In these times when gas prices seem to be bouncing around like the proverbial jumping bean, I think we tend to worry more about the price to operate our cars than we do about heating our houses. But in case it got past you, the gas, propane and electric bills are going up too! Ok, in Colorado most of us don't use oil to heat our houses like they do on the east coast. But is it time to turn in your SUV for an ICF? 

Insulated Concrete Form or ICF houses are becoming more and more popular. And maybe they should be more in demand. I toured a house under construction down on Burnt Mill Road, just south of Pueblo. Charlie Katnig, the contractor, gave me an up close tour of this interesting and beautiful house. He explained how versatile this kind of construction can be, and they can be made to look like any style of house. The cement can take most any shape including arches and curved walls. ICF's can also be built to seismic or hurricane storm standards, not to mention the fire standards. They don't support the growth of mold or mildew like traditional building sometimes can. Great news for those who suffer with allergies!

This house was not what I expected to see in a ‘concrete house. I expected seeing something that looked more like a garage with windows and a great view. But this elaborate house had all of the amenities, everything you'd expect to in a high end house. Even thought it wasn't finished I could imagine all the great furniture and appliances that will soon be placed into this unique space. 

One of the major benefits to having a concrete house is that they save on utility bills. These ‘ICF' houses are very energy efficient, usually 30% more efficient than typical houses. The insulating values are between R18 - R26, and cost between 5% - 7% more to build than traditional methods. And why not go the extra mile and use radiant heat, passive and active solar, energy star rated window, etc?

There are some local and national mortgage companies out there that can get you into an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM). A local mortgage broker told me that most people who qualify for one of these loans can buy more house. That is to say, they factor in the utility savings into your mortgage. These loans may also offer: cash back at closing, higher qualifying ratios, assured appraised values, free interest rate locks, and competitive interest rates. Find more information at www.energystar.gov

The savings on utilities will pay for the up front cost of building an energy efficient or ICF house in approximately five years. And isn't having a warm, cozy, comfortable home more appealing than having a cold, gas guzzling, SUV in the garage?