LUBBOCK ICF LOW INCOME HOMES NUMBER MORE THAN 130

By: Jan R. Prusinski, PE
​The City of Lubbock has now built over 130 insulated concrete form (ICF) homes over the last 13 years for low income residents. On a recent trip to Lubbock, I visited with Brad Reed, the City of Lubbock coordinator of this effort (until very recently), who relayed to me that the program continues with 10+ homes being built per year....

Brad was the recipient of one of the first Sustainable Leadership Awards from the Portland Cement Association in 2008, for his efforts with building these homes.  He recently moved to another department, but Rey Arias (rarias@mylubbock.us) has taken on the coordinator's role of building these highly energy-efficient homes (they use ~ 1/4 of the energy of the homes they replace).

Even more exciting is the news that other Texas cities have picked up the mantle of building low income ICF homes for deserving families (with federal HUD Community Development money).  Brad and Rey noted that Midland/Odessa and Abilene have started similar programs.  
​

---

That these cities are now building ICF homes in the same manner is a direct result, according to Reed, of the CCT and PCA partnership through the years, supporting the use of ICFs in Lubbock. In fall 2010, the Region VI annual meeting of the National Community Development Association was held in Lubbock, and its ICF program was the main focus, with presentations, and field trip demonstrations of ICF construction.  CCT and PCA both contributed as meeting sponsors, attendees, and active participants. Midland/Odessa and Abilene jumped at the chance to latch onto a great idea, and commenced with their own programs.  Other Texas cities have expressed interest.

This truly is a demonstration of sustainable construction at its best:

• Environmental Sustainability - with utilization of concrete--a superior local material--and building a durable, resilient structure, that is highly energy efficient;
• Economic Sustainability - demonstrating that ICF construction can occur with smaller (1,000 to 1,800 sq ft), non-custom homes at a cost compatible with conventional construction--and energy costs far less than conventional;
• Social Sustainability - contributing to higher quality  living for low-income residents.

"This blog was previously posted in the Cement Council of Texas' "Texas Cement and Concrete Blog" (now inactive) and was carried forward to the current blog ("Cementx Pavement Blog") as it contains content that may be of interest to the reader".

---