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.
ICF has been around for a while now but for some reason, like a lot of good construction ideas, it meets resistance from builders, designers and homeowners. I think that the new climate of construction that you describe (pun INTENDED) will get more people thinking seriously about ICF as a practical longterm alternative to conventional construction practice and technique.
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ICF's (Insulated Concrete Forms) may be one of the reasons we are slow to accept EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) as a probably the best Building Material on earth. Everyone is shocked by the cost of the forms, Concrete and the the finishing of this building method the should be only be attempted by qualified processionals and never by a DIYer. There are newer EPS Building Systems that install twice as fast and may cost half as much also.
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