For the past five years, The New American Home® (TNAH) has been certified through the ENERGY STAR® program.  Each of these homes has featured concrete wall systems, one of the most energy-efficient building envelopes available.

Visit the Portland Cement Association booth (W5261) or contact Patti Flesher to learn how concrete makes these and other homes solid and sustainable.

Office: 847.972.9136
Mobile: 847.542.1236

Concrete Shines in ENERGY STAR Home
The New American Homes 2008 is the first home to be certified by the National Home Builder’s Association National Green Building Program and concrete systems and products played a significant role in its energy efficiency, durability, and beauty.

• View the news release
• Preview and and download photos showcasing concrete products and features of The New American Home (All photos by Erin O'Boyle/Courtesy of the Portland Cement Association)

An Energy-Efficient Home Can Begin with a Touch of a Finger
Attendees of IBS 2008 will be able to view a variety of products designed to make homes more energy efficient. But one of the most important factors in a sustainable home is often overlooked—its walls. PCA has developed a touch-screen computer system that shows how the building materials used to construct a home’s exterior walls impact its energy-efficiency and comfort. The program will be on display at the PCA booth, (W5261).

• View news release
• More about the benefits of concrete wall systems
• View different concrete wall system

Make a Home Green with Concrete
Pervious concrete driveways. Concrete countertops in the kitchen. Decorative concrete floors throughout the home. Energy-efficient concrete wall systems. The wide range of concrete products for the home all come with their unique contributions to sustainable living.

• The Top Ten Reasons to Use Concrete for Sustainable Design

There are very few, if any, construction materials that offer concrete's wide range of sustainable and comprehensive environmental benefits, but the industry is not content to simply have a green end product. U.S. cement manufacturers are dedicated to continuously challenging manufacturing policies and procedures to improve energy efficiency and minimize emissions.

• View our 2007 Report on Sustainable Manufacturing at www.cement.org
• View PCA's video: "Did You Know?"

Concrete Homes Expected to Thrive with Green Building

Ed Sullivan, Chief Economist for the Portland Cement Association, will provide his long-range economic forecast that includes how sustainable development will affect the residential market at the Building Systems Council press conference, Wednesday, February 13 at 1:45 (Room 203A). 

Sullivan has been honored by the Chicago Federal Reserve for his forecast accuracy and named on the "Top Industry Influencers" by Concrete Construction.

• To request the PCA Economic Forecast
• Biography for Edward J. Sullivan, PCA Chief Economist and Staff Vice President, Economic Research
• Photo of Edward J. Sullivan

PCA Publishes New Standard
on Concrete Walls

Prescriptive Design of Exterior Concrete Walls for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, the first ANSI-approved standard by the Portland Cement Association, is now available.

The new standard facilitates the use of cast-in-place concrete wall systems such as insulating concrete forms (ICFs).  It can eliminate the need for additional structural engineering when building detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses.

• View the news release
• More information on PCA Codes and Standards activities at www.cement.org