Concrete Masonary Unit (CMU) vs. Insulated Concrete Forms (I
Cement Block (CMU) walls
This method is still being used in 95% of new homes in Florida. This construction method has been virtually unchanged for the last 100 years. A mason stacks cement blocks with mortar, filling select cells with concrete and rebar for strength. Stucco is added to the outside, while furring strips and drywall are installed on the inside. a 3/4" layer of insulting foam is installed on the inside portion. Normally, and R value (insulation rating) of 3-7 is achieved using this method.
Pros:
- Cost efficient
- widely used
Cons:
- minimal insulation
- hollow blocks are weak
- lots of air leakage possible
- labor intensive construction
Insulated Concrete Form (ICF)
The building is constructed using premanufactured forms made of thick, polystyrene foam. Once assembled, reinforcing metal is added, and the core is completely filled with concrete. The fnihised product is a solid concrete wall with a total of nearly 4" of insulation foam. Stucco is applied to the outside, conventional drywall is installed directly to the inside . A total R value of 22-30 is achieved using this method.
Pros:
- Faster installation
- very strong solid concrete core
- Almost 4" of insulating foam
- Highest R value achieved
- Minimal air leakage
Cons:
- New technology
- Not as widely used as CMU
- Higher material cost
- limited installers available
Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam technology, encases the entire attic in a rigid, closed cell insulating foam. Minimizing air leakage, and maximizing insulation. When done correctly, as little as 3% of your homes energy will be lost through the attic. Additionally, all air ducts will be in an attic space, only slightly warmer then the insulated portion of the home. Cooler Ducts, means more efficiency!
Attic Insulation
Up to 50% of your homes heating and cooling can be lost through an improperly insulated attic space. Conventionally, fiber insulation is put between the floor rafters, leaving the rest uninsulated.
Green Buildings
What is a Green Building?
What makes a building "Green"
What makes a building "Green"
A ‘green’ building is a building that, in its design, construction and operation, reduces or eliminates negative impacts, and can create positive impacts, on our climate and natural environment. Green buildings preserve precious natural resources and improve our quality of life and comofort.
What makes a building "Green"
What makes a building "Green"
What makes a building "Green"
- Efficient use of energy, water and other resources
- Use of renewable energy, such as solar energy
- Pollution and waste reduction measures, and the enabling of re-use and recycling
- Good indoor environmental air quality
- Use of materials that are non-toxic, ethical and sustainable
- Consideration of the environment in design, construction and operation
- Consideration of the quality of life of occupants in design, construction and operation
- A design that enables adaptation to a changing environment
What is a LEEDS certified home?
What is an "Energy Star" certified home?
What is an "Energy Star" certified home?
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
LEED is flexible enough to apply to all building types – commercial as well as residential. It works throughout the building lifecycle – design and construction, operations and maintenance, tenant fitout, and significant retrofit. And LEED for Neighborhood Development extends the benefits of LEED beyond the building footprint into the neighborhood it serves.
What is an "Energy Star" certified home?
What is an "Energy Star" certified home?
What is an "Energy Star" certified home?
The ENERGY STAR Certified Homes program helps homebuyers easily identify homes that are significantly more energy efficient than standard construction in the marketplace. As code requirements have become more rigorous and builder practices have become more efficient, EPA has periodically modified the guidelines to ensure that certified homes represent a meaningful improvement over non-labeled homes.
To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must be certified under Version 3 of the program requirements, unless it is located in California, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, or Washington. A home in these locations must be certified using Regional Specifications.