Does anyone audit completed buildings or have stats on material usage?
Last Post 12 Aug 2021 04:59 PM by Alton. 2 Replies.
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Smart ShopUser is Offline
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23 Oct 2020 07:45 PM
I am planning to build and I want to be as "green" as possible on my budget. I think I am going ICF for insulation, durability and resale value but it uses a fair amount of concrete which has a CO2 impact. I'm not too concerned because I am trying to minimize the usage and also if that concrete is in a building that is occupied for 200+ years, it's probably not bad considering the additional heating and cooling costs (in CO2) of the 2 or more conventional buildings you would need to replace one ICF building. What I would really like to see is the average concrete usage or CO2 emissions per square foot of typical construction methods so I can calculate mine and compare to see if mine is average, better or worse. With that I could look at my building lifetime energy usage and actually see how it would do instead of trying to go for a certification or otherwise "greening" a home without effect.
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12 Aug 2021 01:24 AM
>I am planning to build and I want to be as "green" as possible on my budget. I think I am going ICF for insulation, >durability and resale value

ICF is good for insulation and durability, resale value may be problematical because the extra value is hidden in the walls where people can't see it.  The realtors won't talk it up because they have no idea what it is or how it works.


>but it uses a fair amount of concrete which has a CO2 impact.

In the short run you are releasing a little more Carbon to build it, but I expect that the energy saved on  heating/cooling will quickly make up for it, and permanently reduced Carbon use.  In the long term you always come out ahead.


>I'm not too concerned because I am trying to minimize the usage and also if that concrete is in a building that is occupied >for 200+ years

To get the full life expectancy out of the structure I believe you need to think about how to protect the rebar in the walls from rusting.  Just being buried in concrete may not be good enough.


AltonUser is Offline
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12 Aug 2021 04:59 PM
Use basalt rebar instead of steel to avoid rust that can spall concrete. Gator Bar may be the least costly basalt rebar in the USA. May need approval from code officials before specifying basalt rebar.
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Construction Technology Consultant -- E-mail: Alton at Auburn dot Edu Use email format with @ and period .
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