Live Webcam is Up!

By Bill Hoy, Project Manager

View construction progress first-hand using this live webcam now installed at the REHAU Montana ecosmart house project site. The link to the camera is found at http://www.montanaecosmart.com/ at the bottom right. The camera is user-controlled and can be moved in any direction. Control features also include panning and zoom. Check it out here.

Main Floor AmDeck Flooring System Installed

By Bill Hoy, Project Manager

The Montana winter has settled in: Two major storm systems and temperatures below 0 over the last two weeks have slowed progress on the REHAU MONTANA ecosmart house project. As of December 3, Bozeman had received another 6 inches of beautiful white powder snow. Fortunately, the foundation walls were completed, as planned, before the weather became a factor.

A break in the weather earlier in the week of November 29 allowed the contractor to install the AmDeck flooring system for the main floor. We are expecting a shipment of the light gauge support steel for the flooring system to arrive sometime this week (week of December 6), to be installed as soon as it arrives, weather permitting.

We have installed an interactive web camera at the construction site and are in the process of testing before going live. Once live, the camera can be accessed on the project website.

On Thursday, December 2, REHAU NA CEO Dr. Kathleen Saylor had a

chance to visit the site  for a progress briefing and tour of the project.

First Snow, Continued Progress

By Bill Hoy, Project Manager

The REHAU MONTANA ecosmart house is progressing through the first snow in Bozeman. As of November 19, the Amvic Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) for the lower level walls were poured with concrete. ICFs are formwork for concrete that will stay in place as permanent building insulation for energy-efficient, cast-in-place, reinforced concrete walls. The forms are interlocking modular units that are dry-stacked, without mortar, and then filled with concrete. These units lock together somewhat like Lego blocks, creating a form for the structural walls.

During the week of November 22, the installation of the first floor AmDeck floor system will begin. AmDeck, also provided by Amvic, is a concrete forming system similar to ICFs. The system utilizes 10-inch lightweight steel framing studs which carry the temporary construction loads until the concrete gains its required strength.

The Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department at Montana State University has been involved throughout the construction process installing temperature-sensing probes throughout the concrete walls and slabs. These probes will provide valuable data that will tie into the overall web-based climate management system as well as data for confirmation of heat loss modeling assumptions made during the design phase.

Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) Installation Begins, Foundation Poured

By Bill Hoy, Project Manager

Installation of the Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) wall system is underway and the concrete slab pour is complete. (View video.) Pictured below, installers ready the first two blocks of the ICF to support the perimeter of the concrete slab. 

Click here for more information about ICF technology.



Construction Underway at ecosmart house

By Bill Hoy, Project Manager

Construction of the REHAU^® MONTANA ecosmart house^TM began on September 1 and is progressing at a good pace. (View video of groundbreaking.) The contractor's priority is to have the house fully enclosed before the wonderful Montana winter season sets in.

Since excavation, the REHAU ECOAIR^TM system was installed under the footprint of the house. (View video.) After backfilling, the footings for the entire house were completed. The lower level concrete slab preparation is currently underway. By mid-October, radiant heating pipes will be installed in the lower level and concrete will be poured. Along with completing the lower level slab, installation of the lower level foundation walls will begin. The lower level foundation walls will be constructed using an AMVIC insulated concrete form wall system and are on schedule for completion by the end of October.

In early November, an interactive webcam will be online and accessible through the official REHAU MONTANA ecosmart house website at http://www.montanaecosmart.com/. Additionally, the website will feature progress pictures.

The REHAU^® MONTANA ecosmart house™ is a project sponsored by REHAU and led by the Creative Research Lab (CRLab) at Montana State University (MSU). This residential construction and research project aims to exhibit the possibilities of maximized energy efficiency and occupant comfort through a combination of the latest sustainable building products and systems. To achieve this aim, the project engages leading international building industry professionals, material and product manufacturers, and MSU professors and students from across multiple academic disciplines.