When most people think about green building products they often think of the many ways that these products help the environment. And while this is true, the fact of the matter is that some of the latest products also help the people who live in the buildings. In fact, high performance products like breathable walls are also good for the residents as well.
Breathable walls, in fact, ensure improved indoor air quality, better thermal storage qualities, superior longevity, higher R values, less moisture buildup, improved fire safety, and superior resistance to mildew and mold. An added bonus is that these materials can also significantly reduce materials costs.
Like breathable walls, other high performance products like insulated concrete form construction blocks provide a way to make sure that you are always making the most energy efficient decisions. In a time when more and more Americans are concerned about the environmental footprint that they leave, it should come as no surprise that a growing number of consumers are looking at maintenance and efficiency ratings whenever they make a decision.
Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) are a great way to make sure that buildings are made in a way that will help save energy and costs when it comes to the selection of home construction materials. In addition, buildings constructed with ICF are six to nine times stronger than traditional buildings. In fact, ICF construction is capable of protecting properties from natural disasters because they are known for withstanding winds that are as high as 402 kph.
The shear volume of building materials puts pressure on a structure, but some of the latest materials allow for this weight to be significantly less. In fact, custom concrete forms also provide a number of other benefits. As far as costs go, for example, the latest research shows that ICF construction can cost as much as 40% less than the conventional basement construction due to reducing the number of steps. These walls can also save home owners 20% to 25% on annual heating and cooling costs, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.