HOW MUCH ENERGY ARE YOU REALLY SAVING?

Listed below are actual utility bills recorded by one of our homeowner’s from July 2006 - June 2007. This nearly 3,000 sf total ICF ranch on a crawl with 9’ ceilings is located in Marion County. The furnace, water heater, and fireplace are gas and the kitchen appliances are electric. The thermostat was comfortably set at 70 degrees.

*To view a floor plan of this Lancaster model home, click here (1.2mb).

---

COMFORTABLE LIVING + EVEN TEMPERATURE = ENERGY SAVINGS

Crane Builders ICF homes are built with solid concrete walls they are more air-tight than wood-frame. Twin continuous layers of rigid insulation used in ICF construction provide a consistent thermal barrier unlike wood-frame and batt insulation which has gaps in the insulation. This reduces drafts and cold spots inside your home resulting in more comfortable living spaces throughout your home.

The mass of the concrete also has the heat-absorbing property called thermal mass. This smooths out swings in temperature over time. It keeps the house from overheating or getting suddenly cold when the heater or air conditioner cycles on and off throughout the day. It also helps keep the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter resulting in year-round comfort.

The same qualities that bring you the quiet comfort of a Crane Builders ICF home - thermal mass and consistency of insulation - also brings the peace of mind of saving money. ICF homes can often reduce energy bills by over 50 percent compared to wood-frame homes.

It's not often an investment pays that kind of a return

---

THE MASS OF CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION

It doesn't take an Einstein to understand why ICF homes are more energy efficient than wood-frame homes. The mass of concrete slows down the passage of heat moving through the wall. This means that, with the same insulation, a concrete home stays warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer than a wood-frame home. Also, a concrete wall doesn't have as many air leaks as a wood-frame wall - and air leakage accounts for a large percentage of energy loss in the home.

Besides having the advantage of mass, a Crane Builders ICF home utilizes cost effective, highly efficient insulation to keep your home dry and comfortable year round while enjoying the benefits of lower power bills.

Concrete forms an integral wall - solid, continuous and airtight. By comparison, a wood-frame wall is a collection of components - studs, plaster and insulation. Each joint and connection is a potential air leak. As the air passes through these leaks, it takes your heating and air conditioning with it.

Crane Builders ICF homes benefit greatly from the progress that has been made in home insulation over the past 20 years. Our insulated concrete wall system uses polystyrene blocks as the concrete formwork into which reinforcing steel and concrete are placed. These polystyrene forms are left in place to give your home an exceptional R-value.rane Builders will build your new home while working with your ideas to fulfill your needs. We will finish your new home on budget and on time. We believe building a new home should be a mutually fun and exciting experience as well financially rewarding. We look forward to serving you,