Fibreglass-batt Insulation: Performance Vastly Different From What You Might Expect R-19-labeled batts don’t create R-19 walls. While fiberglass batts continue to be a widely used form of insulation, they don't always perform to their rated R-value. An Oak Ridge National Laboratory study indicated that the real-world performance of fiberglass batts is frequently lower than the labeled R-value. How Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM) Can Be a Solution to the U.S. Housing Market Crisis An EEM allows you to finance energy-saving measures as part of a single mortgage and stretch debt-to-income qualifying ratios on loans, meaning that you can receive a larger loan than you would with a standard mortgage. Find out how to reduce the amount of energy used in heating and cooling a home by as much as 50% to 70% to qualify for a higher loan at www.refiticf.com and www.arxx.com. Eco-Energy Rebate Back in Canada and Everybody Wins Good news for homeowners and the Canadian economy. The federal government has reinstated the popular ecoEnergy Retrofit - Homes program. The more upgrades you implement, the more money you can receive (up to the maximum of $5,000) and the more energy you will save. Find out how you can take advantage of this offer by using reFIT by ARXX to turn your unfinished spaces into energy-efficient and comfortable living spaces at www.refiticf.com. Weathering the StormStorm Experts Say Concrete is the Way to Go Joplin Building Codes Have Been Altered The city of Joplin has altered its building codes to make residents feel safer when going through the rebuilding process. Some are looking at different types of construction. Experts say ICF homes can withstand 160-200 MPH winds for 24 hours before showing any stress. Click here to find out more. Building GreenGreen Buildings Boost Employee Productivity, Says Study The Green Building Tipping Point Sales and MarketingProspective Buyers Really Don’t Want to Buy a Cheap House ARXX TIPS and tricks to help you build
The continuous air barrier provided by an ARXX ICF, along with attention to detailing of sealing around openings (ARXX install Guide- section 6.1.4) and ceiling penetrations, will easily enhance an air infiltration rate that exceeds the new 2012 energy code requirement of ≤3 ACH@50 Pascals. Blower door tests on ARXX high performance homes have shown ACH rates less than 2 ACH@50 Pascals. |  |
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NEW! @ ARXXPopular Homemaker Ana White Selects ARXX ICFs For Her Ultimate DIY Project 
Over the next couple of months, Ana will be blogging about the process of building with ARXX ICFs and sharing her experiences with her fan base. Visit Ana-White.com/momplex to follow along as Ana and her husband, Jacob build with ARXX ICFs. USGBC Lauds Canada in Anticipation of Greenbuild The show will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and Air Canada Centre—the first time the show has taken place outside of the United States. See you there! |
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Featured ProjectRoberts Residence 
The owner of this home in Eugene, Oregon was determined to build the most energy efficient and sustainable home he could design. His passion for green building was evident by the large amount of recycled wood used in the floors and beams of the home. He also used in-floor radiant heating throughout the home. That's why ARXX ICFs were the natural choice for building the walls of his dream home. | ||
Contact US I ARXX.com I reFITicf.com I Privacy Policy I Technical Resources I Project Gallery I TrainingCopyright (C) 2011 ARXX Corporation. All rights reserved. |
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Key elements to the energy efficiency of the building envelope are R-Value and air infiltration rates. The new 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) substantially reduces the air infiltration and air leakage rate for residential building from ≤7 ACH (Air Changes per Hour) to ≤3 ACH @ 50 Pascals for more than 75% of the US. This is great news for making America more energy efficient and even better news for proponents of ICF construction. This new target is a very aggressive target for wood frame construction to meet, and will require a whole new approach to timber frame construction, requiring more materials and labor. ARXX ICFs already exceed this target.
