The following segment aired on Designing Spaces on Lifetime Television. Joining the show was Dale Siens, C.E.O. and President of Apex Block and Doug Lystra, owner of Majestic Builders.
Host, Ted Brunson: A major part of making any home more energy efficient is the materials used to construct it. Now, we here at Think Green are always looking for innovative, new technologies that help homes be more eco-friendly. Today we're going to take a look at a very important component of a home with our friends at Apex Block. Now, pay attention to this segment because you're going to be seeing a lot more from these people and their new materials that make your home more efficient and sustainable, thus greener.
Designing Spaces: This isn't a typical housing subdivision and this isn't a typical construction site. Here in the gently rolling hills of Eagle Point in southern Oregon, twenty-one homes will be constructed of Apex Block, a lightweight insulated building block that's called the greenest wall system in the world. Naturally, Think Green had to come out and have a look.
Designing Spaces: Dale Siens is CEO and President of the company which has made Apex Blocks since 2003 out of recycled EPS or polystyrene foam, the stuff that's often used for packing and shipping. It's non-biodegradable and a lot of it winds up in landfills. In fact, only about twelve percent of it is recycled in the US. By building this home with Apex Blocks, about twenty-five hundred pounds of polystyrene will be put to good use instead of being thrown in the trash.
Designing Spaces: Designing Spaces Think Green has picked this home for a special walk-through. We'll take a look at what has been done as well as what could be done to reduce electrical consumption. I'm downstairs in the man cave of this home and there is a lot of energy being used down here. The more areas of your home that you make energy efficient, the bigger the savings and I am going to try add to my savings or not.
Dale Siens:The reason for Apex Block and my involvement with it is that I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to help in my part in my way and that's taking EPS out of the environment, reducing energy costs. Over the lifespan of a building, a family gets to save money. They get some financial relief and they have the benefit of having the best, sound structure around them to keep them safe and warm and then to hand that down and perpetuate that through generations.
Designing Spaces: When this home is finished, its owner will have a sturdy, environmentally friendly place to live. Apex Block provides excellent insulation and can cut the homeowner's heating and cooling expenses in half versus a home built with conventional wood materials.
Dale Siens:The reason why the Apex Block is so safe is what we've done is we've replaced what Mother Nature naturally built which is wood. Wood and lumber have had its place in American building and its history, but what we have are six inch tubes of concrete, reinforced concrete with rebar. So, what you have is an integrated structure; there's just not vertical wood, there's a horizontal and vertical grid system of six inches of concrete, reinforced with rebar, which also, with the roof system, is a continuous pour. So, from the foundation and footing, all the way from the slab, all the way to the roof, is one continuous, interlocking piece of concrete reinforced with steel.
Dale Siens:The blocks can't rot or form mold and mildew because they don't absorb or retain moisture and these walls are much quieter than standard wood frame walls. They're also strong, protecting the home against floods, fire, high winds, earthquakes and infestation from rats, termites and other insects.
Dale Siens:This wall system will protect against F5 tornados or Level 4 hurricanes. What that means is two hundred and fifty mile an hour sustained winds or gusting winds. We've tested this block and it withstood up to four hours of two thousand degree Fahrenheit temperatures for four hours. Wood ignites in twelve seconds. What you have is a very safe, comfortable home for you and your family.
Designing Spaces: Apex even demonstrated this by trying to blow up a wall with C4 explosives. Nope, still standing. Well we like to think nothing like this will ever happen here in peaceful Eagle Point.
Designing Spaces: For contractors, using Apex Blocks can be a great choice. For one thing, they simplify the construction process when compared to other green building methods. Doug Lystra is the owner of Majestic Builders, which is building this home in Eagle Point.
Doug Lystra:The biggest thing that sold me from the first time I saw this was that eighty percent of this is recycled material. It saves it from going in the landfill. This is way ahead of its time right now and I think I know our subdivision here. I'd like to see every one of our houses be in this product; that's our plan right now.
Designing Spaces: Unlike other insulated concrete forms or concrete blocks, Apex Block fits together in a trademarked keystone interlocking system, which eliminates the time and cost of expensive bracing and connection methods.
Dale Siens:The result is a block that costs about five or less per square foot. Another difference is that Apex forms can be flat, waffle grid or screen grid designs, so there's plenty of design flexibility. As you can see, these walls are going up quickly. In fact, experienced workers can build up to two thousand five hundred square feet per day.
Designing Spaces: One thing's for sure. Homeowners in this new subdivision will feel good knowing that these walls are as green as the beautiful trees surrounding them.
Dale Siens:We want a better awareness of alternative building systems versus traditional wood construction. There's a better way to build; there's a better way for the environment and we have to be conscientious of it and take ourselves further and further ahead.
Designing Spaces: For more information, check out their website at apexblock.com.
About Designing Spaces on Lifetime Television
The TV show is a half-hour informative series that inspires viewers to make every space count and instructs them on the smartest ways to make their homes more beautiful and functional. To view a show online, just go to http://www.designingspaces.tv. If you have a great idea for a story, or want to be a part of the show please contact LysaLiemer at lysa@designingspaces.tv.
About O2 Media™
Based in Pompano Beach, Fla., O2 Media™ is a national television production company and pioneer of the branded entertainment industry. Since its inception O2 Media™ has engaged, entertained and educated viewers with such reputable shows as Designing Spaces, www.designingspaces.tv on Lifetime Television. The company has earned hundreds of industry awards for revolutionizing the way brands engage with consumers on television. O2 Media™ provides unmatched marketing value to its clients while producing quality content for its growing national viewership through Brandutainment®. Household brands and blue chip companies alike, continue to depend on O2 Media™ for effectively communicating their message to consumers. For more information, visit http://www.o2mediainc.com.
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Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Designing Spaces on Lifetime with Dale Siens and Doug Lystra
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