SUNTERRA

ENERGYBLOCK™

The Smart Way to Build

Thermal mass is a term used to describe the ability of building materials to store heat, or thermal storage capacity. The basic characteristic of materials with thermal mass is their ability to absorb heat, store it, and at a later time, release it.

THERMAL MASS

In winter, thermal mass can store the heat from the sun or heaters to release it at night, helping the home stay warm.

Winter

Appropriate use of thermal mass throughout your home can make a big difference to comfort and heating and cooling bills.

THERMAL MASS

Thermal mass acts as a “thermal battery”. During summer it absorbs heat, keeping the house comfortable.

Summer

Building materials that are heavyweight store a lot of heat so are said to have high thermal mass. Materials that are lightweight do not store much heat and have low thermal mass. Most residential construction today is built using light-weight materials.

HIGH THERMAL MASS

Light Construction

2 x 6 Wood Wall 5 lbs2 x 10 Wood Floor 7

lbs

12 lbs/sf

8” Block Wall 80 lbs6” Concrete Slab 50

lbs

130 lbs/sf

Heavy Construction

The use of heavyweight construction materials with high thermal mass, i.e., concrete slab floor and EnergyBlock walls, can reduce total heating and cooling energy requirements by up to 35% compared to a home built of lightweight construction materials with a low thermal mass.

Energy Requirements

For maximum effectiveness, thermal mass should be left exposed internally allowing it to interact with the building’s interior. For this reason, Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF) offer little thermal mass benefit.

Insulation must be on the exterior surface only.

External Insulation

Sunterra EnergyBlock™ is a patented new system poised to take advantage of high thermal mass with exterior insulation. This new system is made up of a specially designed concrete block with dovetail grooves, a masonry-insulation connector strip retaining rigid foam insulation, ready to attach choice of siding.

EnergyBlock™

Sunterra EnergyBlock™ exceeds the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) insulation requirements for wood and ICF walls with comparable insulation R–value in all climate zones.

Higher Standards

Zone 5 Example35% better than wood walls24% better than ICF walls

Zone 4 Example62% better than wood walls50% better than ICF walls

Sunterra EnergyBlock™ allows architects, builders and homeowners to design and construct a home with a versatile look that can either feature the aesthetic masonry surfaces or conceal them for a traditional plaster wall appearance. EnergyBlock comes in multiple colors and finishes.

Design

Masonry value,

strength, and beauty

Wood FramingComparison

A typical 2,000 SF home in climate Zone 5 with an average US electric rate of $.12 KWH

$314 Cost Savings Per Year$14,353 Additional Home Value

Insulating ConcreteForm (ICF) Comparison

SunTerra EnergyBlock™

Has a higher insulation R-value

Costs less to build Thermal mass is in the correct location Stores more heat energy Interior surface is a finished, masonry decorative feature Construction industry trained and in place nationwide

Functional Design Opens opportunities to apply true, green building

Optimize PassiveSolar Homes

Improve home comfort – reduce temperature swingStore multiple days of solar energy for multiple days of cloudy daysThe primary heating system in many climates

Winter

Store Heat Release Heat

A New Paradigm in Heating and Cooling

Design Eliminate the need for complicated, expensive

forced-air heating and cooling systems

Improve heat pump efficiency

Apply ductless heat pumps effectively

Reduce or eliminate the need for mechanical

air conditioning

Enhance interior comfort with wood burning

appliances

Effectively utilize off-peak utility rate benefit

SustainabilityBuilding with high thermal mass EnergyBlock™ can be used to produce a building that goes beyond a Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB). A NZEB is a building that, on an annual basis, produces as much energy as it uses. This means that at certain times of the year it may produce more energy than it needs, while at other times it produces less. The balance is traded back and forth between the building and utility company in the form of electricity.

NET ZERO+

Summary: Affordable, highly energy efficient construction

reducing heating and cooling costs A very green product that is exceptionally eco-

friendly Optimize passive solar and heating equipment

design No restriction on exterior siding style Walls of concrete and steel provide good sound

insulation for a strong quiet home Sustainable materials that will last through

generations The most cost-effective construction to achieve

a net-zero building

SUNTERRA ENERGYBLOCK™The Smart Way

to Build

SunTerra Homes, Inc.,PO Box 5278 Bend OR 97708

3520 N HWY 97, Suite B

Jim ChaunceyOffice 541-389-4733Fax 541-389-0465

www.sunterrahomes.com

www.sunterrahouseplans.com