| According to the Portland Cement Association, "ICF | | | | accustomed to building concrete and sand-crete |
| wall-building crews report that their costs drop | | | | homes and are better able to adapt to ICF |
| sharply until they have built 4 or 5 houses. After that | | | | construction. An additional benefit in Ghana is that |
| they continue to realize savings." In Ghana, these | | | | there is no need for heating units. |
| cost savings will be most realized in construction | | | | ICF construction also opens up new design |
| settings where the entire building envelope is built | | | | possibilities for modern African architecture. Curved |
| from start to finish. (A building envelope includes the | | | | walls of any desirable radius are now possible in |
| foundation, floors, walls, windows, doors, and the | | | | Ghana with the use of ICFs. Curved walls will have |
| roof.) Insulating concrete form (ICF) construction | | | | the same quality EPS insulation and concrete as |
| times are significantly quicker than masonry block | | | | straight walls, something unheard of in masonry block |
| construction. Because of this, Ghana builders will | | | | construction. Ghanaian architects can design circular |
| experience a greater profit margin when switching to | | | | rooms and curved buildings without compromising the |
| ICF construction while still building a quality building. | | | | structural integrity of the building. ICF construction |
| Ghana builders are looking for ways to keep the | | | | opens up a whole new element in building architecture |
| occupants of their buildings cooler. ICFs are the | | | | for Ghana. |
| building technology to meet that need. According to | | | | Ghana builders are also looking for ways to increase |
| the laws of thermodynamics, heat always flows from | | | | the quality of their building construction. Not only will |
| hot to cold. In Ghana, in a building with a cooling unit, | | | | ICF construction lend itself to straighter walls, ICFs |
| the heat outside will always try to warm up the | | | | homes are much stronger and durable than traditional |
| building's interior air. With the EPS insulation found on | | | | masonry construction. ICF construction resists mold, |
| ICF buildings, heat is effectively blocked from | | | | rot, decay, corrosion, and pest attack. |
| entering the building while the cooler air does not | | | | With the switch to ICF construction, Ghana builders |
| escape from inside. | | | | are also making the move to sustainable building |
| Looking at this same concept from an air infiltration | | | | practices. There is a growing worldwide initiative to |
| standpoint, according to E3 Design Group and Building | | | | focus on sustainability. With Ghana's builders |
| Sciences, in "ICF homes with sealed attic | | | | embracing this new building technology, Ghana can |
| construction...the CFM(50) infiltration rate is less than | | | | take her place in the global scene of the new |
| 0.25 CFM per square foot of floor area. For | | | | Sustainable Revolution. |
| comparison purposes, a typical CMU block house with | | | | One possible set back is the cost for Ghana builders |
| a vented attic has a CFM(50) of about 1.2 CFM per | | | | to stock up on the bracing required for ICFs. |
| square foot. ...This equates to a 79% reduction in | | | | However, the alignment system is simply the |
| infiltration and can result in significantly lower HVAC | | | | equipment necessary for quality construction, much |
| operating costs." Basically, cooling systems in ICF | | | | like the need for concrete mixers. An additional issue |
| homes can be smaller and operate less frequently | | | | is the need for construction workers to be trained in |
| than in any masonry home or building without | | | | the methods of ICF construction. The skills used for |
| insulation. This equates to lower electricity bills for | | | | masonry construction are easily transferable to ICF |
| occupants of ICF homes and buildings. | | | | construction. Laborers can find their expertise in as |
| In the USA, one precaution to building with ICFs is | | | | little as three projects. With the aid of training |
| the need to size mechanical equipment correctly. | | | | seminars such as the GHANA ICF Conference and |
| American mechanical contractors are often | | | | Ghanaian ICF builders such as Sirius Kay, Ghana's |
| inexperienced in designing heating and air conditioning | | | | transition to ICFs should go very smoothly. |
| units for concrete homes. Ghana builders are | | | | |