Responsible building decisions deserve benefits, too

Beauty, spaciousness, interior design -- and every other eye-pleasing esthetic -- are important when building a personal dream home. Today, however, with the reality of energy and environmental concerns, homeowners also insist that the place where they will be living for years on end must be as eco-responsible as possible.

As it turns out, many decisions that are initially based on responsibility can deliver unexpected esthetic results, too.

"Sometimes the least glamorous decisions can be the ones that give your lifestyle far more quality and value--and a good case in point is the use of concrete to build the walls, instead of traditional wood-framing," says Todd Blyth at Nudura, a leading name in this field. "Our Canadian technology has advanced the development of the 'insulated concrete form,' a system that that interlocks to erect a building, like Lego. For the occupants, the benefits of improved comfort, energy efficiency, safety and interior air quality are delivered immediately with ICF construction -- and for the homeowner-investor, all those benefits assure top resale value later on."

In addition, Blyth points out, an ICF structure can be finished on the exterior just like traditional wood frame structures. Stone, stucco, brick or whatever is envisioned can be done with the insulated concrete forms.

Building the walls with concrete is an option that needs to be decided early in the planning, he says. The method discards wood framing in favour of pre-assembled, interlocking concrete forms filled with concrete. Take a look at a few more of the head-turning benefits of concrete:

Fuel Savings: Premium insulation is essential with energy costs on the rise. Solid concrete walls vastly reduce air infiltration (compared to wood walls), optimizing energy performance and reducing carbon footprints. The R-value (insulation effectiveness) comes in at R-50 and can save you to 70 percent on energy bills.

Comfort: Outside cold easily travels through wood-framed walls, causing thermal bridging and creating uncomfortable chilly spots inside your home. Walls with a solid concrete core address and prevent thermal bridging, delivering even temperatures throughout the house.

Quiet: Solid concrete is an effective sound barrier. It dampens sound vibrations from outside noise, such as traffic, trains and neighbourhood parties. Sound-proofing is an addition to home comfort.

Safety: The fire protection rating is up to four hours. If high wind in your community is a concern, data shows that Nudura homes (nudura.com) demonstrate impact resistance up to 402 kph, or 250 mph.

Improved Value: It is generally expected that a stronger, safer, greener home, and one that is more durable, more cost efficient, and needs less maintenance and repair, will build and hold its value.