Greater Comfort &
Lower Energy Bills Energy savings and comfort are built into
every ICF system. ICF’s start with a high R-Value. Five inches of
polystyrene foam insulation, combine with a six inch concrete wall in an
AMVIC 6" ICF system – are rated above R-25 at 75o mean
test temperature.
But that’s not all. Air
infiltration in an ICF Home is minimal due to the continuous air
barriers provided by the foam insulation and the concrete. Likewise,
there are no convection currents within wall cavities.
The concrete walls of an ICF home have high
thermal mass, which buffers the interior of a home from the extremes of
outdoor temperature during every 24-hour cycle. This reduces both peak
and total heating and cooling loads.
This combination of high R-values, low air
infiltration, and high thermal mass accounts for the
amazing 50% or greater energy savings of ICF versus wood or
steel-framed homes. An ICF wall has the thermal effect
equivalent to a wood-framed wall built to meet an R-50 standard.
Peace & Quiet New ICF homeowners almost always remark on
how unbelievably quiet their new house is, compared with their old
stick-build home. They expect the new-found comfort and energy
efficiency, but the peace and quiet – the protection from outside
noise – never fails to surprise and delight them.
In sound transmission tests, ICF walls
allowed less than one-third as much sound to pass through as do ordinary
frame walls filled with fiberglass. With double-glazed windows in ICF
walls and beefed-up roof insulation, you will rarely hear street noises
or airport traffic.
Solid & Lasting
Security The high-mass walls of an AMVIC ICF home
not only give it a remarkably solid feel, but they also make it safer
for the family. And make it a remarkably solid and secure investment,
too. Concrete homes have a proven track record of withstanding the
ravages of hurricanes, tornadoes and fires, when all the stick-build
houses around them are in ruins.
In fire wall tests, ICF’s stood exposure
to intense flame without structural failure longer than did common frame
walls. The polystyrene foam used is treated so it will not support
combustion. Also, tests show that its tendency to transmit an outside
flame source is less than that of most wood products. [Some insurance
carriers are now offering a discount on a home owner’s policy for an
ICF home.]
Less Repair &
Maintenance With ICF homes, the equation is simple. No
Rot = Less Repair and Maintenance. Neither polystyrene nor concrete will
ever rot or rust. Concrete can even be exposed to the elements for
centuries with few ill effects. Reinforcing steel, buried deep inside
and protected by concrete’s alkalinity, does not corrode.
Federal Tax Credits.
As
of January 1, 2006 a Federal Income Tax Credit of $2,000 per home is
payable to the builder for a home that qualifies under the energy
efficiency standards specified in the 2005 Energy Bill. An
Owner-Builder would qualify directly. The owner of a custom home
contracting with a General Contractor can negotiate this tax credit with
the contractor. In addition, other tax credits can be had
for additional energy saving construction elements. Details
on the program and application can be found at
www.natresnet.org/taxcredits/default.htm
A Healthier Home &
Environment Building with ICF’s is healthier for the
environment in a number of ways: by minimizing the number of different
building products involved in construction, by reducing the amount of
waste generated on the construction site, and by lowering energy
requirements for heating and cooling.
ICF homes provide a healthy indoor
environment, too. Nothing held within or ordinarily emitted by an ICF
wall is toxic. The measurement of the air contents of actual ICF houses
shows an almost complete absence of any emissions.
