Much of the rest of world has thermal mass building figured out.
It is not new!
Why is the US so far behind?
Thermal mass is a bank to store thermal energy.
Thermal mass even cuts the amount of insulation needed.
Thermal mass is like a steroid for R value.
The building come in all shapes and sizes, they save from 50 -to 70% in energy to heat and cool.
Most thermal mass construction has some of the best protection for, fire, earthquakes, hurricanes and pest.
Ratings differ for type but some have ratings as high as
2 hour fire
250 mile winds
8.3 seismic