- Reduces energy costs
- Uses recycled materials whenever possible
- Uses no CFCs or HCFCs / Emits no fumes or gasses
- Energy Star Home rating (USA, Australia)
- Qualifies for Energy-Efficient Mortgages (USA)
- Improves indoor air quality
- 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.
Click on the links below to read more about environmental facts:
- 10 Reasons Why Plastics Are Good Hand-out
- Benefits Hand-out
- Wall Cross section Hand-out
- ECO-Block Associations Hand-out
- ECO-Logical Residential Hand-out
- EPS and the Environment Hand-out
- Promotional Flyer Hand-out
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.
- Financial Benefits of Green Building
- Study Says ICF Homes Reduce Heating Costs
- Concrete Homes Save Energy
Manufacturing & Recycling
From the initial manufacturing of our ICF product, to the construction site, and on to the 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 some 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 (USA)
ECO-Block homes have been rated as Energy Star Homes by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the USA. This qualifies some home buyers there 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 (USA)
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 (USA)
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.