Naples Couple's Green Home

Foam home: Naples couple's green home will turn recycled plastics and steel bars into strong structure

February 10, 2011 - Their friends weren’t surprised when Todd and Jessica Bergel announced plans to build an environmentally friendly house. The couple screams “green,” right down to the organic food co-op Jessica runs from their home.

But the announcement their new home would be made out of a Styrofoam-like building material did raise a few eyebrows.

The Bergels are among a growing number of people building homes out of a Styrofoam-type block called an insulated concrete form (ICF). The building material has been around for about 20 years, and is essentially two foam panels — often made out of things like recycled yogurt and ice cream containers — connected by reinforced steel bars. The Bergels said they plan to build the home themselves with the help of friends and family. {continued}