Environmental Facts
- Reduces energy costs
- Uses recycled materials whenever possible
- Uses no CFCs or HCFCs / Emits no fumes or gasses
- Energy Star Home rating
- Qualifies for Energy-Efficient Mortgages
- Improves indoor air quality (IAQ)
- Reduces mold problems
- Minimizes construction wastes to three percent or less
- ECO-Block is a member of the
U.S. Green Building Council
and contributes to its
LEED program
Reduction in Energy Costs
ECO-Block buildings consistently reduce monthly utility costs
over the life of the structure. In turn, the heating,
ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system can be sized
appropriately to reap even more savings.
Manufacturing & Recycling
From the initial manufacturing of our ICF product to the
construction site to finished structure,
ECO-Block has designed
its system and process to be kind to the environment. In
addition to manufacturing under environmentally clean
conditions, ECO-Block forms are 50 percent more efficient to
ship and handle than other ICFs.
ECO-Block ICFs reduce the pressure on precious natural
resources by replacing lumber used in frame construction, with
an environmentally clean product. No CFCs, HCFCs or other
ozone-depleting substances are used or released during any
process. Manufacturing waste is negligible and construction
waste is also minimal. By weight, 40% of the
ECO-Block ICF’s are
made from recycled material.
Energy Star
ECO-Block homes have been rated as
Energy Star Homes by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This qualifies some home
buyers for the FHA’s Energy-Efficient Mortgage Program.
Energy Star, a government-backed rating program, helps
businesses and individuals protect the environment by promoting
superior energy efficiency.
Qualified homes are independently verified to be
significantly more energy-efficient than homes built using
traditional construction practices. Savings are based on
heating, cooling and hot water energy use. Additionally, homes
that meet Energy Star’s standards improve structural quality and
reduce both energy demand and air pollution. The program also
encourages the use of energy-efficient lighting and appliances,
as well as features designed to improve indoor air quality.
Energy Efficient Mortgage
The FHA has created an Energy-Efficient Mortgage (EEM) program
to help achieve national energy-efficiency goals, reduce
pollution and provide better housing for people who might not
otherwise be able to afford it. First, the home must be
evaluated according to the Home Energy Rating System, which
requires a home to exceed energy codes by 30 percent. The Home
Energy Rating system awards stars on a scale of one to five.
ECO-Block homes typically receive five stars, earning the
designation of an Energy Star Home. In turn, this qualifies
certain buyers for the Energy-Efficient Mortgage.
This program allows buyers of energy-efficient homes to
qualify for up to a five percent stretch in their debt-to-income
ratio due to lower monthly utility costs. FHA-approved lending
institutions, which include banks, savings and loan institutions
and mortgage companies, can make EEM loans.
Optimal Interior Environment
Building with
ECO-Block eliminates air infiltration through the
wall assembly into a structure, which allows for greater control
of a building’s interior air quality. There are no drafts or
cold spots, thus greatly reducing the amount of fuel needed for
heating and cooling.
Additionally, walls constructed with
ECO-Block Insulated
Concrete Forms dramatically reduce outside noise pollution. The
result is a quiet and peaceful living environment.
Mold and Moisture-Resistant
The ECO-Block Insulated Concrete Walls provide a building
envelop that is both airtight and resistant to water
infiltration. The inorganic nature of the
ECO-Block ICFs means
they do not support mold growth ensuring a superior indoor air
quality free from unwanted allergens, pollutants and mold.
LEED
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green
Building Rating System, a program of the U.S. Green Building
Council, evaluates the total environmental performance of a
building over its life cycle.
ECO-Block ICFs contribute
significantly towards the credits in several
LEED certification
areas. |