Oct 19 2010
Several architects, business owners and builders from France recently toured Richardsville Elementary School and South Warren High School in Kentucky to learn more about green building methods.
Leading this charge into energy efficiency is NUDURA, a company that specializes in insulated concrete form construction and helped construct the first net-zero school in the United States. The French construction companies are trying to lead the way for their country to follow suit and start using the same energy efficient building technology NUDURA pioneered in the construction of these concrete schools in Kentucky.
Energy costs in France are sky high, and utility payments can often be double or triple the amount of such costs in the United States. In spite of this, France has not embraced energy efficient building technologies with open arms. Resistance to new methods and technologies by the building trades is a leading cause of the lack of significant progress on the green construction front in France.
Despite the fact that the builders in France are resistant to trying something new, these French architects and construction professionals are trying to do their part to help the environment. With a tour of these Kentucky schools they were able to learn more about the insulated concrete form (ICF), which can provide up to triple the insulation of traditional construction methods. Richardsville is the first net-zero school in the U.S., which means that it produces more energy than it uses. With solar panels, geothermal pumps, solar tubes, insulated concrete walls and efficient floors, it uses 75 percent less energy than a normal school building.
During their tours of the schools, the French builders learned that using an insulated roof system, geothermal pumps and light sensors are all part of the model for how they hope to build their schools and other structures. With three net-zero schools planned for future construction in France, these builders are coming to NUDURA for their insulated concrete form expertise. Schools, houses and other buildings constructed from NUDURA's insulated concrete forms are some of the most efficient out there, leaving the French builders in the right hands to help their country progress in green construction.
Source: http://www.NUDURA.com/