Benefit of Building with Insulating Concrete Forms

SmartBuild Program is to showcase the benefits of building with Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) technology as an environmental and energy-efficient building system.

Catalyst International Marketing Services announced today the launch of the SmartBuild Program, an initiative focused on raising awareness of insulating concrete form (ICF) technology as an environmental and energy-efficient building system.

Composed of like-minded civic, industrial and academic groups, SmartBuild's mandate is to further the use of ICF for commercial applications and act as a resource centre for the industry.

"As a new building method the ICF industry will benefit from the research and evaluation that we are working to provide.

We hope to dispel the common misconceptions about the use of concrete for commercial buildings and promote the use of ICF in an industry that's slow to adopt new technology," says Barringer Newcomb, Catalyst President.

"We'll be looking for feedback from our partners in the industry regarding how the process is working." SmartBuild is an advocate for the ICF industry, promoting the technology to consumers, the building industry and various levels of government.

SmartBuild will also act as a facilitator for public-private partnerships that use ICF.

Plans for 2004 include the commission of an independent research project which will examine the claims made by ICF manufacturers as well as evaluate the costs and environmental impact of ICF buildings compared to stick built and steel frame buildings.

A seniors housing complex soon to be completed in Victoria will serve as the first case study.

SmartBuild will be establishing a series of partnerships with members in the industry who are interested in raising awareness of the benefits of using ICF technology.

Funding received from partners will help pay for independent research and comparative analysis of the technology.

About SmartBuild SmartBuild is an initiative designed to showcase the vision and technology behind Insulating Concrete Forms and raise the profile of the impact this technology is having on the commercial and residential building industries.

This will be achieved in part through educational initiatives, corporate and civic partnerships and an annual student/industry conference.

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