REHAU and AMVIC, a supplier of insulating concrete forms (ICFs), announced a new alliance to provide customers with sustainable building methods. These methods will combine AMVIC's polymer ICFs and REHAU's polymer radiant heating, plumbing, fire protection, and window and door systems.

“Consumers are demanding a house that lasts, and this demand will continue to grow in the coming years,” said Michael Maher, manager of REHAU's construction business unit. “With sustainable building methods, consumers save money over the long term because their home is a high quality structure that requires minimal maintenance and conserves energy.”

A project home in Washington, known as the Peterson home, has already become a model of a sustainable building. The two companies worked together to create the endurable environment of this home. The shell is constructed with ICF technology from AMVIC, which utilizes expanded polystyrene foam to increase the energy efficiency of the building envelope. A number of the other products installed in the home are from REHAU, including radiant floor heating, vinyl window and door designs, PEX plumbing, and residential fire protection.

The home has received The Freedom Seal of Approval™ - a consumer-focused certification program for rating homes that are healthier, environmentally friendly and super energy efficient. The standards for this seal are based on the Residential Energy Model (REM) software for the EPA's Energy Star® Home requirements. The Peterson home earned a 90.2 Home Energy Rating Score (HERS), exceeding the minimum Energy Star HERS score of 86.0.