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Concrete Technologies Tour: Turning Gray Matter Into Green
 When you hear the word “concrete,” what comes to mind first ― a long winding driveway or an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly building material?
While driveways surface first in most people’s minds, the 2005 Concrete Technologies Tour, “Building With Concrete: The Basics and Beyond,” in Kansas City, Mo., from June 26-28 will explore just how green concrete can be. The intensive technology tour’s aim is to teach builders more in two days than they could learn in months of reading manuals and Web sites and consulting with colleagues.
Long-Lasting, More Energy-Efficient
The life spans of concrete building products are frequently double or even triple those of other common building materials.
In a time of rising utility costs, building concrete homes using insulating concrete forms (ICFs) saves energy and money. According to a residential technology brief from the Portland Cement Association, “Houses built with ICF exterior walls require an estimated 44% less energy to heat and 32% less energy to cool than comparable frame houses.”
A scheduled stop on the technology tour will look at a subdivision that has been constructed of insulated concrete. Participants at this stop will learn how ICF construction is implemented from start to finish.
From Aggregate to Earth-Friendly
Aggregate quarries can be easily reclaimed for commercial or residential use, and the tour includes a very large example of a reclaimed quarry — the largest subtropolis in the world, Hunt Martin Materials. This 270-million-year-old limestone deposit is now home to an underground commercial office building.
What’s in Store on the Tour
Ron Jones, the owner of Sierra Custom Builders in Placitas, N.M., one of the most influential green builders in the country, will give the keynote address.
Overall, the tour will provide:
- A broad view of the regional differences in concrete production and building trends
- A working knowledge of all types of cement-based materials
- An understanding of how to implement the most up-to-date industry trends into attendee’s businesses
For more information or to register for the Concrete Technologies Tour, visit www.nahb.org/concretetour or contact the Concrete Home Building Council at 800-368-5242 x8362.
Learn More About the University of Housing
Whether you’re new to the industry, hope to make your next career move or want to improve your company’s bottom line, The University of Housing can assist you in your education pursuits.
Visit www.nahb.org/education for a comprehensive listing of courses throughout the country. Be sure to visit often in order to view the most up-to-date information in your area.
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Subscribe your employees to Nation’s Building News Online. It’s free, easy and NAHB members who sign up three or more employees will be entered into the "Make Your Business Click" contest to win a digital camera. To learn more or sign up your employees, click here.
Make Your Connection With www.nahb.org
 Make your connection to the latest housing industry news and information with www.nahb.org — the official public and members-only Web site of NAHB.
Log in today to register for educational seminars, meetings and networking events; find important economic and housing data; and learn the latest developments in NAHB’s efforts to promote housing. It’s all available 24 hours a day at www.nahb.org. Just click the "Log In" button to get started.
Once you log in, personalize the site to reflect your interests. Simply go to the My NAHB>My Profile page and click the “Edit Content Preferences” link. To learn more about how you can customize My NAHB — including how to customize the links that appear on the Home page ― visit the How to Use www.nahb.org section.
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