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Below Grade (A20): Below Grade Walls

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Issues
In our region, foundations may be constructed from a variety of materials and systems, including concrete (block, insulated forms, or poured), or wood. Concrete, the most common material, has a significant impact on the environment, primarily because it is an extracted product, relying heavily on non-renewable, although plentiful, resources and a production process that creates significant amounts of CO2. Following are some basic recommendations (list from SDRG) which will minimize the impacts of concrete use. Basements offer the advantage of expandable space within building construction: an area that may be built-out in the future, but can be used with minimal finishes for storage, mechanical or telecommunications systems, or a variety of other "less-than-Grade-A" uses. However, moisture is always a serious issue to consider when constructing a basement. In our climate, basements made from poured concrete or concrete masonry units (block) predominate, although wood basement systems for residential construction have become more popular. Wood, although a renewable resource, and one which can now be purchased from sustainably-harvested regional sources.