Count
on Concrete for
Green Homes
Green Homes
All photos courtesy of the Portland Cement Association
Removable Forms
Concrete Masonry (Concrete
Block)
Insulating Concrete
Forms (ICFs)
Precast Concrete Panels
With
removable form construction, a crew erects forms of aluminum, wood, or
steel to make a mold in the shape of the walls. Insulation is placed inside
the forms along with reinforcing steel, and a crew pours concrete inside
the cavity.
Masons lay a series
of courses, or rows, using concrete block units. Each course is set on
a layer of mortar to bind the blocks and ensure proper spacing. Most systems
incorporate rigid insulation for added energy efficiency.
ICF technology uses
blocks or panels consisting of two layers of rigid foam insulation that
stack and interlock. Once reinforcing steel is secured, workers pump concrete
into the cavity to create a solid structural wall with insulation on both
sides.
With precast concrete, large panels of wall are poured horizontally in a factory. Rigid foam insulation is placed between two layers of concrete. Once hardened, the panels are delivered by truck to the job site, lifted into place with a crane, and fastened together.
