The 2008 ICFA Excellence Award winners exemplified the remarkable progress made in the ICF industry over the past year.  Over 50 projects applications were judged on the contribution of the ICF product to the design, building team, construction process, sustainability and educational outreach efforts. The Hybrid House of Onekama, Michigan was awarded the Large Residential Gold and the Sustainability Gold at the ICFA Awards.

The outstanding qualities of the Onekama project earned this home a 5 star Energy Star rating. Regionally, it was awarded the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Associations (GLREA) Exemplary Project Award.  Adam Bearup, the driving force behind this project is a second generation ICF builder, whose expertise and problem-solving approach to construction created not only this award winning project, but a system which can and has been replicated to build other equally remarkable homes.    

The Onekama Hybrid Home demonstrates how ICF construction can be leveraged to reach exceptional levels of energy savings as well as extraordinary improvements and quality in construction – at a cost below market comparables. The Hybrid Homes team approach pulls together complementary products and trades for pre-construction meetings to work through obstacles and create streamlined solutions. They have developed a training system for each of the subcontractor trades and offer an inspectors’ manual and a copy of PCA’s “Prescriptive Design” guide to building officials. 

Right from the beginning, the designer worked to eliminate scrap, by drawing to the ICF block modulus and designing corners and `bump outs' using full-sized corner blocks. Fewer cuts also meant less labor. Thanks to the support of an extensive recycling program on the jobsite, there was only one small bag of ICF material “waste,” and even that was recycled. And since ICFs eliminate the traditional rim joist, the design was able to offer a zero step entrance, in keeping with the Lifetime Design principles - at no additional cost.

The thermal envelope was carefully integrated to include the high insulating factors and added thermal mass of ICF walls, Energy Star rated windows, and a blown in soy insulation along to top and inside corners of the raised heel roof trusses.   This was combined with a passive solar design approach of siting the house for south facing windows with 3 ft. overhangs and exposed concrete floors for thermal mass. Passive solar provides most of the heating (and cooling), with just a little comfort added in the early morning winter hours through in-floor radiant heat.

The house also boasts an Energy Recovery Ventilator  (ERV) which transfers heat between air streams, and minimizes seasonal fluctuations of humidity. This filtration and ventilation system, combined with a radon venting system and limited source pollution from interior materials contributes to an overall healthier indoor living environment. Renewable energy from an on-site wind generator is expected to cover 66% of the home’s electricity needs during a high usage month.

Additional contributions to the sustainable features of the home included the use of a 40% recycled fly-ash in the concrete mix for the ICF walls, reducing the carbon footprint of the concrete. A rainwater harvesting system and solar hot water heater help optimize the use of water on site.

The message of Hybrid Homes reaches out far beyond their project sphere.  Recognized by Michigan’s governor for their leadership in the use of renewable energy in residential construction, “Team Hybrid” delivered their message to hundreds of seminar attendees at the Michigan Energy Fair in 2007 / 2008.  The homeowners have also become vocal advocates, opening up their home to tours and answering questions. Hybrid Homes continues to innovate, to integrate and to evolve their remarkable system of creating durable, exceptional quality and highly sustainable homes.

Congratulations to Team Hybrid:

Architect:                       Eric Hughes, Image Design
GC:                                 Adam Bearup,        Hybrid Homes, LLC
ICF Manufacturer:         Build Block Building Systems
ICF Distributor:             Dave Russell.        Wall Tech Products, LLC
ICF Installer:                 Jake Vierzen, R-Value Concrete Structures

For more information or to contact us directly,
please visit www.nahb.org l ©2008, National Association of Home Builders