Green Building Made Easy

As concerns about energy supplies and global warming continue to be debated, one idea remains clear; the best way to reduce energy use is by utilizing energy efficient construction. Sustainable or green building practices promote the construction of buildings that are healthier for the occupants and healthier for the environment. They reduce the tremendous impact that building construction, operation, maintenance, and disposal have on both people and nature.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Center for Sustainable Development, buildings consume 40-50% of the world’s total energy, 25% of its wood harvest and 16% of its water. The building industry is the nation’s largest manufacturing activity, representing more than 50% of the nation’s wealth.
A recent report by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) promotes Green Building for the biggest, easiest cuts in CO2 Emissions. Energy-saving technologies applied in buildings can result in enormous reductions in demand for fossil fuels and emissions of greenhouse gases.

Insulated Concrete Forms are one key technology because they provide an ultra-efficient, high mass, high strength, and very durable building shell that keeps occupants healthy and comfortable. ICF buildings far outperform framed buildings despite similar stated R-values. The secret lies in the combination of reduced conduction & convection, and high thermal mass. The result is a building with a lower appetite for energy and more consistent and comfortable temperatures inside the building.

Another key to green building is effective building insulation. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a product in your home that could save you between 10% & 40% on your utilities each month? Well, the product exists and is called SMARTFOILS. It’s a radiant-barrier product that can be placed in either your home or commercial property. This product transfers 97% of the radiant heat out of the attic space during the warm months and locks the heat in during the cold months. Temperature regulation from month to month can equate to lower energy bills, with substantial savings over time.

It only makes sense to design and build homes with a lower appetite for energy in the first place. At HiCaliber, we work to design zero-energy homes. Not only will your home be working for you, but you will be reducing your carbon footprint as well.

For more information on QuadLock Insulated Concrete Forms, or the radiant barrier product, SMARTFOILS, contact HiCaliber today. Let our professionals start saving you money with the latest technology in green building.