We were recently talking with the folks at FIATECH, an organization that accelerates the research and implementation of technology in the capital projects industry. We got on the topic of "green building," a favorite of ours, despite being somewhat outside our software scope.

As part of that organization's Annual Technology Conference and Showcase one session will cover the homebuilding industry’s adoption of fiberglass composite materials as a replacement for traditional lumber and concrete. We thought we'd cover a little preview of that event, if only to further promote green building.

Green building isn't just about protecting the environment; as prices of materials, energy, and labor continue to increase, builders and homeowners alike are searching for products to mitigate these costs. Homes built with composite materials are beginning to provide a reasonable solution.

Using fiberglass, structural panels of a home can be manufactured off-site to exact architectural specifications or CAD drawings. Windows, doors, exterior materials, insulation, and even electrical raceways can be installed before the panels arrive to the job site.

Once at the site, a crew can assemble the frame of the home in one day. No more wasted lumber littering the job site. Labor and time costs are a small fraction of traditional construction. And what about energy savings? The fiberglass insulation provides a high R-Value (R-28 for the walls and R-40 for the roof) to reduce energy costs for homeowners.

There are a few players bringing this technology to market, including Insulated Component Structures, Inline Fiberglass, and Composite Building Structures.

Recognizing the benefits that fiberglass composite materials bring to hurricane-, termite- and tornado-prone areas, James Antonic, President of Composite Building Structures, brought his technology to the Gulf Region. Government officials in New Orleans are beginning to take notice, and builders in Florida are already incorporating this technology to build "hurricane-ready" homes.

Some claims that since composite walls are joined with screws, they can withstand winds of up to 350 miles per hour. Traditional wood and concrete structures can take winds up to about 130 MPH.

Assuming these panels are manufactured to tight quality standards, homes should last longer and have fewer defects down the road. And since the construction process is faster and more centralized, materials and labor costs could be reduced by as much as 20%.

As "green building" plays an increasingly large role in the construction industry, we expect a lot of attention to be given to composite framing technology. Advances in technology will undoubtedly bring even more innovations to the surface.

Aware of other innovations helping the industry become more "green"? Be sure to let me know.

June 7, 2007

The EPA has initiated a voluntary labeling program called "WaterSense" for plumbing products. The program is modelled after the successful EnergyStar(R) program for electrical products and appliances. Many developers will likely adopt WaterSense as a part of their green building programs. See www.epa.gov/watersense.

Kenyon Potter, Manager of Design and Construction Policy
University of California

April 4 , 2007

Paul, We disagree. First the feed stock is natural gas from the cumin line. Second, a 2,000 square foot home in a non-hurricane build contains 365 pounds of resin and 1,400 pounds of glass fiber. The weight of the natural gas derived resin is roughly equal to the weight of 2 tanks of gasoline in your car. Your second fillup could have built a house for someone. Certainly this is more sustainable than the 1-1/2 acres of trees cut or the 81,000 pounds of concrete block to make the same size house. This technology is the lowest embodied energy solution to homebuilding.

James P Antonic
Composite Building Structures

April 4 , 2007

Sidney, your question about comparative pricing is most easily answered by saying it is slightly less expensive than wood and lower cost and much faster to build than concrete block construction. However, this answer needs to be put into context.

To build the exterior support walls for a 2,000 square foot hurricane resistant home, with a one car garage, during the week of 26 March 2007, in SW Florida costs: 28,750.00 in wood, and $27,550 in composites. The price of wood has dropped considerably and so the difference is not as great as it was a few months ago.

In building the entire house on a direct comparison basis (Trusses, Roof, Windows & Doors, Siding & Trim, Insulation, and Exterior support walls), wood framing is $60,000 and the superior composite home is $57,300 both erected and built to the same finished condition on-site.

The cost of a composite erected building envelope is less that the cost of the wood or concrete block framework it replaces. The comparison cannot be made based on a cost per stick basis just as it could not be made on a cost per block basis. It must be made on the overall cost to frame in the home with the entire protective envelope erected.

Savings come from reduced labor content, factory automation, and greatly reduced material usage. These savings, coupled with the unique features composite framing offers (fire proof, termite proof, rodent proof, mold proof, seismically resistant, excellent insulation values, and able to withstand 350 mph winds) clearly makes it a better alternative in the protective envelope.

James P Antonic
CBS Homes Florida

March 28, 2007

Shifting home building further to the petroleum-centric process of centralized manufacturing and distribution of polymer-based materials is a short term fix and a long term dead end in an era of declining petroleum resources. There is very little connection between this piece and sustainability. The material does have other merits and applications, though, where its qualities may outweigh the negative sustainability factors.

Phil Kabza
SpecGuy

March 23, 2007

I would like cost breakdown comparing 2000+ SF standard residental Home wood frame, against this system.

Sidney Smith