Livability
By the Numbers - Living Comfortably
- 90% of green* home owners say their home maintains a more consistent temperature and is less drafty, while 86% say they have lower utility bills.
- One of the biggest complaints of multifamily occupants – and a top reason for moving – is noise from neighbors or the outside.
- Building materials that contain low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) reduce interior emissions and create healthier indoor environments.
How Can Concrete Help?
- Concrete homes have thermal mass and few joints to create even temperatures and reduce drafts and hot/cold spots, while minimizing energy bills.
- The same features of concrete building systems that make them energy efficient (mass walls and tight construction) make them good for privacy, too.
- Hardened concrete is inert and contributes to good indoor air quality. And because concrete is inorganic, pests don’t eat it and have a hard time penetrating it.
Concrete for Livability
A healthy living/work space promotes physical and psychological well-being. Concrete buildings are comfortable. They can enhance air quality, maintain comfortable temperatures, and reduce excessive noise. Perhaps even more comforting, concrete structures offer peace of mind to occupants. They are better able to resist damage from extreme weather and generally last longer. People are safer, the damage from major storms is less severe, and affected communities will spend less energy and fewer resources on emergency response, reconstruction, repair, and recovery. Resilient communities have a much better chance of returning to normal faster.
*ICC-700 National Green Building Standard is the only ANSI-approved green building rating system for homes and apartments.