MIT Research Confirms Concrete Homes’ Performance

Concrete homes reduce energy consumption, saving homeowners money, according to new research from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The report details the performance and has now been summarized in a one-page fact sheet describing the life-cycle assessment (LCA) of buildings.

MIT’s LCA study assesses the full impact of buildings, comprehensively examining all phases of a building—from acquisition of materials to construction, the use of the building, and demolition at the end of its life. Based on the MIT findings, building homes with concrete will reduce household heating and cooling by 8% to 11% compared to code-compliant wood-frame homes. Given their demonstrated ability to reduce energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas development during their service life, concrete homes can be considered better for the environment.

The Think Harder. Concrete web site now includes support materials addressing the research reports released by the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub last month. The fact sheets and talking points are available as downloadable PDF files. The materials were developed by the PCA Communications Committee in conjunction with partner groups such as the Ready Mixed Concrete Research and Education Foundation, the American Concrete Pavement Association, and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association.

View the materials at www.think-harder.org

Napa Valley Home Exemplifies Sustainable Design in Hot, Fire-prone Region

David Horobin, principal of Estudio Verde Architects in Napa, Calif., designed a sustainable home for his family in 2008. The design and construction of the home took into account the effect on the neighbors, placement, profile and mass of the structure, building materials, utilities, and aesthetics.

The 2,700-square foot home is enveloped with insulating concrete forms (ICFs) providing high R-value and a four-hour fire rating. Since the home is built in a seismic zone, the designers prescribed a helical galvanized steel fiber for the rebar, which makes every cubic inch of the concrete into tensile concrete.

As a result of the structural and fire aspects of this home, the owners were awarded the first west coast "Fortified for Safer Living" certificate by The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IIBHS).

Read the case study of this green, energy-efficient and disaster resistant residence.

Spotlight on Household Energy Consumption

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), residential space heating and cooling is the single largest use of household energy with an estimated cost on average of $1,137 per year. For single family residences, this expense is often much higher.

Based on EIA projections, PCA estimates this expense will increase 85% during the next 25 years, owing to such factors as emerging economies and increasing world demand, which will keep upward pressure on energy prices. Assuming no changes in energy efficiencies, the energy cost for a home would approach $1,930 per year given EIA’s projections. Pictured are trends for LPG (green), fuel oil (red), electricity (black), and natural gas (blue).

With energy prices expected to continue outpacing inflation, the cost of heating and cooling a home will likely increase in importance for homeowners. Based on the MIT findings (see Up Close story), building homes with insulated concrete systems instead of wood frame could reduce household energy costs significantly.

For more information contact David Zwicke.

HVAC Sizing for Concrete Homes

PCA’s popular software program for sizing the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems for concrete homes has been updated to the latest codes and standards. The software calculates the system capacities based on the house dimensions, construction materials, infiltration, location (U.S., Canada, and Mexico) and thermostat set point. The user has the capability to model a two story house with separate heating or cooling systems on each floor.

Finishing Concrete with Color and Texture

Originally prepared for concrete contractors, this basic guide will help anybody create beautiful, decorative surfaces on concrete slabs. 200+ photographs help illustrate construction procedures for various decorating techniques including coloring, texturing, stamping, staining, etc.