Which is more energy efficient--frame or block/cement constructed new home?
 

We are spending the month of May at The Villages. As we look around for a home style and price range that suits us, there are many factors to consider---location, new or pre-owned, type of construction, size, floor plan, number of bedrooms, etc. When deciding on type of construction, many factors come into play, but which are more energy efficient? The frame construction or the block/cement construction?

frame hands down

The framed constructed houses have a higher R rating in the walls than the concrete block houses (nominally R-11 vs. R-5) but it probably doesn't make a significant difference in the HVAC costs. Typically, windows account for most of the heat gain/heat loss in Manual J calculations and those are essentially the same for both types of construction. Attic insulation is the same. You could possibly make the case that the concrete block houses are "tighter" and will save some energy via less outside air exchanges but that would be speculation. I have also noticed that same sized framed and block houses have the same tonnage of AC so the required heat load calculations came out very similar.

Appears that whether it is a frame or block home should not be the make or break the deal element of the eqaution.

We have a 1550sf frame and 1950 stucco. There are months that heat or cool is the same. Even given the size difference. Summer the stucco is sometimes less, since we are not here in summer they are both set same temp

I have a friend whose late husband was a home inspector (to about 2013) in Florida. She is still very involved with Habitat for Humanity. When I was thinking about building a home in TV in 2012, they encouraged me to build a stucco home if I could afford it.

We went with a block/stucco home as we were concerned about durability during a potential Florida storm (hurricane or tornado). This was our major concern, energy efficiency was secondary.

And the answer here is that no one has a definitive answer. Suggest you Google and read the research carefully. My uneducated guess is that in this climate , walls are not the critical factor.

But in a hurricane, the roof and windows are just as vulnerable.

For that reason to have a house with no roof makes little difference.

At that point we've evacuated and called the insurance Co.

The insulation in a concrete walled homes is very thin or minimal like 1".

It was mentioned the HVAC's in both are sized the same, that may be because the price difference is so small between two sized units is minimal and or better discounts buying 100 of one size vs 50 50

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Block is the way to go in Florida. Higher maintenance but well worth for how it looks.

RickeyD - for my education, I'd be interested in knowing what causes higher maintenance costs for block homes. Thanks.

It doesn't work that way. In FL, Manual J calculations are required and systems must be sized accordingly. The next size up is 1/2 ton which would be 15% larger when going from 3 to 3.5 tons. Regardless, I just looked up 2 very similar houses, one framed and one block, in my area and the Manual J heat load was 4% higher in the block home, which had 4% more square footage under air.

They have to be painted. Cracks can form and need to be caulked.

the textured surface catches more dust dirt etc too

Interesting

How about trying an IR meter on the walls