must Face When Building Your Home, There Is None More Important Than The Person You Choose To Build It - So, Choose Carefully!"

PS.: This type of home is about choices; choices that make a difference in the levels of indoor air pollution and energy efficiency, choices which are sensitive to the environment, and important choices we make concerning our safety. It is at the very least worth your time to find out more.

 

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