Eco Enterprise

Foam Concrete Insulation

Eco Builders Sustainable Design

Foam EPS Concrete Forms

Foam EPS (Expanded polystyrene) Concrete Forms are one

of the most environmentally responsible building materials

you can use.

From the initial manufacturing process through decades of 

energy-saving performance, EPS Concrete Forms provide a variety of benefits to our environment.
 

In 1992 the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) began forging partnerships with manufacturers, retailers, utilities and energy-efficient technologies. Eco Builders is proud to be a partner as an Installer of this super-energy efficient insulation product.

Eco Builders has long recognized the environmental benefits of building energy efficient homes and we are proud to use Foam EPS Concrete Forms.

The structural strength of Foam EPS Concrete Forms comes from reinforced concrete, a product of the combination of Portland cement, sand and gravel, which the Earth has in abundant supply. Concrete construction directly reduces the use of lumber for building, thereby helping to save the world's forests.

The super energy efficiency of Foam EPS Concrete Forms minimizes the amount of fuel burned for heat, saving our oil and gas reserves and reducing air pollution and the "greenhouse effect".

            Conserves Lumber and Natural Resources      No CFCs or HCFCs

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) products do not use CFC's (Chlorofluorocarbons) in their manufacture. EPS is easily recognized by its unique appearance - thousands of tiny white beads fused tightly together. When CFC’s are used during the manufacturing process the release of those CFC's has been linked to the destruction of the Earth's protective ozone layer.

Foam EPS Concrete Forms do not contain HCFC, formaldehyde, asbestos, or fiberglass.

According to research by the Portland Cement Association, houses built with insulating concrete forms require an estimated 32% less energy to cool and 44% less energy to heat than comparable wood-frame houses. And the bigger the house, the bigger the savings.

Although Foam EPS Concrete Forms produce very little construction waste the excess material that does result from construction is 100% recyclable.

                            

Energy that Does Not Cost the Earth

Whether you are interested in reducing domestic electricity bills, powering a remote water well or generating green electricity to power your business or home, Eco Builders can work with you to find your sustainable energy solution.  ecoman@ecobuilders.com

Solar Shed's

Eco Builders Design and Construction

Sol Shed

Eco Builders most popular system is the Sol Shed. The Sol Shed is a Self Contained Solar Electric generating station that revolutionizes the way PV solar systems are constructed.

The PV panels mount directly on the roof with roof mounts which are easily adjusted.

The inverter and batteries are all self contained within the Eco Builders Sol Shed. A Dc exhaust fan and lights are mounted inside and a generator can also be installed if required.

The Sol Shed is a self contained super insulated shed that is built on Treated skids and requires no foundation. It can be moved and transported. The shed is made of super insulated structural foam panels and is very modular.

The biggest advantage of the Sol Shed is all electrical components are out of your house.

The shed can be located Out of sight in the Ideal location and we just run regular service wire to your house.

Energy that does not cost the Earth

Eco Builders offers clean, sustainable energy solutions which help reduce our impact on the environment while saving you money. For more information about Solar Power, Wind Power or Solar hot water please contact Curtis Scheib at ecoman@ecobuilders

Home for Sale

Eco Builders Design and Construction

        Beautiful New Straw Bale Home for Sale in Breckenridge, Colorado

LINK  Property for Sale: 239 Sherwood Lane Blue River CO 80424 by SinglePropertySites

Straw bale Homes

Eco Builders Strawbale Homes

An Eco Builders strawbale home can prove to be one of the most energy efficient living structures available to home buyers today.

It is believed that the strawbale building technique has been used since the late 1800's. However, straw has been in use one way or another throughout human history to make shelters all over the world.

When combined with passive solar, a good site location and roof insulation, most Eco Builders strawbale home owners find that the need for heating in winter is minimal and that their homes maintain naturally cool temperatures during the summer. The thickness of the walls makes for sufficiently thick entry ways, window seats and windows. Once plastered, strawbale homes have a soft, quiet feel, lending themselves to a simple aesthetic. Each strawbale home is unique with its own individual character, especially due to the soft lines of the walls and the variety of natural finishes that can be chosen for plaster.

Independent research on 2 string strawbales rate the R-value between R-40 and R-45. The actual thickness and the way a strawbale house is laid will affect the specific R value. Three string strawbales are valued between R-50 and R-55. These strawbale R Value's do not include the mass and extra insulation gained from the stucco used to cover most strawbale homes.

From netting to bamboo rods, materials for strawbale building have a tendency to be very unconventional. There are basic building materials that are always used, but in every structure Eco Builders builds we learn about new and different materials and methods. Weed whackers can be used to trim bales; very long bale needles are used to re-string bales, fencing stays-with a little manipulation work well for holding the wire to the bales, bamboo rods are used to hold the bales together similar to rebar. We take care to recommend products that are more earth friendly like cotton insulation and non toxic glues. We have always used ACQ wood instead of pressure treated wood.

With care and maintenance, strawbale homes can last for many, many years. The oldest documented straw bale house is from 1880's in Nebraska. The natural enemy of straw is water and humidity. Therefore the most important element in building with straw bales is protecting them at all times. Water damage from the ground and through the roof poses a greater threat than at the sides of the walls. One water rotten bale can ruin an entire wall.However, strawbale buildings in humid areas are capable of "weathering" well. For example the Burritt Museum, which was built in Hunstville, Alabama in 1938.

Foam form construction is a newer approach to Concrete. EPS foam forms are essentially insulated building blocks (think Lego’s) that are tied together with rebar and then filled with concrete. EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam forms provide the same strength as a standard concrete wall with two to three times the insulation. There are several advantages to using these for foundation walls and above ground construction. Special wood forms are not needed because the foam insulation is the form itself and can have a slower cure rate due to the value rating of R-20 to R-40. This compares to an R-8 for a standard 8 inch thick concrete wall. Eco Builders uses concrete foam forms as stem walls to protect against moisture.

Design is a critical step to the sustainable building process. Careful designing and planning can insure your project stays on time and on your budget. Over many years of building from other designs with their benefits and flaws, Eco Builders have perfected many cost saving techniques and design strategies. From rubble trench foundations to new roofing ideas. In the years since we began our design and consulting services, Eco Builders have achieved many successful breakthroughs - designs that continue to push that envelope. Eco Builders utilizes passive solar as well as Thermal and Photovoltaic solar systems in our designs and projects.

Eco Builders can consult with your existing design professional and can guarantee cost savings many times over what the other consulting firms charge. We can also design your home from the beginning. It is important to look at the building site and try to integrate the structure to the land instead of the other way around. It is also vital to be realistic about your budget so you don't design something you can't afford to build therefore having to redesign which drives up your costs even more.

"Do not keep anything in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." -William Morris

The details are what make a project good, great or outstanding. It is when thoughtful consideration is given to all details both seen and unseen that a house becomes a home. Eco Builders incorporates sustainable building products such as wheat board, bamboo flooring, handmade biocomposite cabinets and Environ biocomposite countertops into all of our sustainable homes.

From understanding the importance of moisture protection in all phases of building to the type of materials that can make a difference to the personality of a home, details are what make a simple design stand out and appeal visually as well as spiritually to those that are welcomed into that home. Knowing the importance of making the house beautiful is just one aspect, however, truly it is in combining this with making the home easy to work with and live in that can really be an accomplishment.

Considerations such as trim work that can make any future window replacements easier and without stucco damage or understanding the right places to emphasize moisture protection while building, the necessity of all plumbing and electrical issues and potential problems or changes..... the list is long and our actions usually innovative. It is in the smallest of details that Eco Builders pay the most attention to while building homes.

Sustainable "Green" Building

Building Sustainable

Sustainable building is a way to approach the design, construction and operation of your home that allows for the least negative impact to our environment while providing you with the healthiest living space possible. Some of the advantages of Sustainable building techniques include incorporating better efficiency for energy and water technologies, the use of renewable energy and the conservation of natural resources while decreasing the amount of land-fill destined waste.

Sustainable buildings are built for longevity, with lower maintenance requirements. They can improve long-term economic performance while improving resale value. The unseen benefits are calculated by the increase of productivity and decrease in illness reported by industries using more natural lighting and less toxic chemicals in their buildings. As a homeowner, this translates into better indoor air quality (IAQ) that will benefit your health and that of your children in the coming decades.

Conservation and sustainability are now standard practice for many industries, with the architecture and building community fast becoming among its leaders. Since these industries have such a tremendous impact on our environment, from the type and quantity of lumber used in building homes to the kinds of paint and finishes applied to the end product, they also carry a greater responsibility to adopt more green building tenets.

EcoBuilders strives to achieve this through many techniques. With the technologic advances of today and the constant upgrading of industry standards and practices, the ability to build sustainable is right at our fingertips, no more costly, and in many cases more cost effective than conventional building techniques.

If comparing the cost of a home with solar panels to one without, it seems on the surface that the house with panels is much more costly. But it must be taken into account that solar equipped home will immediately begin producing electricity, lowering, and in many cases eliminating your electricity bill. The return on investment on an average sized residential solar system is about seven or eight years. But if viewed over the twenty-five to thirty year life span of the solar panels, the cost savings can easily be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Conserve Natural Resources

In the past, building techniques have consumed almost 40% of the world’s total energy, 25% of its wood harvest and 16% of its water. EcoBuilders recognizes its role in conserving these resources and is always researching ways to be proactive in this area. One of the ways we participate in this arena is through the use of green building materials.

The use of bamboo flooring, the choice of EcoBuilders, is a clear example of why to choose this sustainable product. Durability, cost, installation and longevity are the same as other hardwood flooring. The great savings here weigh in on the side of the environment, as bamboo is rapidly renewable and there is no clear cutting of forests done in its harvesting.

Conservation with Design Criteria

• Shallow footprint which allows for cross ventilation in all major rooms.
• Operable windows to maximize breezes and decrease the need for air conditioning
• Glazing based on solar orientation
• Smaller homes which accentuate quality over quantity
• Design with glazing to outdoor spaces to make the house feel larger than it is
• Using stone flooring to act as thermal mass to help naturally heat

Wood vs. Steel

Is it more sustainable to build with wood or steel? While studies have shown that both materials have sustainable attributes, we have found more research pointing to wood as the more sustainable option for the following reasons: it uses 20% less energy during manufacturing, emits significantly less toxins into the air and water during the manufacturing process, it thermally outperforms steel by 22%, and it provides carbon sequestration which lessens global warming.                                                       

For specifics regarding the environmental and sustainable performance of wood and steel in residential construction, refer to a study prepared by the Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials, a non-profit corporation of 15 research universities. In this study it was proven that wood consistently outperformed steel and concrete in the areas of embodied energy, global warming potential, air emission index, water emission index, and solid waste.

Energy Efficiency

The second major focus of sustainable building is energy efficiency, which incorporates all aspects of your home, from using time proven techniques to construct your home to the type of glazing, insulation and even the kinds of appliances you choose. 

The energy efficiency of your home and the possibilities for generating your own power are key components in the reduction of energy consumption and the reduction of the impacts of global warming. It also offers financial benefits by reducing your utility costs immediately and far into the future.

EcoBuilders goal is to change the notion that when a person wants to heat or cool, it is not always turning on the heating or cooling systems but rather opening or closing windows or sunshades.

Energy Star Appliances
Advances in the efficiency of appliances have paved the way for a new breed of energy saving, cost cutting machines that are as beautiful to look at as they are easy on your monthly utility bill.
The Energy Star rating ensures that your appliances meet the strict energy consumption guidelines laid out by the EPA and the US Department of Energy.

Solar Power
Solar power works by converting sunlight into electricity through the use of photovoltaic (PV) modules comprised of silicon cells. This action takes place when sunlight hits the PV panels which are normally mounted on your roof, as close to a southerly orientation as possible. The direct current electricity (DC) produced is converted into alternating current (AC) through an inverter installed with your system. This electricity is the same as supplied to you by your local utility.

Grid Tied System
This refers to a PV system that is connected to your local utility grid. The system produces electricity for your home or business, supplementing or even eliminating your electricity bill. When you are producing more power that you are using, you can actually spin your meter backwards, storing electricity credit with your local utility that you can use at night or during inclement weather.

• While solar power does incur more front-end building cost, the average residential system can pay for itself in around seven or eight years. Once the system is paid for, all future electricity is produced for free. The average warranty for PV panels is twenty five years and over this time frame the savings can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. The combination of ever increasing energy rates and the inevitable drop in the price of solar costs make this an intelligent choice.
• The price of a PV system on your home will also add to its value. Typically, it will add its full retail cost to the appraised value of your home, even though you won’t be paying the retail price. Depending on state rebates and federal tax credits, a residential system can be substantially subsidized depending on where you live.

LEED Rating
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is a market driven program developed for the advancement of sustainable building. It is the front runner for the design, construction and certification of sustainable buildings. Developed for the commercial market, LEED has recently implemented a residential program as well.

Indoor Air Quality

The third Element of Sustainable Building is Indoor Air Quality. (IAQ) With the combination of commuting, working and our home life, we spend close to 90% of our time indoors. Add to the mixture the introduction of literally thousands of new and toxic chemicals over the last fifty years and you have the makings for a deadly cocktail.

Up until 1940, 2/3 of all new homes used lead based paints. Between 1940-1960 that number was about 50%. It was not until research showed the dangers of lead poisoning that we considered the dangers of lead based paints. While the use of lead based paints has been all but eradicated, paints containing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) are still widely in use today. Some examples of organic compounds are octane, butane and sugar. When these compounds evaporate they are considered Volatile Organic Compounds and contribute to the production of smog and ozone. The use of low or no VOC paints, as promoted by EcoBuilders is one way to improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and champion a healthier home environment.

The use of glazing and sun shades also helps bestow better IAQ. By having operable windows and sliding doors, it is possible to heat and cool using passive techniques instead of flipping on the furnace or air conditioner. Using sun shades to keep out the summer sun can help cool without the energy drain of air conditioning. Keeping those same shades open in winter allows for passive solar heating and can reduce the need for heating, cutting energy costs and improving IAQ. Operable clerestory windows and sliding doors permits for easy cooling.

A shallow footprint used for homes allows for good cross ventilation, evacuating hot air off the ceiling and out the clerestory windows. Thus letting in more fresh air and advancing IAQ.  Combining fresh air with HEPA filtration minimizes outside air pollutants and dust buildup in the ducts. The mix of fresh air, humidity control and filtration helps to eliminate the conditions that promote mold and mildew growth.

All of these factors play an important role in why Ecobuilders can build a new home that meets the highest standards concerning Sustainable Building. We are committed to providing the best possible product, in the Sustainable Building framework, while meeting or exceeding conventional building practices