Green Options

Last week I wrote about insulated concrete forms (ICFs) as an alternative to traditional poured concrete walls. The ICFs I mentioned would serve to reduce at least 50% of the concrete used, compared to a traditional basement wall. (The Eco-blocks, with a 4" instead of an 8" wall would be a 50% reduction.

Photo Credit: InsulockInsulated concrete forms (ICFs) are an alternative method for building concrete walls. They are most typically used for foundation (basement) walls, but can be used in some other applications as well. Of course, they offer green benefits.

The most obvious improvement offered by using ICFs is the addition of insulation. Concrete has a very low R-value (an 8" thick concrete basement wall would typically have [...]