The result will be an affordable and energy-efficient home in Independence for a low-income family.

The house under construction is Habitat for Humanity's first insulated concrete form (ICF) home built in the Willamette Valley.

The process of building an ICF home is quite simple: interlocking foam blocks (called forms) snap together to create the building's exterior walls. Some call this "Lego block construction" because the forms use a tongue and groove method of interlocking.

Once the forms are assembled and reinforced with rebar, they are filled with concrete. Drywall and siding attach easily to the well-insulated concrete walls.

Greg Hunton of Polysteel NW and Peter Byrne of Setanta Solar LLC in Dallas provided Habitat for Humanity with forms and labor needed to assemble the exterior walls.

"This type of construction can reduce energy costs a minimum of 35 percent," Byrne said.

According to Byrne, energy efficiency is made possible in this kind of construction because air infiltration is reduced as much as 75 percent. Most homes with normal insulation will get cold as the temperature drops because cold air seeps into the home and can account for 18-20 percent heat loss.

Byrne also said the forms are set in footings 2 feet below the ground and they draw the heat of the earth up through the concrete to help heat the house.

"Depending on the number of windows, the house should remain around 55-60 degrees no matter how cold it is outside," Byrne said.

To complement the energy efficiency provided by the concrete forms, a radiant heat system will be installed within the floor. With radiant heat, hot water circulates through tubing within the floor and warms the entire home efficiently and inexpensively, creating the cleanest and most comfortable heat available. Not only will it keep heating and cooling costs down, it also will reduce the amount of allergens and dust that usually circulate in a home with a standard furnace system.

The project in Independence is about a quarter of the way finished.

Byrne said they are looking into getting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.

Director of Organizational Giving at Habitat for Humanity Sara Duncan is hopeful about getting LEED certification and said this project was made possible because of Habitat's connection with Peter Byrne and Greg Hunton.

"We definitely want to move toward more energy-efficient homes but we have to figure out how to get more donations in concrete and other necessary materials," Duncan said. "We are a nonprofit and rely on donations and the work of our volunteers. It has always been part of our M.O. to reuse and to limit the waste. It is all part of our philosophy and value system."
For information or to become involved contact Sara Duncan at (503) 364-6642.