High-Mass, SunTerra EnergyBlockTM Construction

1. SUNTERRA
ENERGYBLOCK™
The Smart Way to Build

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

3. THERMAL MASS
Appropriate use of thermal mass throughout your home can make
a big difference to comfort and heating and cooling bills.
Summer
Thermal mass acts as a “thermal battery”. During summer it
absorbs heat, keeping the house comfortable.

4. HIGH THERMAL MASS
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.
Light Construction Heavy Construction
2 x 6 Wood Wall 5 lbs 8” Block Wall 80 lbs
2 x 10 Wood Floor 7 lbs 6” Concrete Slab 50 lbs
12 lbs/sf 130 lbs/sf

5. Ener g y Requirements
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.

6. Exter nal Insulation
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.

7. Ener g yBlock™
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.

8. Higher Standar ds
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.
Zone 5 Example Zone 4 Example
35% better than wood walls 62% better than wood walls
24% better than ICF walls 50% better than ICF walls

9. Design
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.

10. Masonry value,
strength, and
beauty

11. Wood Fr aming
Comparison
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

12. Insulating Concr ete
For m (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

13. Functional Design
Opens opportunities to apply true, green building

14. Optimize Passive
Solar Homes
Winter
Store Heat Release Heat
Improve home comfort – reduce temperature swing
Store multiple days of solar energy for multiple days of
cloudy days
The primary heating system in many climates

15. A N e w Pa r a d i g m i n H e at i n g
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

16. Sustainability
Building 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+

17. Summar y:
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

18. SUNTERRA ENERGYBLOCK™
The Smart Way
to Build
SunTerra Homes, Inc.,
PO Box 5278
Bend OR 97708
3520 N HWY 97, Suite B
Jim Chauncey
Office 541-389-4733
Fax 541-389-0465
www.sunterrahomes.com
www.sunterrahouseplans.com