Greenblock, one of the first insulated concrete forms, is striving to spread awareness of their energy-saving product and the long list of benefits. Green building has become one of the hottest growing trends in the construction industry, for both its boon to the environment and the rock-bottom operational cost associated with a green building. Greenblock and Hardwick Construction have given Eco Factory readers an inside look at every aspect of green residential building, from insulated concrete forms to energy efficient appliances.
While the benefits of a home build with Greenblock are numerous, the insulating factor added by the foam forms rises to the surface to be one of the best. While "foam" and "eco-friendly" may seem to be an unlikely pair, consider that the practically eternal existence of polystyrene foam is highly desirable for construction applications. In addition to the structural benefits of Greenblock's insulated concrete forms, we experienced a noticeable temperature drop in the home, despite the fact that the structure didn't yet have air conditioning, windows, or doors. that inside the home.
In addition to the cooling effect of the Greenblock insulated concrete form, homeowners can expect longer durability than a traditional block home. Greenblock proudly put their product in the line of fire, allowing University of Florida students to fire 2x4s at a demo wall at hurricane speeds. The Greenblock wall easily stood up to the punishment, while traditional concrete and wood walls failed.
Working with Greenblock insulated concrete forms is a breeze, as the blocks stack vertically in "lego" fashion and can easily be heated and customized to accept rough plumbing and electrical conduits with a hot knife. Drywallers love the clearly visible "anchor webbing" that bears the Greenblock logo, telling them where their drywall screws will find the best grip. The insulated concrete forms can be customized to fit any shape, even radius patterns. Casa De Las Flores in Winter Park, Florida was one such example. There, green builder Greg Hardwick of Hardwick construction built a seamless spiral staircase by angling small sections of Greenblock to form the 27 foot tall radius.
Unlike concrete block, whose broken bits and scraps are landfill-bound, Greenblock can be recycled into an extruded polystyrene product that can serve a new purpose. This helps builders reach their landfill diversion targets and helps their efforts to be better environmental stewards.
Greg Hardwick showed Eco Factory that building with Greenblock is just one facet of improving the quality of today's green homes. Other simple steps include creating more shade with roof overhangs, controlling runoff with silt fences, and using smaller segmented HVAC systems — not just picking the largest one the homeowner can afford. According to Central Florida green certifier Tracy DeCarlo, many of these features aren't only green, they're common sense.
In most applications, Greenblock is only marginally more expensive than filled concrete cinder block. Builders we've spoken with pointed out that not all construction pros are familiar with insulated concrete forms, so a homeowner might pay a little extra in time and material due to their contractor's inexperience. Fortunately, Greenblock has an extensive network of dealers that extends from coast to coast, and would be able to direct you to builders in your area who are familiar with their product. To learn more about Greenblock, be sure to check out our green home construction tours with Greg Hardwick of Hardwick Construction to find out more.
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