The Rising Tide of Environmental Threats
Environmental uncertainty has become the new normal. As temperatures increase, sea levels rise and bushfires encroach, the vulnerability of our current infrastructure has become increasingly obvious. In this new era of ecological instability, traditional wood-framed structures and even their more robust bare brick counterparts no longer seem up to the task. Their susceptibility to fire and water, propensity for mould development, vulnerability to pests and poor insulative ability are rendering them obsolete. What’s more, wood-framed building construction relies on continued deforestation, contributing to the very climate instability that has rendered it unsafe and ineffective. The solution is simple, sustainable, accessible, and cost-effective. It’s called Insulated Concrete Form (ICF).
A New Standard for Residential Construction
ICF—which has been used for decades in large scale commercial projects where climate control, air quality and disaster resilience are crucial—is gaining traction the world over as a structural solution for residential dwellings. Consisting of a concrete and steel rebar core buffered by widely available polystyrene insulation on each side, ICF provides vastly superior rigidity and resistance to fire, wind and debris. Its layered, insulated, impermeable construction protects your home’s interior from extreme heat and cold, air and noise pollution, mould-causing humidity and pest infestation. The result is unparalleled protection from the elements, better interior air quality, and dramatically increased operating efficiency.
The Building Process: Form, Function, and Cost-Effectiveness
ICF is the perfect integration of form flexibility, function, and affordability. The technology has advanced to the point that the house you’ve envisioned—with all of its curves, bends and beautiful details—can be built without compromise while maintaining all of the structural and practical benefits of ICF construction. With an experienced consulting and distribution team like the one here at Housekonsept, you will receive the best quality service and expertise in the industry. The process requires less time, labour and crane hours, eases the installation of plumbing and electricity infrastructure, and produces less waste. All told, you may pay the same amount for your construction project but you’ll receive the performance of a Maserati instead of a Mazda
Lower Your Expenses and Your Carbon Footprint
The insulative ability of ICF when compared to traditional home building methods cannot be understated, nor can its net positive impact on both your pocketbook and the planet. ICF’s layers provide a robust barrier to humidity, leaks and condensation. This prevents mould—which is a serious health risk and expensive to remediate—and lowers the maintenance costs of fixtures and appliances that are susceptible to moisture buildup. Furthermore ICF’s high thermal mass seals heated or cooled air inside your home where it belongs. Your climate control system, therefore, can rely on smaller appliances with less runtime and lower output, leading to combined energy savings of over 70 percent and dramatically reduced fossil fuel consumption and emissions.
Housekonsept’s Vision for the Future
At Housekonsept we are thrilled with the growing interest in ICF as a form-forward, sustainable, incredibly resilient building solution. But it isn’t enough. Our vision is to expand the use of ICF technology in both new builds and retrofits across Australia and beyond. In doing so we’ll be raising the bar for efficiency, structural integrity and sustainability—without sacrificing the stark design elements and luxury finishes we’ve come to expect.
Here in Australia, our already extreme environment has become rapidly more so in recent years. Our wood, brick and bare concrete homes do not insulate efficiently against heat and cold, protect effectively against natural disasters, or provide a sufficient barrier to pollutants. Our energy usage has multiplied to keep pace, and our carbon footprint has ballooned along with our utility costs. After the unprecedented bushfires of the 2019-2020 season—and what it bodes for the future—the urgency is clear. We lost hundreds of lives and thousands of homes as fires raged across a landmass the size of England, and experienced the worst air quality in recorded history.
We need our homes and commercial buildings to be constructed for this new reality, to provide protection from fires and barriers to pollutants while maintaining higher standards for efficiency, comfort, and sustainability. ICF is the answer, the way forward, and the scalable future of residential and commercial construction in Australia and beyond, small to large, low-rise to high-rise.
We’re currently conducting consultations via Zoom to discuss the benefits of ICF to your upcoming residential or commercial projects. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have in the interim, and look forward to hearing from you. Contact@housekonsept.com.au