Life Cycle Construction
There are a multitude of ways to measure
how sustainable, energy, efficient, healthy or “green” any given
building system or element is, with many manufacturers making great
claims as to how their products are rated, with a variety of rating
tools like green star, energy star etc (Eco Block has an 8 Star Energy
Rating) to help you to work out how to achieve the very best results
environmentally. A Life Cycle Assessment
was undertaken by Portland Cement Association comparing an ICF House
with a Timber Frame House, the results are fantastic.
View Results
When we talk about Green Building the
real questions that need to be asked are:
| Is it environmentally safe to manufacture? |
Yes |
| Is it safe to build with? |
Yes |
| Is much waste generated when building with it? |
No |
| Are there limits to design scope with ECO Block? |
No |
| Is it simple and efficient to build with? |
Yes |
| Is it expensive to maintain? |
No |
| Is there a payback for
using this product over its lifetime? |
Yes |
| Can you build safe comfortable healthy homes with it? |
Yes |
| Is it expensive to live in and maintain? |
No |
| Are ECO Block Homes
affordable |
Yes |
| Will my ECO Block home
survive severe weather conditions |
Yes |
| Do ECO Block buildings
last significantly longer than traditional homes |
Yes |
ECO Block buildings have a Life Cycle of
150+yrs, with environmental impact easily being offset by very high
structural and thermal performance reflected is a 25%+ reduction in
energy savings. The sealed envelope also provides high moisture
resistance.
The total cost to maintain a building
structurally and keep it temperate as a healthy living environment is
significantly lower compared to traditionally constructed timber homes
which have a Life Cycle of approx 80 yrs.
Environmental Facts
● High Thermal Values Reduce energy costs
● Uses recycled materials whenever possible
● Uses no CFCs or HCFCs & Emits no fumes or gasses
● 8 Energy Star Home rating
● Has a lifecycle of over 150 years
● Improves indoor air quality (IAQ)
● Reduces mold problem
● Minimizes construction wastes to three percent or less
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 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 timber 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.
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.
Termites
Provide no threat to ECO Block walls,
there is also no nutritional value in the continuous concrete core or
moisture retained in the high density EPS. Termite Barriers can be
installed to protect internal timber walls at a relatively low cost and
are required for slab protection in some Australian states. Please check
your local building codes for these requirements
Strength/Longevity
Continuous Steel Reinforced walls are the
strongest wall used in construction today, concrete has been used in
construction for 1000’s of years. Many buildings constructed over 1000
years ago remain standing. ECO Block walls have a proven history of
maintaining structural integrity in real Cyclone, Flood and Fire
conditions and have consistently outperformed steel and timber as a wall
solution in independent lab tests.
Reduced Labour Cost
ECO Block is a simple three element
system that provides, structure, insulation and easy fixing for interior
and exterior cladding all in one process and is low tech and easy to
build with. It is not uncommon for a well managed crew to complete of
the walls on an average sized home within 10 days.
If you want to enjoy
the green benefits of building with ECO Block talk to us
today.
Click Here To Enquire
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