Our project gallery demonstrates two construction techniques that dramatically improve the energy efficiency of Colorado homes.

Insulated Composite Concrete Forms (ICCF)

The first project in our gallery shows a house constructed using ICCFs. ICCFs are large blocks, think giant Legos. The blocks are made from recycled Styrofoam, mixed with a little bit of portland cement. Recycling the Styrofoam prevents a lot of waste material from entering the nations landfills. Styrofoam is often used in coffee cups because it is naturally a great insulator. After the blocks are stacked up, steel reinforcing bar is added and the whole assembly is grouted. This results in an incredibly strong wall system, rated hurricane proof by the state of Florida. The blocks are non-combustible, which is a huge relief given our fire prone region. As a bonus, neither termites nor rodents will eat or nest in the blocks.

Despite their large size, the blocks are lightweight, only weighing 40-50 pounds each depending on size. This makes using the blocks easy for construction crews or the DIYer.

Double Wall Construction

The second project in our gallery uses a double wall system and is currently under construction. The owner wants PHIUS certification for the house. With that goal in mind, we had to really beef up the insulation. The double wall system allowed us to achieve R-46 in the walls. The ceiling has an outstanding R-72. The house is so well insulated, that just day-to-day living in the house (body heat, cooking, electronics, etc.) is almost enough to keep the house warm during the winter. Very little supplemental heat is required. The high level of insulation coupled with superior windows and doors, and being very careful about air sealing around all the joints make this house very inexpensive to operate.