Energy Concrete Structures



Beautiful ECO-Block Home 2,100 sq.ft. Birmingham Alabama

The above home was completed by Mr. Vines Turk in April, 2000. Mr. Turk, a local builder/remodeler, built the home as his personal residence after he saw the devastation a local tornado had caused to homes in the Birmingham area. In his words, "... it looked like an atomic bomb had gone off." Right then, he decided to build an "Insulating Concrete Form" (ICF) Home. As Mr. Turk stated, "An ICF home looks like any other home, and you aren't limited in design... they're just better and stronger (than conventional wood frame construction.)"

Considering that he was a builder and intended to "build the home with his own hands," Mr. Turk wanted the strongest, and most "builder friendly" ICF system available. After doing his research on the options, he chose ECO-Block as "the best ICF System." He used almost no wood during construction. In addition to the ECO-Block solid concrete walls, the home has a brick exterior and vinyl doors and windows. The 2,100-square-foot home is on level with 15' to 16' vaulted ceilings and a full basement. After living in the home for three months, the truly amazing story was Mr. Turk's utility bills.

During the "hottest summer on record," his utility bills averaged 38-50% less than his neighbor's bills.

Mr. Turk compared his bills with three of his neighbors' houses that were built with conventional wood framing- with the same (or less) square footage (and no vaulted ceilings). He reports that their average monthly bills were $195, $235 and $240, repectively - while Mr. Turk's average monthly bill was just $120 per month. Thus, Mr. Turk's utility bills were anywhere from 38-50% less than comparative, wood frame homes in his neighborhood. Mr. Turk is proud of his safe, secure ECO-Block home... and prouder still of the savings he will accumulate over the coming years.

*An ECO-Block Home Being Built* **

First course of ECO-Block being set on the footings.	Four courses stacked, and bracing system erected.


ECO-Block wall full height, being prepared for concrete.	Concrete being placed in ECO-Block wall.

** Pictures taken by Mr. Vines Tuck, builder and homeowner