My aunt wants to know why....

My aunt asked me why Americans still use wood to construct their homes when cement and cinder blocks last longer and withstand anything sans earthquakes. She said all the talk of green building and wood is still being used in the US. She says Mexican homes are energy efficient because of what they are made of, that wood is not, it attracts pests and rots and isn't meant to last.

Why does the US still use wood frame homes? They are nice, my cousins in Mexico all say how cool it would be to live in a Victorian home and how beautiful they are, but then interrupt themselves with how hard it would be to keep the home from falling apart. Then what about cleaning it? In Mexico it's easy to clean a house, no allergens either so long as you dust and sweep. There is a problem with wood and mold. They just don't trust wood.

I would love to live in a Mexican house. So many of the ones I saw looked traditional, hacienda style but many looked so post modern and atomic even (inside and out). Yeah, I wish more homes in the US were built to last like the houses I have been to in Mexico. I wonder how much they cost to build here compared to there. It seems more complicated but would be cool to have one built to last.
Time to leave wood behind?

I found several company sites that are dedicated to the construction of concrete homes. All kinds of elevations too: from a traditional looking American home to something that looks tres 70's space movie set. They are advertised as being able to stand up to hurricanes and tornados and being energy efficient...so do they just cost a fortune and a half to construct?

This exceprt from this blog:
"One of the reasons I want to experience this living situation is that the construction of the house is typical of most of Mexico: partially remodeled old thick-walled adobe and stone, with the bulk of the construction being either poured reinforced concrete or concrete blocks, and these walls are only about 6” thick. "

There are concrete homes being built in the US:
Discover a home building solution that offers a healthier living environment, advanced designed possibilities and lower energy bills; discover a Home with a Difference. The difference is ICF (insulating concrete forms), a building process well established in North America. Approximately 40,000 ICF homes have been built since the early 90's. Currently about 100 distributors and manufacturers of ICF systems serve the Canadian market. For the custom homebuilder, ICF represents a real advantage. It's fast to build, easy to manipulate, and requires a small number of skilled labourers – a real advantage in today's market with the shortage of skilled framers.