CrossBridge Builders specializes in constructing high-performance, energy-efficient buildings using integrated systems. Their approach focuses on creating an optimal "thermal envelope" using techniques like insulated concrete forms (ICF), structural insulated panels (SIP), and high-performance windows to significantly improve a building's energy efficiency. Their modular steel framing system allows for faster construction at up to 40% lower labor costs compared to traditional materials.

1. CB
C ro s s B rid ge B u i ld ers In c
Performance
Green Building
I NT E G R AT E D SY ST E M S B U I L D I N G S O L U T I O N S

2. Energy-efficient
Quieter Resistant moisture, mold, and the elements.
to fire,
What is a Performance Building?
A high-performance residential or commercial building is a building with en-
ergy, economic, and environmental performance that is substantially better
than standard practice. It's energy efficient, so it saves money and natural
resources. It's a healthy place to live and work for its occupants and has
relatively low impact on the environment. The benefits that these perform-
ance structures offer are:
• Better Comfort
• Healthier Indoor Air
• Longer Durability
• Lower Energy Bills
• Increase in Real-Estate Market Value
A Case for Change
Soaring utility costs have taken hold across the country generating
new consumer demand for energy-saving homes. The primary goal
of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s “Building America” program is
to help develop energy solutions for new and existing homes and
encourage builders to incorporate these features as part of their
standard construction packages.
Building a high-performance, energy-efficient home that is green is
the most important and profitable hedge we have against an energy
crisis, while meeting concerns for the environment. It is also one of
the most substantive ways a builder can differentiate themselves
from the competition and a buyer can increase the “affordability” of
their home through lower ownership costs.
The bottom line is that high-performance green buildings are good
for the environment, have better indoor air quality, less mainte-
nance, excellent resale value, and they're built to last.
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS BUILDING SOLUTIONS
COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL
Greenpositive ecological impact.
A

3. A Better Way to Build
Smarter
Ultra-Efficient, High-Performance Green Demo Home Proposed
As homeowners in Chicago’s Metropolitan area brace for significant energy rate hikes this
summer, the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America program has partnered with
the Illinois Dept. of Energy, the NAHB Research Center, and local high-performance
green builder, Crossbridge Builders, to introduce an energy-saving demonstration home to
help ease the impact of rising energy costs. The Ultra-Efficient, High-Performance Green
Home is to be located in Chicago’s North Shore community of Chicago.
Construction of the 3,966-square-foot home is projected to be completed in Spring of
2009. The house will feature products, systems, and design techniques that facilitate dra-
matic improvements in energy performance and lower utility bills for homeowners. The
exterior of the two-story house will have a stone, brick and stucco facade and two-car ga-
rage and blends with the traditional architecture of this well established community. But at
the building’s shell & core, and interior, the advanced high-performance, energy-saving
improvements abound.
Using a systems approach, enhancements will be made throughout the entire home—
building envelope, space conditioning systems, solar thermal package, photovoltaics, wa-
ter heating, lighting, and appliances. Some of the home's less visible features will help to
provide greater occupant comfort, better indoor air quality, enhanced durability, and lower
maintenance.
Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) provides for an air-tight concrete exterior structure. Struc-
tural Insulated Panels (SIP) is used for the roof sheathing. Paired with high-efficiency win-
dows, this system provides for a high-performance building that is stronger, quieter, and
better for our environment. Solar collectors hug two sides of the roof. One set of panels
preheats the home's hot water before the temperature is boosted by a small tank less
heater located in the basement; the other set of panels comprises the photovoltaic (PV)
system which generates electricity that can be used in the home or fed back to the utility
when excess power is produced.
Inside, a structural steel panelized framing system made of recycled steel is utilized for
floor trusses, interior walls, and roof structure. The ICF’s provide an outstanding R-22 rat-
ing with its 2¼ inch expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation material on both sides of the
exterior wall assembly. In conjunction with the SIP’s roof panels, recycled paper fiber insu-
lation is blown into the attic which significantly reduces heat loss transmission to and from
the outside; achieving an incredible R-50. These whole-house integrated systems allow
for up to 40% HVAC size reductions.
While not rated as a "zero energy home," the Ultra-Efficient Home is expected to use less
than half the energy of a standard, code-compliant home of similar size in the area. The
NAHB Research Center estimates the home's upgrades should lower utility bills by more
than $160 a month, even without calculating the anticipated savings from the PV system.
This demonstration home will be one of the most energy-efficient homes built under the
Building America program. Not counting the photovoltaic system, the utility savings of the
house are equal to or greater than the additional costs incurred for the upgrades when
amortized on a monthly basis and financed into the mortgage. These homes raise mort-
gage qualifying ratios and provide buyers with greater purchasing power.
One of the primary objectives of developing this home was to provide a comprehensive
blueprint for balancing the advanced technologies with reasonable first costs. The increas-
ing availability of tax credit incentives for energy-efficient homes also helps to offset costs,
and will potentially encourage further implementation of these market-ready technologies.

4. Energy-efficient
Stronger
The Thermal Envelope Greener for Future Building.
Vision
A "thermal envelope" is everything about the house that serves to shield the living
space from the outdoors. It includes the wall and roof assemblies, insulation, win-
dows, doors, finishes, weather-stripping, and air/vapor retarders. Our structures in-
corporate advanced green building technologies such as:
• ICF’s for Core and Shell
• Recycled Structural Steel Floor Truss & Roof Assemblies
• SIP’s Roof Panel Systems
• High-Performance Windows & Doors
• Controlled Heat Recovery Air Exchangers
How much does it cost?
There is a growing interest today on the part of commercial building owners, facilities man-
agers, architects, engineers, and builders to design and construct the best possible building
for the allotted budget. Depending on the aggressiveness of the design, experience has
shown that it costs no more than 10% more to build high-performance buildings. Some
high-performance buildings cost less to construct. Sometimes additional costs can be pro-
cured using cost-benefits ratios and life-cycle costing. The added cost, if any, of system
investment each year is compared to the cost of fuel saved each year. Total energy costs
are, on average, about 50% less than those for conventionally designed buildings. In many
cases, the right-sizing of mechanical systems through passive solar design offsets the costs
for additional windows or controls.
The bottom line is that although a high-performance home may cost a little more to build,
they use less energy. Smaller utility bills offset slightly higher mortgage payments. Buyers
receive the benefits while paying no more per month than they would in a conventional
home. Rising energy prices boost the financial advantages of high-performance homes.
Mortgage lenders recognize the financial benefit of a high-performance home by making
“Energy-Efficient Mortgage” loans.
How does a high-performance home meet the performance criteria?
The underlying thread is called the “whole-house approach”. This means that the house is
viewed as a system, in which the interactions between the many parts of the home are
carefully considered during design and construction. Proper integration of a
building’s envelope (the foundation, walls, windows, and roof) with its me-
chanical systems (space and water heating, cooling, and ventilation) results
in maximum energy savings. With high-performance building envelopes,
builders can install smaller, less expensive heating, ventilating, and air-
conditioning systems. These homes qualify for green building programs and
are Energy Star™ compliant.
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS BUILDING SOLUTIONS
COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL
Greenpositive ecological impact.
A

5. CrossBridge Builders is a Performance Builder.
We offer a superior structural building system which delivers a high-
performance structure and envelope for commercial and residential
applications.
ICF
It starts with an Insulating Concrete Form (ICF)
Foundation. These super insulating forms employ
EPS (expanded polystyrene) panels that can form
walls of virtually any thickness, from 4” on up in
2” increments. The space between the panels is
filled with concrete that cures and hardens into a
monolithic, reinforced core of incredible strength.
From the footing to the roofline, we can build
walls with R-Values from R-22 to R-40 and are
rated as Energy Star Homes by the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. This qualifies some home buyers for the
FHA’s Energy-Efficient Mortgage Program.™
Steel
With a steel truss decking system which can span
up to 63', our structures can be engineered to
eliminate most if not all red iron and columns
normally required by conventional building meth-
ods. Layered with a steel and concrete sub-deck,
this system allows for the most modern structural
technology that will eventually become the codes
of tomorrow.
Stronger
We utilize a proprietary welded structural steel framing system,
making the building 7 times stronger than that of wood construction
and meeting and exceeding all the requirements of the newly ap-
proved International Building Code adopted by 37 states includ-
ing Wisconsin.
Faster
Our modular steel systems can reduce labor costs by
as much as 40%. As many as 10 steel roof trusses
per hour can be set by the average crew. Traditional
materials and methods require 3 to 5 times longer to
achieve the same result.
Greener
Our trade partner, Atcom Steel International, has been Load Dispersement that Defies Gravity! These 42' free-
span trusses's can hold a 6950 lbs Hummer with little to no flex.
an innovator in establishing building designs that meet The front end (at 4750 lbs) only flexed by 5/8 inches. The b a c k
or exceed the standards for structural construction in end (at 2200 lbs) flexed 0 inches.
accordance with LEED-CS core and shell rating system
of the US Green Building Council. Every effort is made
to incorporate the use of recycled and engineered wood
products. Traditional buildings that previously required
the resources of 245 trees now require the equivalent
of 40 scrapped automobiles and 3 trees.

6. Stronger. Faster. Better.