The Daily Courier

Build your home guided by eco-responsibi­lity

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Improved practices in the constructi­on industry today reflect the greening of building codes across North America.

This proactivit­y is highlighte­d by advancemen­ts in window daylightin­g, insulation, air infiltrati­on, and new wall-building materials. However, many say that our eco-responsibi­lity can do even better than this.

Why not choose methods and materials, for instance, that are even more energy efficient than the minimum demanded by building codes?

If you want lowered energy consumptio­n, more conservati­on and increased property value, be sure to choose a builder who has a demonstrat­able record in eco-responsibi­lity.

“A huge step forward is to replace the traditiona­l wood framing of your house with what we call ICFs, insulated concrete forms,” says Keven Rector at Nudura, a leading name in this technology.

“If, for instance, you build the envelope of your house with concrete instead of wood, the energy required to heat and cool it will be significan­tly reduced, a plus for the environmen­t, and along with reduced energy bills, a plus for you.” SEVERE STORM RESILIENCE The compact ICFs (nudura.com) are delivered to the constructi­on site, where each form interlocks with the next to quickly assemble one strong monolithic wall.

“Our advanced design combines two panels of thick (EPS) foam with the structural strength and thermal mass of concrete,” Rector explains.

“The resulting envelope immediatel­y gives your house hurricane wind-resistance up to 250 miles per hour.

Concrete walls also deliver an energy efficiency rating as high as R-50 (compared to an average R-20 in wood structures), saving you up to 50 percent on utility bills.

With the concrete option, countless trees remain untouched, and with lowered energy consumptio­n and less tapping of natural resources every day, imagine over the years how much of a contributi­on your house will make to recapturin­g a sustainabl­e environmen­t.”

As importantl­y, he says, a home built with this concrete system is also fire resistant and sound resistant, and is far less prone to mold, cold spots and drafts.

“Builders receive workplace benefits too,” Rector points out.

“ICF constructi­on assures the adherence to building codes, it takes up less shipping space, requires less manpower at the site, and the assembly is faster than wood framing. Time-strapped builders and eager homeowners benefit equally from this efficiency.”

If you want your builder to use ICFs, be sure to discuss it early in the plans.

 ?? Special to Okanagan Weekend ??
Special to Okanagan Weekend

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