Insulated Concrete Form or ICF house plans are homes constructed with hollow blocks or cast panels of concrete. ICF homes are not only energy efficient but offer exceptional resistance to natural disasters because of their durability. With a tighter building envelope, consumers report between a 50 to 75% savings on energy consumption/costs which means considerable energy savings. For the environmentally conscientious, building with ICF uses roughly 10 fewer trees per traditional residential construction. Most ICF exterior walls have a fire resistance rating of 3 to 5 hours and can withstand winds of over 200 mph providing safety and solidity not provided by traditional stick construction. Homes with ICF construction are typically five times more soundproof and cleaner with a 75% reduction of outside air infiltration which means less dust and allergens than a home built with traditional stick framing. And if you're concerned about aesthetics, style does not have to be sacrificed when selecting ICF or Concrete Home Plans since finishing materials can include brick, wood or vinyl siding, stone or stucco. Most of our floor plans can be converted to ICF or 8" block construction, so if you see a home design that's not in our ICF Collection, please email, live chat, or call us at 866-214-2242 and we'd be happy to assist you.