The issue with concrete is that it takes a lot of energy to produce the portland cement that goes into the concrete mix. Mixes that substitute a percentage of the cement with flyash which is a by product of power generation are somewhat better so you will often see that mentioned.

Don't the LEED standards sort this all out? Are there not point values assigned to these various materials?

Hi,

If you are looking for a good ICF manufacturer, check out Logix at www.logixicf.com. I know one of the owners who has a plant in Haysville, KS. Steve Ruud. It is a very good product and he is a great guy.

As far as the recyclability of ICFs, consider the life cycle of your intended home. I would assume that if built with these materials, it should last well over 100 years. By that time, there should be several options for recycling the product. And yes, cement does take large amounts of energy to produce. But, it is relatively inert when cured and lasts a very, very long time. Other products with shorter life spans must be replaced and may have a cumulative energy usage greater than cement.

Just a thought.

PS: Sorry, the link in the post above did not work correctly. Try this

www.logixicf.com/

:zz: