[Greenbuilding] concrete vs block vs ___ foundation wall

[Reuben Deumling]

I plan to replace the 6x6 posts supported by brick piers every 7 feet around
the perimeter of my 1894 house with a "real" foundation one of these days.
The house is basically a small rectangle sitting on a basement with roughly
3' walls below grade. My question is whether the foundation wall could
profitably be made of blocks (and if so of what material) rather than being
poured concrete. I am assuming the footing would have to be steel reinforced
conrete either way. I also plan to lift the house approximately two feet in
conjunction with the foundation replacement to allow for headroom in the
basement. I plan on doing the foundation work myself.

Other questions would be
--how building codes (or inspectors) generally view alternatives to poured
foundation walls,
--what relative (material) costs of the alternatives would be, as well as
--any environmental, thermal, or structural pros and cons of concrete
foundation walls vs. other alternatives.

I've calculated I'd need about 9 yards of concrete for the wall if I were to
pour it.

Thanks.

Reuben Deumling