Teaching Center (Garage)

Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) building system:

• 6” concrete within 2.5” insulating foam forms, with plastic connectors and steel rebar reinforcement
• High impact resistance, good safe room system
• R-22 continuous wall insulation – highly energy-efficient
• Fast construction, little waste
• No need for wall drainage plane, vapor retarder, air barrier
• Treated window bucks, roof framing for termite resistance
• Cost 2-7% more than standard wood frame

Slab on grade just above base flood elevation (BFE) with:

• Extra durable plastic sheeting under slab and grade beams prevents moisture wicking to walls, flooring
• Low water-to-cement ratio (<.47) + reusable wet curing blanket – increases strength, prevents curl
• Fly ash, slag, cement mix – recycled content, adds strength
• Post tension system for expansive soils – to prevent spreading of cracks (Note: expect concrete to crack)

Plumbing:

• Torchless crimped copper pipe fittings - fast, safe
• Low-flow, power assist toilets – in wall, low noise
• Low-flow urinal with smart sensor valve
• Hands-free & universal design faucets, sink

Roof:

• Borate-treated wood for termite resistance
• Grid marked decking for fast, precise installation
• Synthetic roofing felt
• Extremely tear resistant (withstood Katrina and Rita)
• Lightweight, fast installation, 180 day UV exposure
• Standing seam metal roofing, no exposed fasteners
• “cool color” hi-tech pigment reflects heat like light color
• long life, recycled content, wind resistant

Design:

• Hip roof sheds water away, shades all sides
• Detached garage protects home from auto exhaust, chemicals
• Also creates breezeway for screen porch

Fortified features (to resist 130 mph wind & flood damage):

• Steel rebar ties concrete walls to slab
• Top plate connected with anchor bolts in concrete wall
• Hurricane plates, straps wrapped over each rafter anchor roof
• Hip roof naturally more wind resistant
• Ring shank nails, close nailing pattern secure roof decking
• Roof decking seams sealed with bitumen roof tape (secondary water barrier from storm water damage)
• High-wind & impact-rated garage door, doors, windows
• “Dry floodproofed” bottom 3 ft. exterior
• Flood resistant materials – concrete, rigid foam, paperless drywall, stucco

Energy saving features of Teaching Center:

Passive solar (sun control)

• “Cool Roof” – solar reflective with high emissivity (painted metal)
• Radiant barrier coating under roof deck
• Roof overhangs shade windows, walls – hip roof
• Low-e glass (SHGC < 0.4)

Tight construction

• concrete walls plus air sealed openings and ceiling
• ICAT recessed lights & surface mount lighting

Continuous insulation

• R-22 continuous foam walls
• R-38 stabilized cellulose over ceiling
• Insulated doors, windows

Efficient HVAC & HW systems

• SEER 18, two-stage A/C with ozone-friendly refrigerant
• Gas tankless water heater – for both water AND air
• space saving, no standby loss – 30-50% more efficient
• endless hot water, whole house, no temp. fluctuation
• used with heat exchanger to heat air (without furnace)
• Fresh air duct & smart flow controller for good IAQ
• Small dehumidifier for healthy RH < 50% (when cooling not needed)

Efficient lighting & appliances

• High color fluorescent fixtures, compact fluorescent lamps
• 2/3 less energy, 2/3 less heat, appealing light
• Energy Star refrigerator, dehumidifier