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Posts Tagged ‘Eco Friendly House’
August 7th, 2010 | 
Author: Eco Friendly Property Doesn’t Cost the Earth…………
In fact, quite the reverse. There is a widely held conception that anything green, whilst good for the environment, ultimately costs more in monetary terms. ECO friendly properties are cheaper and quicker to construct, and cheaper to run on a day to day basis.
One of the main factors behind this is build time. Traditional build times are generally between twelve and eighteen months for a decent size three bedroom villa. Using systems such as ICF (Insulating Concrete Form), Thermocellit build blocks or Ytong, reduces the build time to between 60-90 days, dependant on the size of the build. This has numerous environmental benefits. The use of electric, water and even transportation costs and emissions for the builders is significantly reduced, and the end result is much more efficient building than its traditional comparatives.
Originally developed in Canada (where concrete home building is standard) ICF systems have been used successfully around the world for more than 40 years. Tens of thousands of ICF homes have been built in recent years throughout the United States and Canada. They have proven successful in every region and climate, from Orlando to Calgary. ICF systems are accepted by all the major model codes in the U.S. and by the National Building Codes in Canada. Several major European countries are now building with this system on a massive scale. It is recognised in Spain and most of Europe and passes all necessary regulations.
Here are some key ICF Advantages for the Homeowner:
ICF Homes are Sound Dampening
Escape for the noisy outside world – The solid concrete walls of ICF homes greatly reduce outside noise making your home more peaceful and relaxing. ICF homes can reduce unwanted outside noise by up to 87%
ICF Homes are Fire Resistant
Have peace of mind that your home will still be standing even if fire threatens your neighbourhood. ICF homes have a fire rating of up to 4 hours.
ICF Homes are Energy Efficient
Splurge on the finer things in life with the money you’ll be saving each month on your utility bills. Buildings built with ICF exterior walls can require 50% less energy to heat and cool than comparable frame houses. These energy efficiencies also allow economic efficiency by allowing smaller HVAC units to be installed.
ICF Walls are Pest Resistant
Be confident that your home will be protected against termites, roaches and rodents. – Your home’s concrete walls will be impenetrable to pests.
ICF Homes are environmentally Friendly
Be satisfied in the fact that Solid Core ICF homes are built using Inert, Non-toxic concrete that is often manufactured locally. And the fire-resistant insulating foam is CFC free. The Rebar, Webs & Ties, EPS foam & concrete are recyclable. Building a 2,000 sq. ft. ICF home can save up to 47 trees.
ICF Homes are economically Friendly
Get the financial benefits of lower insurance premiums. Insurance companies recognize all the strengths of ICF homes and offer a discount on premium for ICF homes. One ICF homeowner reported a 20% savings on his insurance premiums.
ICF Homes are Draft Free
Enjoy the comfort of a perfect environment – The solid core walls of ICF homes eliminate air infiltration through the wall and virtually eliminate hot and cold spots.
ICF Homes are Allergen Resistant. Get the relief you deserve – Most mould and mildew problems are caused by moisture. A fibre glass insulated wall develops condensation within the wall where warm and cold air meet. The solid core walls of ICF homes eliminate air infiltration so there is no moisture to feed the growth of moulds and bacteria.
ICF Homes are Beautiful
Live in style – while the walls of the home are sturdy concrete, the design can take on any style you desire: Modern, Victorian, Colonial, Adobe.etc etc.
ICF Homes are Affordable
ICF homes are priced very competitively with traditional “stick built” homes. And when you take into account all the additional benefits they have, the true value of ICF homes simply can’t be matched.
Having your own Eco friendly villa built gives a wealth of options to the degree of environmentally friendliness you want. Solar panels, Geo thermal heating, energy efficient and water saving appliances are just a few further ways to go green, saving you money and also doing your bit for the environment at the same time.
For further information visit http://www.1st2spain.com
By: K.Towers
About the Author:
Authors web site: http://www.1st2spain.com
Posted in Environment | 
Tags: Eco Friendly House, Eco Friendly Products, ways to go green | 
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The problem with most homeowners is that they are not aware that there are existing resources in their own home that can be reused or recycled. For example, papers may be lying around the house, used only on 1 side. They can actually be used on both sides. And when less paper is used, more trees are saved, and the homeowners save more money by spending less on paper. So the key here is to be sensitive to the use of resources around the house. Here are some tips on how to start converting your home to an eco friendly house.
The first step to take is to clean up the house. Start by creating 4 different piles – one for paper, one for glass, one for plastic, and one for metal. Organize your items according to these 4 categories. If there are many items in your house, the process may take some time.
After that, you will need to spend more time sorting through the 4 stacks of items. Here is when you decide which items to keep and which items to dispose of. Again, bear in mind that there are items that can be reused. Pick them out, and put them aside.
For items that you want to get rid of, don’t mix them up again. Keep them within their own respective categories, and pack them nicely into boxes and trash bags. There is more you need to do.
Once your house is in shape, you may start locating a recycling facility near you. The recycling center don’t have to be located in your area. You just need to find out where the drop off points are. Usually, there are many drop off points in every area, and there should be one that is convenient for you. If you like, you can always call up a recycling facility to find out if there are any drop off points that are near to you.
Another alternative is to find out if your current garbage collector has an existing arrangement with a recycling center. If so, you can let them collect your recyclable items as per normal. That way, you don’t have to worry about making extra trips to drop off points.
Keep the compartments that you have initially created – paper, plastic, glass and metal. As and when there is disposable but recyclable materials, just throw them in the right compartment. When the compartments are full, empty them and start the process all over again. That way, your house will always be eco friendly.
By: Gen Wright
ThermoCellit honeycombed clay blocks are made from fired clay and have a honeycomb cross-section. The external walls of your property can be built rapidly with this single skin eco friendly build system which replaces conventional cavity walls. These thermocellit honeycombed clay blocks combine rapid build time with moisture protection, noise and thermal insulation all in one.
The large block size, coupled with the fact that cavity wall construction is no longer required to satisfy the Building Regulations, means that buildings can be much more rapidly built.
The blocks are laid with a horizontal mortar joint 8-12mm thick using a special light weight mortar.
Vertical joints are tongue and grooved and need no mortar. The ThermoCellit range includes special blocks for windows and corners, and lintels.
Internal walls can also be built with Cellit blocks.
The main and obvious advantages gained by using Thermocellit build blocks are rapid build times and more importantly the eco friendliness of the system along with the following:
• Easy to plan wall layout
• Easy to use
• Blocks can be cut
• No mortar is needed in the vertical joints due to a tongue and grooved edge, reducing mortar use by up to 40%.
• Very little thermal movement results in less cracking and better building resale values
• Surface fixings compare favourably with conventional masonry construction
• The blocks are very strong and have a high impact resistance
The large block size, which allows rapid construction coupled with excellent thermal properties, makes this a very eco friendly build system and is becoming very popular. We are already in the process of building 5 properties with this system. See our web site: www.1st2spain.com. There are several great external and internal finishes available. We use Mona Capa which is the best suited for Spanish climate in our opinion.
ThermoCellit block
Height 240 mm Length 260 mm Thickness 300 / 365 mm Weight 162 / 197 kg/m² respectively
Vapour diffusion resistance, ? 4 U-value with external render and internal plaster
0.36/0.30 W/m²K respectively Crushing strength of Thermocellit wall 4 N/mm²
Sound reduction (with render + plaster finishes) 48 / 51 dB respectively
Cellit block
Height 240 mm Length 400 mm Thickness 100 / 125 / 150 mm Weight 74 / 90 / 108 kg/m²
Crushing strength of Cellit wall 4 N/mm²
Sound reduction (plaster both sides) 47 dB (125 block)
Mortar 30 kg bag (mixed with 10 litres water makes 30 litres wet
mortar). Sufficient for 1.00 m² of 300 mm wall and 0.80 m² of 365 mm wall at 8-12 mm mortar joint thickness.
Maintenance
No maintenance required.
Humidity and condensation
High protection against dampness *********** and the formation of condensation.
Acoustic Insulation
Good results are easily achieved.
Quality of living environment
Healthier living environment is assured by the lack of dampness, the good insulation values and the resistance against biological growth.
Air quality
The clay blocks do not contain pollutants such as fibres, organic airborne materials (benzene, toluene, solvents, ethers), formaldehyde and so on (there are about 100 possible pollutants in organic airborne materials such as PFA). No fungicides or insecticides are present and no radioactive components.
Recyclability
Thermocellit clay building blocks are totally recyclable. href=”http://www.1st2spain.com”>http://www.1st2spain.com
By: K.Towers
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