SIP

Building a Green Home: This Way or That Way? (Part 1 of 5) Filmed on location in Fredericksburg, TX on September 27th, 2008. The Energy Roundup / GreenFair is a great event to learn about green building, alternative energy, sustainable practices and more. Official website: www.theroundup.org Robert Zirkel Shelter Design & Construction, Inc. There are many green alternatives to conventional construction, and deciding which method to utilize can be confusing and even overwhelming. Robert will discuss and compare several houses he has built with various systems, including ICF’s (Insulated Concrete Forms), particularly rastra; thermal steel panel walls set in stuctural steel with SIPS panel roof; stick framing with foam insulation; and exterior insulation with waterproof exterior vapor barrier. More “natural” methods such as Cob, adobe, compressed soil blocks, and straw bale will also be presented. Other topics will include interior finishes such as flooring, cabinets, and countertops. Robert Zirkel, president of Shelter Design & Construction, Inc., has over twenty-five years of construction experience. He has been a proponent of green building since the early 1990’s and has built energy efficient homes using several different construction methods. His experience working with chemically sensitive individuals enhanced his interest in the use of non-toxic building materials.