Alexandria, VA – January 21, 2025: The Concrete Advancement Foundation (CAF) is proud to announce the release of the report, Comparison of Cost & Energy Performance: Houses Built with ICF vs. Wood-Framed Houses.  The research, conducted by Drs. Somik Ghosh and Ben Bigelow of the University of Oklahoma’s Haskell & Irene Lemon Construction Science Division, was a unique opportunity to compare five different houses in the same OK neighborhood.  The research team investigated material and installation costs, as well as energy performance, in a near side-by-side comparison of insulated concrete forms (ICF) and wood-frame constructed homes.

In discussing the motivation for the research, Dr. Ghosh reflected, “The U.S. construction industry has largely adopted wood-framing as the most common option for residential construction. However, a shortage of skilled labor is driving a need to look at alternative options.”  Dr. Bigelow added, “Energy use reductions for the grid, life-cycle energy cost savings and storm resilience here in ‘Tornado Alley’ for homeowners were also important drivers for this study.”

CAF President Julie Garbini noted, “Our U.S. construction industry is facing a big challenge with a shrinking workforce coinciding with projected increases in housing demand. We need to look at ways to build cost-effectively, faster, more sustainably and more resiliently. We funded this important research to better understand how various building systems compare and where new opportunities exist for the industry, as well as individual consumers.” The full report may be accessed here.

The Haskell and Irene Lemon Construction Science Division at the University of Oklahoma prepares students to be leaders in the construction industry that benefits local, state, national and international communities through innovative teaching and research. For more information, visit: https://architecture.ou.edu/construction-science/.

The Concrete Advancement Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to decarbonization of the concrete industry as well as advancing resilient communities and sustainable infrastructure. For more information, visit https://www.concreteadvancement.org.