"These houses are basically made of hollow insulating polystyrene foam blocks that fit together to become the concrete forms. Each foam block is roughly 10 inches square by 40 inches long and weighs only 1 1/2 pounds. The blocks for an entire house weigh only several hundred pounds. Once the blocks are in place, creating the foundation or walls, concrete is poured into the hollow openings from the top."
"The foam sections of the blocks on the inside and outside provide an insulation value of R-20. That is more than most conventional studded and insulated walls. In addition to the low-energy usage, the strength and termite resistance, these houses are very quiet. The combination of the heavy concrete mass and the foam on both sides stops much of the outdoor noise."
"It is easy to build one of these houses yourself and greatly reduce the building costs. The blocks are made to snap together like a huge Lego set so you can build up the entire wall yourself. Then, with a small saw, cut out the openings in the foam blocks for the windows and doors."
Foam block/concrete houses represent an energy-efficient building method using hollow polystyrene foam blocks that interlock like building blocks to form concrete molds. Each lightweight block measures approximately 10 by 40 inches and weighs only 1.5 pounds. Concrete poured into the hollow centers creates strong, monolithic structures with R-20 insulation value, exceeding conventional studded walls. These houses provide multiple benefits: minimal air leakage, exceptional noise reduction from combined concrete mass and foam insulation, thermal mass that moderates temperature fluctuations, and termite resistance. The construction process is accessible for DIY builders, requiring only block assembly and concrete pouring. Window and door openings are cut with simple saws, and interior wiring slots are created in foam surfaces, making the entire building process straightforward and cost-effective.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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