Oldcastle Precast Modular Group
Modular Precast Insight

"Precast Concrete - Life-Cycle Cost Benefits"


Lower Energy Costs for the Life of the Building
To get a complete picture of "cost" vs. "value" in any new building
construction, one needs to consider the full range
of long term operating costs

Precast concrete doesn't just save time and money in commercial buildings; it makes facilities more energy-efficient as well. Schools nationwide (K-12) spend $6 billion+ on energy - more than on computers and textbooks combined - and waste about 25 percent of that due to inefficient building envelope design, according to the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE).
Fortunately, construction using concrete products results in inherently energy-efficient structures. The Environmental Council of Concrete Organizations (ECCO) notes, for example, that structures with concrete design elements are reducing utility costs in the Northern tier of states because energy consumption is lower due to concrete's thermal mass. (Read Entire Article)

Energy Efficient:

A benefit that is high on the list is energy consumption, According to a study by the British Cement Association the thermal mass of a building can absorb heat throughout the day, reducing internal summertime temperatures by 37 to 39 degrees and in reverse supplementing winter heating needs for several hours each night. The United States Department of Energy software simulation programs, DOE-2 and Energy Plus, now give concrete a decided advantage over other types of building materials …simple R or U values don't tell the whole story as more is discovered about the benefits of thermal mass.

Metal, wood and even clad masonry buildings require fasteners to connect the outside panels or façade to the building supports. These fasteners provide a "thermal short circuit" (known as thermal bridging), significantly reducing the overall performance and thus the full R-value of the wall. Additionally whenever batt insulation is compressed it loses R-value. Most metal systems squeeze the batts between the outside sheeting and the support girths….an R-19 batt is taken down to R-11 in such a case.

Modular precast components minimize air infiltration due to the few joints, they offer an R-24 insulating value, and the concrete's thermal mass keeps temperatures even.

The best way to determine required values for a given area is with software called COM-check-EZ. Under the category "Other" you can enter precast wall thermal values -(available from Thermo-Mass) to compare with other systems.

Read more about :THERMAL MASS AND INSULATION

Precast Module Thermal Mass:


Monolithically Poured 12" thick wall

Stability of thermal properties

WALL SYSTEM with METAL and/or CONCRETE CONNECTIONS THROUGH INSULATION

Energy Transfer Allowed to Negate Normal Layer Flow

 

THERMALLY NON-CONDUCTIVE INSULATED SANDWICH PANEL

Energy Transfer Restricted to Normal Layer Flow
Concrete is a natural product that has proven itself through the ages to have superior durability and fire resistance plus "near zero" maintenance. The advent of precast has made these, and the many other benefits of concrete, quickly and easily attainable…value-added modulars enhance that. The result is that today's "fast track" construction can incorporate the time proven concrete technology with "ready to use" building systems saving you time & money

Oldcastle Precast Modular Group
514 Township Line Rd. Telford, PA 18969
Phone: 215 257 2255 -----E-mail to: opmg@oldcastleprecast.com

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