What is Green Construction

Green construction methods can be integrated into buildings at any stage, from design and construction, to renovation and deconstruction. However, the most significant benefits can be obtained if the design and construction team takes an integrated approach from the earliest stages of a building project.

Potential benefits of green building can include:

 Environmental benefits

Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems

Improve air and water quality

Reduce waste streams

Conserve and restore natural resources

 Economic benefits

Reduce operating costs

Create, expand, and shape markets for green product and services

Improve occupant productivity

Optimize life-cycle economic performance

 Social benefits

Enhance occupant comfort and health

Heighten aesthetic qualities

Minimize strain on local infrastructure

Improve overall quality of life

http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pubs/whybuild.htm

Fire

A concrete wall system built with Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF) is strong, energy efficient and safe.Fire resistant slide

No additional treatments are necessary with walls built with Forever Green Concrete Forms.

Fire_precast walls and roof fireIf you choose precast…          If you are building with a wall system of Precast Concrete Panels make sure that the panels are treated with fire-resistant material. However a roof fire can cause the roof to collapse and walls to tip inward since all parts of the building are tied together as part of a system.

Fire Dynamics HAZARDS OF PRECAST CONCRETE WALL PANELS

Build Resilient. Build Green. Be Sustainable.

Building Resilient to Withstand Hurricanes

“Concrete homes and safe rooms are a proven way to keep people safe during a high wind storm,” said Donn Thompson, senior director of market development at PCA. “These resilient buildings not only provide safety, but peace of mind when the next natural disaster strikes.”

What is the best forming system for concrete walls?

ICF (Insulating Concrete Forms) from

Forever Green Concrete Forms

FEMA Specifies ICF. Safe rooms protect against wind, debris/missile impact and flood damage.  These wall systems are defined by meeting support, rigidity, and integrity criteria.  

Forever Green Concrete Forms – for all of your ICF wall system solutions.  Strong & sustainable walls, a smart choice.  Choosing Forever Green Concrete Forms provides you with a choice in ICF.  We will help you determine which type of ICF wall system is best for you and your project.  Our wall systems meet/exceed requirements of the new 2015 Energy Code and FEMA P-361.

Exceeding Building Codes

Let us provide you with the best quality “green” building materials that let you LIVE within a wall system that is resilient, eco-friendly, economical, low maintenance, energy efficient, healthy and protective.

Erik Rancatore states We can’t simply ignore the strong winds and associated hazards, and hope that they’ll miss us. As one of the deadliest hurricanes to strike the United States, Katrina took 1,836 lives with destructive winds blowing at 175 mph. Many critical service structures failed in the immediate aftermath in order to provide shelter and safety.  Unless we change the way we build homes and businesses, our communities are going to continue to see excessive hazard and destruction based on Mother Nature’s whims. More resilient structures will help keep our communities intact.

Sustainable communities is a goal San Antonio is working toward.  San Antonio has taken a big step by adopting the 2015 Energy Code and stricter building standards.  

San Antonio’s Focus Areas include:

Energy

The Energy Focus Area encompasses all direct components of energy generation and distribution, efficiency, renewable energy, demand response, and green prower purchasing.

Food System

The Food System Focus Area includes the production, processing, distribution, and consumption components of the food cycle.  Disposal is covered in Solid Waste Resources.

Green Buildings & Infrastructure

The Green Buildings & Infrastructure Focus Area seeks to incorporate more sustainable practices within the physical structures of the city’s built environment, specifically buildings, water and sewer lines, stormwater systems, wastewater treatment facilities, and other infrastructure.

Land Use & Transportation

The Land Use & Transportation Focus Area focuses on sustainable land use patterns and modes of transportation and an improved infrastructure, including smart, mixed-use, and transit-oriented development practices and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, alternative fuels, transit options, and complete streets.

Natural Resources

The Natural Resources Focus Area emphasizes the value and quality of exisiting natural resources, including air, surface and ground water, tree canopy, open space, and biodiversity from an ecosystem standpoint.

Public Health

The Public Health Focus Area includes overall public health and well-being conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and general physical activity and wellness.

Solid Waste Resources

The Solid Waste Resources Focus Area assesses the solid waste cycle and current facilities to promote approaches that reduce the negative impact on the environment and public health.  http://www.sasustainabilityplan.com/app_pages/view/42

 

Forever Green Concrete Forms has always exceeded these requirements and is proud to be a wall solution that does not have to be modified or treated with several other products to meet the new code.

Build a more resilient structure with less harm to the environment with Forever Green Concrete Forms.  Today, you can “Build Green for Future Generations”. 

Save Green – St. Patrick’s Day

Image result for st patricks day pictures        St. Patrick’s day is almost over.  

I hope everyone enjoyed the day (and night) and I wish you all “luck of the Irish”.

Image result for st patricks day pictures

By the way, did you know that St. Patrick was not Irish?  read more

Image result for st patricks day pictures pinch

I hope you wore green and were not pinched.

The color green was everywhere!  Mashed potatoes, beer, the San Antonio River, etc. is dyed green for this holiday.

earthshare

If we take care of our earth we will be able to see the beautiful shades of green that mother nature blesses us with every spring and summer, year after year.
The Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency and Take Care of Texas are a few organizations that I often refer to for information.  Each have different initiatives and target audiences but all inspiring for the same end result.  

Amongst multitudes of websites, suggestions, and pleas, hopefully you will find some relevant actions that you can implement to “go green” and to help save our earth.

If you have heard any of these phrases:  

Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Green or Eco-Friendly or Environmentally friendly Products, Carbon Footprint reduction or Carbon Neutrality, Net Zero, Reduce-Reuse-Recycle, Biodegradable, Greenhouse Gas, Green Fuel & Green Transportation, Efficient Water Usage, Indoor Environment Health, Sustainability, Water Conservation, and/or Green Building.

 Then, you have heard 

about “greening” your lifestyle, your home, your city, and/or the earth.d 

Environmental Awareness

 Now, will you go green green hands

to save our earth?

FOREVER GREEN CONCRETE FORMS asks you to “Building Green for Future Generations” and NOW.  

Exceed Energy codes, Reduce Your Carbon Footprint, Build Green, & Save Green (meaning our earth and your money)

with Forever Green Concrete Forms!

kid on bike

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, REJOICE!

Wishing all of you a very Merry and Green Christmas!

reduce reuse recycle

Below are some tips from eartheasy.com

 

How to have a ‘green’ Christmas

Reuse/Recycle
Each year, 50 million Christmas trees are purchased in the U.S. Of those, about 30 million go to the landfill. And added to this is the carbon cost in transporting all these trees to the landfill. Much of the environmental costs associated with the holidays can be reduced by simple awareness and some pre-planning.

• Reuse or recycle gift packing materials
Bubble wrap can be stored for reuse, or recycled. Foam packing chips are not as easily recycled; if you don’t want to store this material for reuse, take it to a shipping center like Mailboxes. etc, who will accept it for their own use. Cardboard boxes should be opened flat and set out for recycling; storing and reusing these boxes is even better as no additional energy is used in remanufacturing.
• Save any special gift wrap, ribbons and bows
When unwrapping large gifts, save the paper for reuse; it can often be cut down for smaller presents. Creased wrapping can be ironed flat. Ribbons and bows are easy to save and reuse.
• Recycle old electronics
New flat-screen computer monitors, laptops, cameras, cell phones and other electronic items are common holiday gifts. Older models which are being replaced are usually still in working order, however, and should not be discarded to a landfill. Here is information to help recycle these items: Recycling electronic goods
• Christmas trees can be recycled too
Live trees that have been cut are a useful material for composting. Composting requires a carbon source and Christmas trees are just right for municipal operations which use chippers to shred the material. Look for tree drop-off locations in your neighborhood. Artificial trees which are up for replacement can also be recycled. These trees are usually made from twisted metal which is accepted by most recycling centers.

Note: Never burn Christmas tree branches in your fireplace. It can cause the buildup of creosote, which is a highly flammable compound.

http://eartheasy.com/give_sustainchristmas.htm

What shall we do after the feast?

Thanks given, food eaten, now what…….

Remember to give thanks thorough-out the day and everyday.  If you are scheduled for a long weekend at home you might toy with the idea of community service, donating, shopping, seeing a movie, catching up on some chores, or just taking it easy.

Include dreaming and planning for your dream home.  You can  do this solo or with as many people as you wish.  The following link to Lego’s website lets you build various models on the computer as you would with actual Legos.

http://ldd.lego.com/en-us/

I use this tool to estimate some difficult jobs.  I find the block that is size equivalent to the ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) block requested by our customer and then through actual block placement, I can determine how many blocks the customer will need to order.

Sustainable design saves money and the environment.  Forever Green Concrete Forms provides materials to build sustainable structures.

 

Lego House Clipart

http://www.clipartsheep.com/lego-house-clipart-1491252.html

Contact us for more information:  (210)862-0644.

Choose Forever Green Concrete Forms for sustainable, strong, efficient walls that will save you money and help to preserve our environment.

 

“Build Green for Future Generations”.