Footer, footer elements, and buildings, and methods of forming same

A footer having a top and a bottom, and a length and a width, said footer being adapted to receive and bear a given load from an overlying construct, said footer comprising

• (a) a foam member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, and an interior bounded by said upper surface, said lower surface, and said first and second side surfaces, said foam member having a length, a width of about 4 inches to about 30 inches, a height of 2 inches to about 20 inches, and a density of about 2 pounds per cubic foot to about 40 pounds per cubic foot;
• (b) a plurality of load-bearing intercostals extending through said foam member at multiple locations along the length and width of said foam member, and extending from at or proximate the top surface to at or proximate the bottom surface, said intercostals substantially enhancing load bearing capacity of said footer product,
• said foam member comprising a longitudinally-extending elongate foam member extending along the length of said footer, a first set of foam members abutting a first side of said longitudinally-extending elongate foam member;
• and a second set of foam members abutting a second side of said longitudinally-extending elongate foam member,
• said longitudinally-extending elongate foam member and said first and second sets of foam members comprising an assemblage having a length, a top, a bottom, and first and second sides,
• further comprising a reinforcing layer of fiber-reinforced polymeric material extending along the length of said assemblage and extending across the top, the bottom, and the first and second sides of said assemblage, thereby to wrap the top, the bottom, and the sides of said assemblage in said fiber-reinforced polymeric reinforcing layer and at least in part defining said intercostals.