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The structural
strength of PolySteel buildings
comes from reinforced concrete,
a product of the combination of
Portland cement, sand and
gravel, which the Earth has in
abundant supply. Concrete
construction directly reduces
the use of lumber for
building, thereby helping to
save the world's forests.
The super energy efficiency of
PolySteel structures minimizes
the amount of fuel burned for
heat, saving our oil and gas
reserves and reducing air
pollution and the "greenhouse
effect", the cause of global
warming.
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Expanded polystyrene (EPS)
products DO NOT USE CFC's in
their manufacture. EPS is easily
recognized by its unique
appearance - thousands of tiny
white beads fused tightly
together, as found in American
PolySteel forms®.
When
(Chlorofluorocarbons) are used
during the manufacturing process
the release of those CFC's has
been linked to the destruction
of the Earth's protective ozone
layer and an increased incidence
of skin cancer (see below).
PolySteel forms do not contain
HCFC, formaldehyde, asbestos,
or fiberglass.
The Ozone
Layer
 Scientists studying the Earth's
atmosphere believe that the
ozone layer which shields us
from the sun's ultraviolet
radiation is being destroyed by
CFC blowing agents.
Unfortunately, many extruded
polystyrene products use CFC's
in their manufacture. It can be
recognized by its fibrous
appearance and is found in:
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Extruded polystyrene insulation
products which are
usually
colored to differentiate them
from other rigid insulation.
"Blue Board" and "Pink Board"
are examples of this type of
product. |
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Extruded polystyrene disposable
containers (e.g., drinking cups,
hamburger cases) |
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Packaging filler materials, such
as foam "peanuts". |
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The superior insulation of
PolySteel insulating concrete
forms, tighter construction, and
solid mass of the resulting
concrete walls conserve cooling
and heating energy much better
than traditional wood-frame
homes, reducing monthly fuel
bills and allowing for use of
smaller sized heating and
cooling units.
According to research by the
Portland Cement Association,
houses built with insulating
concrete forms (ICFs) require an
estimated 32% less energy to
cool and 44% less energy to heat
than comparable wood-frame
houses. And the bigger the
house, the bigger the savings.
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In 1992 the Federal Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and the
Department of Energy (DOE) began forging partnerships with
manufacturers, retailers, utilities and energy-efficient
 technologies. American PolySteel is proud to be a
partner in this program as the manufacturer of a super-energy efficient
insulation product, and our PolySteel forms are labeled with the ENERGY STAR®
logo, along with our own. We have long recognized the environmental benefits of building energy
efficient homes and we are proud to label our Forms with
this sign of federal recognition.
For more information on this program, contact your
PolySteel distributor or the EPA at 1-888-STAR-YES.
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Although PolySteel insulating
concrete forms produce very
little construction
waste
the excess
material that does result from
construction is 100% recyclable.
PolySteel forms are also made
from recycled products.
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Homeowners Benefits
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