Improve indoor air quality building with ECO-Block

Vermont Business Magazine, Dec 01, 2006 by McKernon, Jack

If you were to ask a homeowner what the most important feature might be for their new home, they would probably tell you that they are looking for something affordable, comfortable, healthy and durable. This means clean air and less air seepage.

This is why as design-builders, our company chooses to use ECO-Block(R). One of the simplest ways of achieving air control in a new home or addition is to build with ICF known as Insulated Concrete Forms. Made of Styrofoam, the ICF forms produce a seamless monolithic shell that when filled with concrete, reduces air exchange significantly. The air no longer leaks through the walls, keeping the indoor air clean, heated or cooled. This construction minimizes random air infiltration, and controls air which is ventilated. The end result keeps down the heating cost, controls moisture, and creates opportunities for efficient cleaning of indoor air, and you live safe and secure.

There are several sources of air pollution within the structure of the house. Building materials, water vapor, combustion equipment (such as hot water heaters); humans, activities (such as cooking, cleaning, hobbies), odors, furnishings, mold and other biological situations.

Outside your building you may be exposed to attached garages with car fames, paint and pesticides; there may be soil gasses such as radon; there are insecticides sprayed on lawns and trees, and there is pollution from factories, automobiles, etc.

We need to protect ourselves from these pollutants in a variety of ways. We attempt to remove the source, dilute with clean air and filter the existing air. ICFs are not sources of indoor pollutants, as they do not discharge gas nor are they susceptible to mold. Outside air is obviously not always fresh or clean. By building airtight, the unwanted exterior air coming into a building can be minimized, and air can be controlled through a filtering system. This cleans exterior air, while indoor air maintains a healthy humidity level.

ECO-Block (R) ICFs can be used to construct the dividing wall of the attached garage. This provides excellent fire protection and air barrier, if the wall is taken right up to the roofline.

Building with ECO-Block(R) gives the home-owner advantages that are now available with this type of construction. The opportunity for built-in protection, economy and a healthy environment should be a top consideration offered by your builder. There will be fewer drafts; less variation in temperature and with the proper HVHC systems, the air can be fresh. The McKernon Group sells and installs Eco-Block(R) systems in the New England area. Please see our advertisement in this issue.