1) The document discusses building materials and methods for improving energy efficiency and sustainability in housing, including insulated concrete forms, Navajo FlexCrete blocks, and cool roofs. 2) It describes projects by the ASU Stardust Center that demonstrate affordable and sustainable housing designs using these materials. 3) Benefits of materials discussed include energy efficiency, durability, recycled content, local production, and structural integrity.

1. HUD Workshop:
Energy Efficiency, Renewables, and Green
Building in Housing Programs
September 17, 2008
Building Greener:
Materials and Methods
Daniel J. Glenn
Design Director
ASU Stardust Center

2. The Mission
Through research, educational outreach, advocacy and design
innovation, the ASU Stardust Center for Affordable Homes and
the Family supports organizations, neighborhoods, and
professionals in their efforts to improve the growth of quality
affordable homes and sustainable communities.

3. There are over 76 million
residential and 5 million
commercial buildings in the U.S.
Collectively, these buildings
consume:
65% of electricity and 37% of
primary energy
25% of all water supplies and
30% of all wood & materials
Collectively, these buildings
generate:
35% of solid waste
36% of CO2 and 46% of SO2
emissions
19% of NOx and 10% of fine
particulate emissions
(LEEDs US Green Building Council)

4. Importance of Construction
5% is renewable
(USGS, 2000)
(USGS, 2000)

5. Frontier Forests 8,000 Years
Ago
Credit: Jonathan Lash (2005)

6. Frontier Forests Today
Credit: Jonathan Lash (2005)

7. Rapidly Melting Sea Ice
Gulf Stream Flow Has Decreased by 30%?!
Credit: Jonathan Lash (2005)

9. Energy Consumption per Wall Type
300
250
200
kW h /m 2
150
100
50
0
6quot; Frame SIP 6quot; SIP 8quot; FlexCrete 8quot; Adobe 8quot; Adobe 12quot; Adobe 16quot;
Heating Cooling Lighting Other Total
ENERGY CONSUMPTION PER WALL TYPE

10. Greening Affordable Housing:
Affordable + Sustainable Demonstration Homes
Nageezi House 2005 Guadalupe House 2006

12. ASU Stardust Center 2005 Affordable + Sustainable
Design/Build Project
Nageezi, Navajo Nation
Project Sponsors:
ASU Stardust Center for Affordable Homes and the Family
Navajo Housing Authority
Navajo FlexCrete
FlexCrete Building Systems
Nageezi Chapter
Cabinets Southwest
Stardust Building Supplies
Arizona Multibank
Augustine Family

18. Advantages Ease of Use:
•Lightweight – 1/5 weight of concrete
•Easily shaped – sawed, drilled and shaped like wood w/ standard tools
Of •Mortarless – Blocks are laid up with thin-set, not mortar.
Navajo Durability:
•No organic material
FlexCrete •Not susceptible to termites or other pests
•Non-allergenic
•Highly resistant to mod and fungi
Fire Resistant:
•Meets ASTM E119 for four-hour rating
Energy Efficient:
8” wall has an equivalent R-Value of 25 with no additional insulation
Massive wall creates thermal lag for passive heating and cooling
Reduces energy use by 40 to 50 percent over stick-frame construction
Recycled Content:
•Navajo FlexCrete is 60 percent flyash – recycled waste product from coal-burning electrical plants
Locally Produced
•Navajo FlexCrete is produced in Page Arizona on the Navajo Reservation by the Navajo Nation.

28. Smart Growth:
Build for the Desert
Guadalupe House -
Affordable Green
Demonstration Home

29. ASU Stardust Center 2006 Affordable + Sustainable
Design/Build Project
Guadalupe, Arizona
Project Sponsors/Suppliers:
ASU Stardust Center for Affordable Homes and the Family
Guadalupe YouthBuild
Navajo Housing Authority
Navajo FlexCrete
Southwest Tradition Log Homes
Stardust Building Supplies
Sticks & Structures
Alter Air
MirrorSeal
ASU Photovoltaic Laboratory

30. Existing Residence
• Incrementally-bui
• Poorly constructed
• Condemned

31. Community Design Workshop
Group #3 Conventional
scheme
February 1, 2006

33. Sips Structures
Southwest Traditional
Log Homes
Alter Air
ASU Photovoltaic Laboratory
Mirrorseal
U of A Environmental
Research Laboratory
Navajo FlexCrete

45. Cool Roof: Mirrorseal reduces
roof temperature to ambient air

49. 5,859 gallons of water/year
Valley Rain Precipitation
1.2
1
1 0 .9 0 .9
0 .8 0 .8
0.8 0 .7
0 .6 0 .6 0 .6
0.6
0.4 0 .3
0.2 0 .1 0 .1
0

50. 150 gallons of grey water per
day diverted to court yard

56. Infill Lots in Guadalupe

57. Colonia Lupita: Guadalupe Self-Help homes, 6 infill units

58. 148’
60’
Guadalupe House
124’
35’
Guadalupe II

59. Guadalupe II

66. Client: Chicanos Por la Causa 47 units 5.8 DU/ACRE
Project: Yanche Subdivision Design Development

67. Site Plan
Floor Plans
Elevation Variations Street View
Client: Chicanos Por la Causa
Project: Yanche Subdivision Design Development 47 units 5.8 DU/ACRE

68. 47 units 5.8 DU/ACRE

72. 47 units 5.8 DU/ACRE
Project: Yanche Subdivision Design Development

73. 47 units 5.8 DU/ACRE

76. Insulated Concrete Forms
Insulated Concrete Forms, or ICFs, are used as a
means of energy efficient construction. A typical
ICF consists of highly insulative foam combined
with a reinforced concrete wall. Through the
combined effects of continuous R-Value,
reduced air infiltration and thermal mass
qualities moderating indoor temperatures, ICFs
provide a superior form of wall assembly.
According to the Insulated Concrete Form
Association, “homes built with ICF exterior walls
typically require 44% less energy to heat and
32% less energy to cool than comparable frame
homes. Benefits of building with ICFs include:

77. Insulated Concrete Forms
•Outstanding structural integrity,
withstanding hurricane force winds and
earthquakes.
•Energy efficient, with significant savings on
heating and cooling.
•Increased comfort with more even indoor
temperatures and no drafts.
•Lower insurance rates.
•Quieter than conventionally-built wood
frame houses.
•Flexibility in the design of a home. Unique
characteristics like curved walls are less
expensive to build into an ICF home.
•Lower labor costs than frame construction.
Keep in mind the price of these high-quality
materials are slightly more than stick
frames.
•The metal, concrete and insulating foam
can all be recycled.