What is climate change?
Climate change is the gradual shift in the Earth’s temperature due to the greenhouse effect—heat radiates from the Earth’s surface and gets absorbed by gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxide, and fluorinated gases—retain heat and gradually emit it back into the atmosphere. Without the natural greenhouse effect, Earth’s temperature would stay below freezing and make the planet uninhabitable.
How do we know climate change is happening?
2020 closed with carbon dioxide levels at 417ppm, the highest in human history, which broke the previous record set just the year before. It may come as no surprise then that Earth is now 1.84ºF warmer than preindustrial averages. 2020 was a climate-record-breaker in more than just temperature: 2020 also saw new records in the number and intensity of wildfires and hurricanes. The increasing severity of natural disasters and environmental damage is a stark reality of a changing climate.
ICFs have a reputation for energy efficiency. The combination of thermal mass, airtight construction, and two continuous layers of highly insulative EPS foam create walls that dramatically outperform standard CMU (Cinder Block) and Steel & Wood Frame construction.
But an increasing number of homeowners and designers are going “beyond green” and calling for insulation beyond the R-23 or R-25 ICFs typically provide. They’re asking for R-Values in the 30s, and in some cases even more. Coupled with that, Canadian and U.S. Energy Codes are calling for higher insulation values as well.
ICF product is the response to the more sophisticated consumer that’s looking for extra R-Value in the wall – understanding the benefits of a higher R-value and durability of ICF construction.