SKOKIE, Ill. – At its 2007 Green Building Conference in St. Louis, the National Association of Home Builder is highlighting a local example of a new national trend in concrete construction. Increasingly, homebuilders and homeowners are turning to concrete solutions for optimal energy efficiency that also ensures safety from severe weather.

A residence near St. Louis designed by Sage Homebuilders showcases some of the latest innovations for sustainable design. The home is being built with insulating concrete forms (ICF) that provide enhanced energy performance and durability. In ICF systems, concrete is poured around a stacked foam frame that produces a continuous point of attachment and a solid thermal envelope will help the structure meet an impressive list of green building standards.

This innovation gives the home an energy efficient core that slows heat transfer and lowers overall energy costs. ICF construction is also stronger than traditional wood-framed homes, offering greater resistance to natural disasters, such as tornadoes.

“In the past, homebuilders may have dismissed concrete as simply a solution for sidewalks and roadways, but the Sage ICF home showcases two of the most important benefits our product offers for green homes – energy efficiency and durability,” said Dave Shepherd, director of sustainable development for the Portland Cement Association. “Builders and homeowners alike are beginning to realize the wide array of concrete applications for sustainable development.”

ICF walls and other environmentally responsible applications like fiber-cement siding – a more durable, low maintenance alternative to traditional wood siding – will help the Sage home to achieve their lofty standards of being a “Near-Zero Energy Home;” achieving certification under the GBI (Green Building Initiative) Program; and gaining recognition as an EPA Energy Star Home. The home is is seeking to achieve LEED platinum certification, the highest level of certification from the United States Green Building Council.

“In recent years we have seen a rising trend in the number of new homes being built with concrete, including in 2005 when concrete homes accounted for 17.9% of all new single-family detached homes, up from 16.3 % in 2004,” said Ed Sullivan, chief economist for the Portland Cement Association. “As green building principles have become more widely accepted in recent years, there has also been increased demand for cement because of the benefits of concrete for sustainable development. Homes like the Sage model reflect the rising trend of using concrete for residential purposes and the increased cement consumption as a result of the green building movement.”

About PCA
Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs.