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Lower Utility Bills
Concrete buildings save energy in two
ways. The mass of the concrete slows down the passage of heat
or cold moving through the wall. With the same insulation,
a concrete home stays warmer in the winter and cooler
in the summer. Also, concrete walls are more air-tight than
wood-frame walls. Since leaks account for a large percentage
of energy loss in the home, concrete homes enjoy savings in
energy consumption. That adds up to lower utility bills.
A survey, conducted by Dr. Peter VanderWerf at Boston University,
found that using insulating concrete forms (ICFs) reduces
energy used for heating by about 44% and for cooling by about
32%.
Reduced
Insurance Premiums
Concrete homes and office buildings resist
fire. They're stronger than wood frame homes and safer during
tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Insurance for
concrete homes is often 15% to 25% lower. One insurance
agent in St. Louis, Missouri, offers discounts on homeowners
insurance policies of up to 25% for ICF homes. No one,
however, can put a price on the peace of mind that comes with
owning a concrete home.
Quiet
Comfort
Concrete homes make the world go away
- a haven from traffic and the neighbor's leaf blower. The
mass of a concrete wall makes it an effective barrier
to sound. Although some sound will penetrate the windows,
a concrete home is often two-thirds quieter than a wood-frame
home.
The
Quality Payback
Concrete homes cost a little more than
wood-frame homes. But lower energy bills and insurance premiums
can offset the slightly higher mortgage payment. The
real payback is in quality...the intangible benefits of a
quieter and more comfortable home.
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A Dollar
A Month For Safety, Quiet & Comfort
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A homebuyer pays 4% more for
an energy efficient concrete home. He secures a mortgage
with a 7.5% interest rate and makes a 20% down payment
on the home. He would pay $44 more on principal
and interest and $12 more on property taxes but saves
$12 per month on homeowners insurance and $43 per month
on energy bills. The total monthly cost for the
concrete home is only $1 more than the standard home
- a small price to pay for the added security,
quiet, and comfort.
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Standard Home
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Concrete Home
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Comments
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Purchase Price
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$200,000
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$208,000
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4% More
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Principal & Int.
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$1,119
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$1,163
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7.5% Interest
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Taxes
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$300
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$312
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.15% Tax Rate
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Insurance
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$60
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$48
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20% Savings
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Energy
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$145
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$102
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30% Savings
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Housing Costs
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$1,624
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$1,625
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Only $1 More
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That's
The Beauty Of Today's Concrete
There's more than one way to build your
concrete home or office. Insulating concrete forms. Concrete
masonry. Aerated concrete. Tilt-up concrete. Precast
concrete. With volatile wood prices, logging's high environmental
price tag, and a growing shortage of high quality lumber,
concrete offers a variety of products and construction
techniques to provide cost effective, quality alternatives
to wood-frame home construction.
All of these systems share the same basic
virtues of concrete - beauty, strength, durability, low maintenance,
energy efficiency, environmental friendliness, and peace
and quiet. Which concrete building technique is right
for you depends on the labor force and predominant building
practices in your area. Whatever your choice, you can
rest assured that your beautiful concrete home is built to
last.
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