You and your family will breathe easier if you suffer from allergies in an ICF home.
Green seems to be the new buzzword in the construction industry. And with good reason - the construction practices of the past are simply unsatisfactory for the world of today - and tomorrow. For example, mold development in residential and commercial construction is a common problem that is gaining attention in the media. Mold releases spores - invisible seeds that are carried through air and water. Prolonged exposure to mold is a leading cause in the development of allergies. It can worsen chronic asthma in those who already suffer from it, and it can cause infections in individuals whose systems are prone to these maladies.
Let's look at some Green Benefits of the ICF home.
ICF homes contain solid concrete walls - these walls act as a barrier against air infiltration. Tests have shown that the infiltration and leakage into an ICF building is one fourth (1/4) that of conventional walls. That's a 75% reduction!
ICF homes are non-toxic - tests involving measurement of air content in ICF houses reflect an almost total absence of any emissions.
ICF eliminates gaps or cavities in walls, preventing trapped moisture and mold.
In a wood frame structure, mold can locate food sources in the wood, the drywall and other materials. The mold decomposes the wood and provides nutrients. By comparison, an ICF wall consists of EPS and concrete. ICF walls are inorganic and the source for the mold is eliminated.
If you suffer from hay fever or other allergies, the optimum way to live is to reduce air leakage of your home with an ICF home, and then use this in conjunction with fresh air exchangers and electrostatic air filters. This will result in the best possible living environment available for respiratory allergy sufferers.
It's more important than ever that we conserve natural resources and reduce waste and pollution. Using ICF blocks to construct a 3,800 square foot home will also save almost 25 trees.
There are countless reasons why we should do everything we can to protect the environment, and our health - our most important attribute.
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