The Future of Building

Because of ever increasing energy costs, efficiency is becoming more and more important. When purchasing a new appliance or car, most of us carefully evaluate the long term cost of purchasing an inefficient item and will pay a premium if it promises to have a lower operating cost.
In light of this, the BC Building Code is continually implementing changes to mandate better energy efficiency in new homes and buildings. The focus of the latest changes, which will be implemeted in the spring of 2012, are to create a structure that is as energy efficient as possible, so that with the addition of top quality windows and heating appliances, can ultimately be net zero ready.
Because of the need for technology and building practises to improve before this is possible, BC is using a gradual approach, and will phase in Net Zero ready structures over the next 9 years, with the current goal being 2020. Along the way, incremental changes will occur that will gradually improve the standards.
What this means for the consumer is slightly increased building costs (less than 5%), but much better efficiency over the long term. It also means that construction methods will have to change, as it will no longer be possible to meet code requirements with conventional stud and batt construction.
At Jomi Construction we have chosen to address this by becoming a certified Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) supplier and installer. ICF's are foam blocks used as concrete forms that stay in place as your permanent insulation. It is possible to construct an entire home out of ICF's including walls, floors and roofs. ICF's offer incredible R-value, soundproofing, and strength. They are not affected by water, and create a permanent structure.

Past Projects

Over the next few months, I plan to publish some of our pictures of past projects. These have been completed in the past five years and will showcase some of the work we have done. I hope these give you some ideas for your own home or business, and that you enjoy looking at them as much as we enjoyed building them!

These first pictures are of a small farmhouse that was in very sad shape when we first got there. It was constructed in the mid 1900's and was in need of a major renovation. We did structural upgrades to the foundation, saved the floor and most of the exterior walls, and replaced everything else. Its been given a new lease on life, and should serve its owners with little maintenance for the future.