There was a time when basements were merely thought of as damp, cold storage areas. Times have changed. Today, basements are often used as gathering places for the family—making warmth, comfort and energy-efficiency crucial elements of building success.
A variety of insulation products can help provide that comfort and safety. Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) are forms for poured concrete walls that stay in place as a permanent part of the wall assembly. The forms, made of foam insulation, are either pre-formed interlocking blocks or separate panels connected with plastic ties. This union allows concrete to perform as a thermally efficient building structure, boasting R-values otherwise not attained. According to Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA), EPS, in this application, may help provide lower energy cost by up to 50% and noise abatement by as much as two-thirds compared to ordinary frame wall with fiberglass insulation, as well as design flexibility and ease of construction.
ICF provides all the benefits of concrete with the additional attribute of two built-in layers of foam insulation. An ICF home capitalizes on the durability and low maintenance of concrete. Neither the insulation nor the concrete rusts or rots. Furthermore, concrete can withstand many of the harsh elements of Mother Nature for an extended period of time without negative effects.
Watch Video on Plastics, Insulation, and Home Energy Efficiency
Jack Armstrong, of BASF’s Global Building Materials, shows how energy efficiency can be enhanced by smart uses of the many varieties of plastic insulations, insulated concrete forms, and much more. Originally given at a press Conference on the Mall in Washington, DC for the Solar Decathlon, the subject matter goes to the heart of Near Zero Energy Homes.