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Environmental Facts
- Reduces energy costs
- Uses recycled materials whenever possible
- Uses no CFCs or HCFCs / Emits no fumes or gasses
- Energy Star Home rating
- Qualifies for Energy-Efficient Mortgages
- Improves indoor air quality (IAQ)
- 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
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 our 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 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
ECO-Block homes have been rated as Energy Star Homes by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). This qualifies some home buyers 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
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
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.
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