Insulated Concrete Form Townhouses Part II
September 13th, 2011 | Distributor Spotlight, From the Field, Project Showcase | Energy Data, energy efficiency, energy star, Project Showcase, tax credits, WA
Last time, I introduced you to Devoted Builders who has been building ENERGY STAR homes now for 5+ years. He has already built the majority of the ICF units, and is currently finishing up the last 30% of the 230 ICF homes. Each home is equipped with high-tech and high-quality materials- from the ICF walls, to the windows and appliances installed in the kitchen.
The ICF Building Envelope
Each home is built with insulating concrete forms, built up to the roof line. Also, the ICF foundation goes down 30 inches to serve as the perfect frost wall. Stucco was used as the exterior finish of choice. (NO additional vapor or air barrier was used because insulating concrete form walls serve as a ARE a vapor retarder and air barrier! (See our ICF Moisture Research- login required)
Ducts in the attic are mastic sealed and the ceiling deck is insulated with over an inch of spray foam and then topped with a foot of blown cellulose to reach and R-49 value for the attic. The spray foam insulation in the attic coupled with the energy efficient ICF walls, Giacci has been able to achieve very low air leakages rates. He has all of the home blower door tested with some coming in as low as 0.8 ACH at 50 Pascals.
The tight envelope is a must to control the indoor environment and ultimately- the energy use. Tight enclosure gives the control back to the occupant for temperature, controlling outside air, and moisture. An energy-recovery ventilator is installed in the homes to redistribute tempered air though out the home
Commitment to Quality Sustainable Homes
All of Devoted Builders homes are 3rd party tested and inspected, and since 2007 every single one of his homes built, exceeded savings of over 50% of the 2004 IECC code, and performs better than the Building America Benchmark by over 43%.
They are continuing to improve the technologies in the house and are looking forward to implementing photovoltaic’s, solar hot water, ductless heat pumps and many more green strategies- with the ultimate goal of achieving net zero energy homes utilizing Reward insulating concrete forms.
Check back in another week as we wrap up this Devoted Builders project highlight and discuss the costs and energy use of the townhouses.
