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1. What's so great about an ICF house or building?
2. How does Graham Northwest build such an energy efficient home?
3. How much does ICF Construction cost?
4. How can I get tips and techniques for building with ICFs?
5. What does an energy efficient home look like?
6. Why don't more builders build these types of homes?
7. Will I ever get back my up-front investment in an energy efficient home?
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This ICF home had the strength to survive Hurricane Katrina
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1. What's so great about an ICF house or building?
Comfort: The sandwich of an insulator (foam) and massive structural material (concrete) provides a stable, even temperature inside and stops drafts.
Quiet: The reduction in traffic and storm and lawn mower noise is striking.
You have to experience it to appreciate it.
Energy savings: The superinsulation cuts fuel bills by 30-45% on average.
Strength: Survival of hurricanes and floods has been demonstrated. Settling and vibration almost disappear.
Durability: Concrete is a material for the ages. The walls do not rust or rot.
Style: ICFs can take any conventional finish. Curves and odd angles are easy.
Read more about ICF advantages
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2. How does Graham Northwest build such an energy efficient home?
ICF: Insulated Concrete Forms. Read more
Radiant Floor Heating: A far more efficient heat source than forced air. There is no blowing dust, nor drafts or cold spots. The multiple thermostatically-controlled zones create even heat throughout the house allowing you to control the temperature in each zone as needed. Read more
Low E windows: Advanced reflective elements create a more energy efficient system than standard single pane. This assists with UV light reduction and sound reduction. Read More
Gas fired boiler: 94% efficient, far more efficient than standard gas forced air furnace, and much more efficient than electric systems.
Energy Star Appliances: Specially tested appliances that meet the highest in energy savings. Read more
Compact Fluorescent Lighting: These light bulbs last longer and cost less to operate than standard incandescent bulbs. Read more
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3. How much does ICF Construction cost?
Little or nothing extra in comparison to traditional "Stick Frame" construction. In short, about $1 per month.
A Dollar a Month for Safety, Quiet and Comfort
A homebuyer pays 4% more for energy efficient concrete home. He secures a mortgage with a 7.5% interest rate and makes a 20% down payment on the home. He would pay $44 more on principal and interest and $12 more on property taxes but saves $12 per month on homeowners insurance and $43 per month on energy bills. The total monthly cost for the concrete home is only $1 more than the standard home - a small price to pay for the added security, quiet, and comfort.
Standard Home Concrete Home Comments:
The Quality Payback
Concrete homes cost a little more than wood-frame homes. But lower energy bills and insurance premiums can offset the slightly higher mortgage payment. The real payback is in quality...the intangible benefits of a quieter and more comfortable home.
Source: ConcreteHomes.com
Additional Cost Comparisons:
• $4 to $5 per square foot, or 4%-6% more up front investment on the construction cost
• Studies have found that the cost of a new ICF home is about 1-5% more than an ordinary wood-frame home. Some new commercial buildings have actually been less expensive than they would have been with conventional wall materials.
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4. How can I get tips and techniques for building with ICFs?
Go to Building with ICFs, the Online Construction Manual.
Building with ICFs presents a brief, illustrated overview of how ICF buildings are constructed. It's a good place to start.
The Online Construction Manual breaks the construction process down into steps, with diagrams that present the most common ways to do each step plus messages from contractors about tricks they've developed and from ICF companies about what they recommend for each step.
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5. What does an energy efficient home look like?
Anything you want – We have standard floor plans and finished examples of quality homes that look like any other new home. We can also assist you in building the custom home of your dreams. Either way, your home will be built to last. See our Project Showcase for samples.
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6. Why don't more builders build these types of homes?
Like any business, things change slowly and not everyone readily adapts to those changes. The big builders are busy mass-producing homes, and are unlikely to change until homebuyers stop choosing to buy their product. Often it takes small entrepreneurs to bring about change and an increasing number of small builders are choosing to build with this proven technology. In fact, homes built with ICF technology are the fastest growing segment of the new residential construction. Chances are you have driven by an energy efficient home and not realized it!
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7. Will I ever get back my up-front investment in an energy efficient home?
YES! There are many published studies that show the payback is
significant and timely. One such example is shown here.
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