green
Energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and green materials
The am-cor™ system is a sustainable, viable answer to the threat of pollution caused by building material production, construction, and the threat of resource depletion posed by the increasing global demand for built-space.
Manufacture of building materials causes air pollution. Approximately half a ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) is released in the production of a ton of cement. Timbering threatens deforestation, widespread environment change, and oxygen depletion. Buildings emit 30% of greenhouse gases in the U.S., and account for 36% of total energy use (statistics from U.S. Green Building Council and Energy Information Administration). Disaster reconstruction and replacement of deteriorated structures places constant and immediate pressure on natural resources without adding much-needed new disaster-resistant living space.
The am-cor™ system uses a fraction of the material required to enclose buildings using traditional methods. For example, an am-cor™ hurricane and earthquake resistant structure uses 1/8 to 1/10 the cement as does a similarly specified reinforced masonry or concrete structure, thereby helping reduce CO2 pollution.
An am-cor™ PANEL PAK arrives at the site as lightweight, prefabricated, easily handled steel frame panels. The panels are readily transported and can be placed without heavy equipment.
The panels are imbedded in concrete floor slabs at each level and then coated with a reinforced amcorite™ galvanized carbon steel reinforced cement exoskeleton to form an extremely strong seamless structural envelope around the entire space.
Imbedding the prefabricated steel frame within its cement skin, and in the building foundation, unifies concrete and steel structural elements into a single cohesive shell with a great ability to withstand stress. Forces applied to the shell are transmitted through its entire skin, reducing unit stress. This is why am-cor™ structures require much less material than ordinary structural frames. Less material to build means less material to manufacture and transport, which means lower net energy consumption per structure.
While am-cor™ construction is inherently far more energy efficient and environmentally friendly than standard construction, design of am-cor™ structures increases conservation even further.
The am-cor ™ detail for tropical applications, where insulation is not required, uses small screened openings at wall top and bottom, to allow outside ground level air to circulate through wall cavities. This air is drawn upwards via thermocouple action by heat of the sun on the roof. Air motion transfers relatively cool temperatures into the walls, which tempers interiors. The air is vented through the roof ridge so wall cavities are kept dry, without use of electrical power.
This integral convection can replace expensive air conditioning in tropical regions, especially where electricity is generated using oil. Not only does it save money for building owners, but helps the environment and the bottom line by designing coolness into the building structure rather than depending on external sources of energy, such as fossil fuel.
In temperate climates, am-cor™ designs call for earth tempering to reduce consumption of fossil fuel. Galvanized steel studs are imbedded in foundation walls and concrete ground floor slabs. These studs act as conductors, bringing the relatively even subsurface temperature of the earth’s crust up into the building. Steel frame intermediate floors with thin concrete slabs act as thermal diaphragms equalizing temperature throughout interiors, without the need for ductwork.
Water resistant insulation is applied right around the exposed foundation wall perimeter to protect the foundation wall and ground floor slab edges from major variations in earth surface temperature. This perimeter insulation creates a “baked potato” effect underneath the building, a region of constant temperature, which in the continental U.S. stays approximately from 62ºF to 65ºF or 16.6ºC to 18.3ºC; the higher figure being in the winter, due to thermal inertia of the earth’s crust.
am-cor™ buildings have also been built with coolth tube tubes, which circulate air through a pipe-duct running from floor level intakes around the perimeter of the building to the ventilation system. The coolth tube is perforated and set in the gravel bed underneath the ground floor slab. This allows moisture in the air to condense and soak into the ground, so that the air is cooled by earth tempering and delivered to interior spaces with low humidity. This low fuel consumption cooling system requires only a small fan to operate.
Passive solar design and earth sheltering are ideal applications for am-cor™ building shells. The system is ideally suited for constructing retaining walls. To counteract the lateral force of backfill against subgrade walls, 10” and 8” galvanized steel studs are used instead of standard 6” and 4”. The amcorite™ coating is finished with foundation coating water proofing. am-cor™ earth shelter walls are ready for service installation and insulation, and do not need to be furred-out for drywall as do masonry and concrete basement walls. In passive solar design, 6” exterior walls are specified for extra insulation of exposed surfaces. am-cor™ steel framing with thin concrete slabs cast over steel ceiling trays has the strength to support earth sheltered roofs.
Solar photovoltaic arrays, and solar hot water collectors may also be integrated into building shell design to decrease fossil fuel consumption, lower operating costs, and help mitigate global warming.
The am-cor™ system uses exclusively products that
See our COMPONENTS page for details on what goes into an am-cor™ kit, and our SEQUENCE page for how an am-cor™ PAK comes together.
We can suggest ways to integrate energy savings and other green materials into your structure, and engineer energy conservation solutions into your building program. Please see GETTING STARTED for more information.
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
Manufacture of building materials causes air pollution. Approximately half a ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) is released in the production of a ton of cement. Timbering threatens deforestation, widespread environment change, and oxygen depletion. Buildings emit 30% of greenhouse gases in the U.S., and account for 36% of total energy use (statistics from U.S. Green Building Council and Energy Information Administration). Disaster reconstruction and replacement of deteriorated structures places constant and immediate pressure on natural resources without adding much-needed new disaster-resistant living space.
The am-cor™ system uses a fraction of the material required to enclose buildings using traditional methods. For example, an am-cor™ hurricane and earthquake resistant structure uses 1/8 to 1/10 the cement as does a similarly specified reinforced masonry or concrete structure, thereby helping reduce CO2 pollution.
An am-cor™ PANEL PAK arrives at the site as lightweight, prefabricated, easily handled steel frame panels. The panels are readily transported and can be placed without heavy equipment.
The panels are imbedded in concrete floor slabs at each level and then coated with a reinforced amcorite™ galvanized carbon steel reinforced cement exoskeleton to form an extremely strong seamless structural envelope around the entire space.
Imbedding the prefabricated steel frame within its cement skin, and in the building foundation, unifies concrete and steel structural elements into a single cohesive shell with a great ability to withstand stress. Forces applied to the shell are transmitted through its entire skin, reducing unit stress. This is why am-cor™ structures require much less material than ordinary structural frames. Less material to build means less material to manufacture and transport, which means lower net energy consumption per structure.
ENERGY EFFICIENT
While am-cor™ construction is inherently far more energy efficient and environmentally friendly than standard construction, design of am-cor™ structures increases conservation even further.
The am-cor ™ detail for tropical applications, where insulation is not required, uses small screened openings at wall top and bottom, to allow outside ground level air to circulate through wall cavities. This air is drawn upwards via thermocouple action by heat of the sun on the roof. Air motion transfers relatively cool temperatures into the walls, which tempers interiors. The air is vented through the roof ridge so wall cavities are kept dry, without use of electrical power.
This integral convection can replace expensive air conditioning in tropical regions, especially where electricity is generated using oil. Not only does it save money for building owners, but helps the environment and the bottom line by designing coolness into the building structure rather than depending on external sources of energy, such as fossil fuel.
In temperate climates, am-cor™ designs call for earth tempering to reduce consumption of fossil fuel. Galvanized steel studs are imbedded in foundation walls and concrete ground floor slabs. These studs act as conductors, bringing the relatively even subsurface temperature of the earth’s crust up into the building. Steel frame intermediate floors with thin concrete slabs act as thermal diaphragms equalizing temperature throughout interiors, without the need for ductwork.
Water resistant insulation is applied right around the exposed foundation wall perimeter to protect the foundation wall and ground floor slab edges from major variations in earth surface temperature. This perimeter insulation creates a “baked potato” effect underneath the building, a region of constant temperature, which in the continental U.S. stays approximately from 62ºF to 65ºF or 16.6ºC to 18.3ºC; the higher figure being in the winter, due to thermal inertia of the earth’s crust.
am-cor™ buildings have also been built with coolth tube tubes, which circulate air through a pipe-duct running from floor level intakes around the perimeter of the building to the ventilation system. The coolth tube is perforated and set in the gravel bed underneath the ground floor slab. This allows moisture in the air to condense and soak into the ground, so that the air is cooled by earth tempering and delivered to interior spaces with low humidity. This low fuel consumption cooling system requires only a small fan to operate.
Solar photovoltaic arrays, and solar hot water collectors may also be integrated into building shell design to decrease fossil fuel consumption, lower operating costs, and help mitigate global warming.
GREEN MATERIALS
The am-cor™ system uses exclusively products that
- reduce environmental impact during construction and building operation
- contribute to a safe, healthy indoor and outdoor environment
See our COMPONENTS page for details on what goes into an am-cor™ kit, and our SEQUENCE page for how an am-cor™ PAK comes together.
We can suggest ways to integrate energy savings and other green materials into your structure, and engineer energy conservation solutions into your building program. Please see GETTING STARTED for more information.
Modified 2005-11-16