Green building may be beneficial for the environment but, according to a recent National Opinion Survey, most homeowners buy green primarily to benefit their wallets.

According to a recent article in the Yomiuri Shimbun (10/20/07), the Japanese government will promote more durable housing intended to be lived in for generations. The "200-year home" project seeks to minimize the need to rebuild homes while maintaining their value.

McGraw-Hill Construction, part of The McGraw-Hill Companies, recently released The Green Homeowner SmartMarket™ Report, produced in conjunction with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Solar Decathlon competition recently awarded top honors to Germany’s Technische Universität Darmstadt, which earned 888.45 points out of a possible 1,200 and won the competition’s architecture, lighting, and engineering contests.

The solar industry recently initiated a major effort to persuade Congress to extend tax breaks and other incentives for solar energy.

According to a recent press release (10/11/07), the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) recently unveiled its first Top 10 Technologies list exclusively for remodeling.

The National Onsite Water Recycling Association (NOWRA) will hold its 2008 Annual Technical Education Conference and Exposition April 7-10 in Memphis, Tenn

In the Washington, DC area? Join us Saturday, October 27th for fun-filled day of learning about the "Maximum Efficiency Greenland" home, which incorporated high performance features and technologies into a home design popular in the area.

According to a UPI wire story posted on the Science Daily website, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers are developing a new building material that can help buildings withstand flying debris that can pierce and destroy homes during hurricanes.

According to a recent article in the Fairbanks (AK) Daily News Miner (Stefan Milkowski, 08/18/07), Alaska’s Cold Climate Housing Research Center recently announced plans for its Hybrid Micro Energy Project, which aims to demonstrate the possibility and practicality of using renewable energy for power and heat in homes across the state.

In the Washington, DC area? Join us Saturday, October 27th for fun-filled day of learning about the "Maximum Efficiency Greenland" home, which incorporated high performance features and technologies into a home design popular in the area.

A team of faculty, students, and community organizations in Wisconsin plans to develop a new concept in construction—green housing that doesn’t require as much upfront expense.

According to a recent survey by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), key players in the real estate and construction industries overestimate the costs of green construction, which creates a barrier to more energy efficiency in the building sector.

A recent posting on Inhabitat (08/29/07) explores “Amphibious Houses”—homes built on solid ground but designed to float on flood water. The homes, designed by Dutch developers DuraVermeer and WaterStudio, use lightweight wood and hollow concrete bases to provide buoyancy.

Systems engineering, a practice that focuses individual tasks in a complex engineering process on the goal of creating a product that performs effectively as a whole, is nothing new to the automobile industry. But, according to a recent article in HGTVPro.com (Stacy Hunt, 08/11/07), it is rarely applied to the construction of homes, which can lead to building failures.

The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) opened the Mold Safe Model Home (MSMH) on September 14, 2007. The first-of-its-kind, 3,000 square-foot home in Chesterfield, N.H., is a showcase for industry professionals and consumers who are interested in preventing mold growth in their homes.

According to a recent article from the Washington University in St. Louis, the University’s Structural Control and Earthquake Engineering Laboratory has successfully demonstrated that a combination of wireless sensors and special controls called magnetorheological (MR) dampers can limit damage from a simulated earthquake.

A recent article in the (Morgan County, Ind.) Reporter Times (Josh Kastrinsky, 05/19/07) highlights the construction of an “earth home,” an environmentally-friendly and energy-conserving structure that is covered on three sides with concrete and soil. Because much of the home is underground, the indoor environment remains at 56 degrees without any additional heating or cooling.

In-line fan units offer a quiet, energy-efficient alternative to a number of problematic ventilation areas in the house, including noisy and ineffective bathroom fans, range hoods, and dryer exhausts.

Homeowners may soon be breathing easier, thanks to a new Tech Set from the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH).

LivingHomes and WIRED magazine recently announced construction of the first WIRED LivingHome, which aims to balance green building with high technology. According to a release (06/18/07), the home will be installed in a single day.

The first hurricane test lab is scheduled to open at the International Hurricane Research Center at Florida University next summer, according to a recent article in the Sarasota (Fla.) Herald Tribune (Anna Scott, 07/23/07).

According to a recent article in Popular Science (Charlie White, 07/07), new advances in lighting are making alternatives to inefficient incandescent bulbs even more attractive.

According to a recent release (07/18/07), researchers at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) have developed an inexpensive solar cell that can be painted or printed on flexible plastic sheets....

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a new version of its software program for environmentally-preferred, cost-effective building products...

The construction industry's labor market is notoriously transient, especially these days when it seems like there's too much work and too few skilled laborers to do it.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that it is issuing a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that will make up to $40 million available for funding research applications...

Evaporative coolers, commonly called “swamp coolers,” use the natural cooling effect of water evaporation to provide a low first-cost, energy-saving, and environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional air conditioners in arid climates.

ToolBase.org and PATHnet.org are leading sources of practical information on building technology and the advances of the PATH program. Below is just a sampling of the kinds of information found on the two sites...

According to a recent article in Metropolis (Tim McKeough, 06/20/07), 15 architects, artists, and designers are attempting to reinvent the brick in order to make a better, or at least more visually appealing, building block...

Certain home shapes and roof types can better resist high winds and hurricanes, according to Rima Taher, PhD, a researcher at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)....

Establishing a formal system for measuring performance can be a powerful catalyst for achieving business goals, and can play a vital role in pinpointing areas of inefficiency.

According to a recent item on Inhabitat (06/21/07), architects Matthew Coates and Tim Meldrum have received first place in the Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Home Competition for a residential design that incorporates an innovative solar energy system. The house has cladding with a solid-state photosynthetic solar cell-based skin developed by MIT researchers that uses a protein derived from spinach...

In this issue... Storm-Resistant Roofing: A Home's First Line of Defense Pan Flashing/Sill Protection Installations Effective in Reducing Water Intrusion Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction Materials, Finishes, and Details From Concept to Reality The Measure of Success PATH Resources: A Good Thing Keeps Getting Better -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Storm-Resistant Roofing: A Home's First Line of Defense Nail spacing requirements for plywood or OSB roof deck. With the Gulf Coast still reeling from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina last year, it is difficult to believe that the onset of this year's hurricane season is right around the corner. Although no one can predict or mitigate Mother Nature, advances in building science now enable builders to construct homes that better withstand destructive storms. During a storm, a strong roof is often a home's first line of protection. Likewise, a weaker roof can be its Achilles heel. A poorly-constructed roof will be susceptible to lift-off, which can compromise the entire building. However, most storm-related damage is actually caused by water penetration rather than structural failure. And even carefully-constructed traditional roofs can be vulnerable to water infiltration. The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) developed 11 recommendations for storm-resistant roofing that can help homes stay structurally sound and prevent water damage during storms. In addition, the Institute for Business & Home Safety's (IBHS) Fortified...for safer living® program provides a builder's guide that includes criteria for high-wind prone areas. These recommendations are especially useful for areas that are at high-risk for strong winds. However, many can and should be used on homes outside of hurricane-prone regions to prevent damage during other storms. According to the IBHS, all of the continental United States are susceptible to hurricanes, tornados, or high winds. Roof Design Moderately-pitched hip roofs are the best choice for preventing uplift during a storm, unlike gable roofs, which are at risk from damaging horizontal and uplift forces unless adequately braced. A moderate pitch between 4/12 and 6/12 is best - roofs that are too flat (3/12 or less) can also be susceptible to uplift. Builders should also reduce through-the-roof penetrations wherever possible in order to avoid unnecessary water intrusion. For example, tubular skylights with polycarbonate domes reduce the through-the-roof penetration size considerably compared with traditional skylights. Baffled ridge vents should also be used to help prevent airflow and wind-driven rain from entering the attic. Sheathing Roof sheathing installation can play a significant role in the amount of damage caused by a storm. Sheathing with a minimum thickness of 19/32 of an inch adds strength, as do improved nails and nailing techniques. The Fortified...for safer living Builders Guide (www.ibhs.org/publications/downloads/468.pdf), developed by the Institute for Business & Home Safety, specifies using 2 1/2-inch ring shank nails and nailing at 4 inches on-center on panels adjacent to a gable end and 6 inches on-center everywhere else. According to Michael Redburn, president of RFB Homes, a Ft. Myers, Fla., builder who constructs to Fortified home guidelines, the ring shank nails are so strong that they cannot be pulled out. "If we make a mistake, we have to cut them," he said. RFB Homes goes beyond the Fortified guidelines by taping all roof decking seams with 10-inch wide tape. According to Redburn, this allows the roof deck to act as a secondary water and wind barrier if the roof covering does blow off. "It won't last forever, but it gives enough time to get a new roof up," he explained. PATH recommends using self-adhering asphalt/rubber (modified bitumen) tape that is at least 4 inches wide, or using a peel-and-stick roof membrane product over the entire deck. Underlayment The Florida Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) recommends installation of a layer of #30 felt paper underlayment with 2-inch minimum overlap over the wood roof sheathing and secondary water barrier tape. End laps should be a minimum of 6 inches. Nail spacing should be no greater than 6 inches along the laps and 12 inches in the interior of each strip using low-profile roofing nails with load distribution disks or capped-head nails. Roofs within 3,000 feet of salt water should have hot-dipped galvanized fasteners for attachment of all roof coverings, including underlayment. A layer of #90 underlayment is recommended for tile, slate, or metal roof coverings. Connections According to the Fortified builder's guide, "the building must have positive connections from the roof to the foundation as a means to transmit wind uplift and shear loads safely to the ground." Hurricane straps should be used to secure the roof to wall framing effectively. Straps should wrap over the top of the roof truss or rafter. Cladding Roof installation should be finished with a durable covering, such as wind and impact-resistant shingles, ceramic or concrete tiles, or standing-seam metal roofs. In high-wind zones, increasing the frequency of fasteners from four to six per shingle will increase the wind-resistance rating. Ceramic and concrete roof tiles should be mechanically attached to roof sheathing. Metal roofs should be installed in compliance with manufacturer's instructions for high-wind areas. In warm and moderate climates, choosing a light-colored cladding will reduce the amount of summer solar heat absorbed by the roof and extend its life. Installation Correctly installing materials can also make a huge difference in roof durability. Using grid-marked sheathing can ease cutting, ensure the correct fastening pattern, and facilitate the layout of shingle underlayment. Use proper flashing and starter strip techniques; for example, installing flashing wherever there is a change in surface plane or cladding material will channel water runoff during storm events and provide another level of water intrusion protection. Because fastener or nailing schedules tend to change with the product and wind zone, consult the manufacturer's specifications so that fasteners are installed to the proper embedment depth into framing members or sheathing. Cost Considerations Most of these techniques add minimally to the finished cost of a roof. According to Redburn, the biggest costs come from the learning curve in getting contractors to change their practices. "It took about an extra day for [our contractors] to learn," he said. "After that, it doesn't add that much to the costs." Redburn estimates the additional labor and materials costs at 15 to 18 percent over a traditional roof. Although the roof may cost homeowners a little more, it is well worth the savings they can receive from insurance companies. For example, through the Fortified program, First Floridian Insurance (a Travelers Company) has offered discounts. More information on storm resistant roofing is available in PATH's Tech Set #5, Storm-Resistant Roofing - visit www.toolbase.org for this and other PATH Tech Sets. Back to Top Pan Flashing/Sill Protection Installations Effective in Reducing Water Intrusion Water intrusion in walls is an ongoing problem for the home building industry. Intrusion can occur in all types of buildings and in most climates, often through windows, doors, and other through-the-wall penetrations...

Designers of a new home in Ontario, Canada, used bird nests as a model for creating an environmentally-friendly structure.

According to a recent article in Nation’s Building News, NAHB's Board of Directors approved the creation of a national green building certification program at its spring meeting in Washington, D.C.

Although no one can predict or mitigate Mother Nature, advances in building science now enable builders to construct homes that better withstand destructive storms.

Hybrid solar lighting is an innovative type of daylighting that uses mirrored rooftop domes to collect sunlight and fiber-optic tubes to carry the light inside to interior fixtures...

Solar power may be synonymous with environmental-friendliness and energy independence...

The most important outcome for a quality-focused builder is to deliver a home that is consistent with the sales contract and meets the buyer’s expectations...

A New Jersey home that is powered by a combination of solar panels and solar-generated hydrogen may, over the next decade, help turn millions of American homes into fully self-sustaining power plants...

According to a recent press release (05/04/07), a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduate hopes to help meet the demand for green solutions to global energy issues by “growing” an organic, inexpensive, and environmentally-friendly insulation.

The NAHB Research Center recently conducted a nationwide survey with builders about their awareness and usage of optimum value engineering (OVE) and compact fluorescent lighting (CFL).

Bricks made from fly ash (the fine ash particles captured as waste by coal-fired power plants) may be safer than predicted, according to a recent release by the National Science Foundation (05/23/07).

A recent article in the Richmond, Va., Times-Dispatch (Greg Edwards and Alexa Welch Edlund), highlights a company that uses power plant waste to produce a limestone-like rock that can be used to make lightweight building products with excellent insulating and fireproofing qualities...

These two resources, available free online are designed to help builders and homeowners prevent and manage moisture in homes, and investigate homebuilding dangers according to the area of the country the home is in.

According to a recent release (06/04/07), University of Utah physicists have developed small devices that turn heat into sound and then into electricity, a technology that could offer a new source of renewable energy from waste heat...

On June 8th, technical experts, instructors from the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center (LCCTC), and manufacturers’ representatives were on hand to lead tours through the LCCTC Building Green residential project...

On June 6th, the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Omaha, Neb. for the first PATH Concept Home – a home that uses innovative building technologies to enhance its flexibility and make it more efficient to build and maintain.

This summer, wind and hail will likely cause significant damage to roofs across the United States and result in billions of dollars in insurance payouts. However, new shingle products that are designed to resist damage from impacts and high winds can significantly reduce roof damage...

With the cost of construction materials constantly in flux and material shortages recurring, many builders are seeking alternative building products. Luckily, there are a wide variety of alternative technologies and methods that can provide builders some relief and options.

Cheap plastic solar cells are now closer to becoming a reality, according to a recent article in RenewableEnergyAccess.com (05/04/07).

ToolBase.org offers the PATH Technology Inventory to help builders and remodelers cut through the clutter and find the needed technical information to help simplify the process.

According to a recent article in PC Magazine (Chloe Albanesius, 05/11/07), a building method that uses the natural properties of wood to produce homes that heat and cool themselves received the top prize...

According to a recent article by 9NEWS Colorado (05/07/07), backyard wind turbines can generate 40 to 80 percent of the energy required by a typical home...

Instead of desperately pushing to boost closings at the end of each month, quarter, or fiscal year, growing evidence suggests that builders may find regularizing their flow of work just as beneficial to the bottom line, and perhaps even easier to do.

According to a recent Associated Press article (05/11/07), light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are quickly becoming a challenger to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) in the alternative lighting industry.

According to an article in the Arizona Daily Star (05/08/07), Tucson home builder, green building advocate, and PATH Partner John Wesley Miller recently unveiled his company's second "net zero energy" home in the Armory Park del Sol community in downtown Tucson.

Today, masonry and concrete products continue to reign as essential building materials for almost all residential construction, and Creative Homeowner's Ultimate Guide to Masonry and Concrete provides a comprehensive resource for designing, building, and maintaining a wide range of materials for contemporary applications both inside and outside the home.

The Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., is currently presenting "Open House: Architecture and Technology for Intelligent Living," an exhibition featuring futuristic housing projects by 10 architects. The featured designs include...

According to a recent article in Capital News Service (Megan Hartley, 04/17/07), a group of University of Maryland students are constructing an innovative home, complete with walls made of plants that will filter water for use in the home.

Most homeowners undertake remodeling projects to update or improve the livability of their homes; energy efficiency is typically not a reason for starting a remodeling project. However, during the course of a renovation, savvy contractors can also upgrade a home's energy efficiency.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) have joined forces to create the Home Technology Alliance, an agreement that will help builders meet increased consumer demand for residential technologies.

Partners in a green-housing project in Victoria, Canada, hope its wood-waste gasification initiative will become a staple of future communities, according to a recent article in Business Edge (Monte Stewart, 04/20/07).

According to a recent release (04/09/07), V2G technology allows the bi-directional sharing of electricity between electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs) and the electric power grid. PG&E’s prototype PHEV uses a lithium ion battery in a traditional Toyota Prius, which increases the vehicle’s ability to run solely on electricity.

Fourteen individuals and companies were honored for exemplary green building practices during the National Green Building Awards ceremony, held on March 25 in conjunction with the 9th annual NAHB National Green Building Conference.

According to a recent press release (03/26/07), a new survey conducted by NAHB and McGraw-Hill Construction found a high rate of customer satisfaction among green homeowners.

A recent study developed by the United Nation’s Environment Programme (UNEP) shows better architecture and energy savings in buildings could do more to fight global warming than all greenhouse gas reductions specified under the U.N.'s Kyoto Protocol, according to a Reuters report (Alister Doyle, 03/29/07).

According to a recent release from Massey University (New Zealand), a new solar cell technology developed by the University’s Nanomaterials Research Centre could soon produce solar energy at a fraction of the cost of current silicon-based photo-electric solar cells.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a searchable database of relevant product emission studies. According to a release issued by NIST (02/19/07), the new database will allow investigators to immediately access information in order to estimate and mitigate the seriousness of indoor pollutant sources.

According to recent articles in Ars Technica (Matt Ford, 04/03/07) and the University of Leeds (UK) Reporter (03/26/07), a high-tech villa designed to resist earthquakes by ‘self-healing’ cracks in its walls and monitoring vibrations through an intelligent sensor network will be built in the Greek mountains as part of a European-Union funded project.

The process—which was presented at the Cold Climate Housing Research Center in Fairbanks, AK—uses a chemical compound that is readily available to contractors.

According to a recent release (03/06/07), McGraw-Hill Construction has announced the availability of three-dimensional models of building products for architects and engineers in an organized Sweets3D Collection, available through Google’s 3D Warehouse.

The same technology that can help you find your way with maps and directions can also help navigate land development. GPS-controlled earthmoving equipment—such as bulldozers, backhoes, road graders, excavators, and compactors—can facilitate grading of large areas and increase productivity during the land development process.

According to a recent release (03/07/07), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and International Code Council (ICC) have announced that the two organizations will undertake the development and publication of a residential green building standard.

According to a recent article in Nation’s Building News (03/12/07), a new study sponsored by Bank of America Home Equity and conducted by NAHB provides general guidelines on the life expectancy of various components of a home.

According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune (Lew Sichelman, 03/18/07), results from eight focus group sessions, conducted by the NAHB Research Center in September in Chicago and Dallas, found that builders may believe that “smart homes” are too complicated, expensive and problematic.

As the general contractor for the Concept Home, which seeks to become one of the most technologically-advanced homes in the nation, Ruiz shares his thoughts and experiences about the home several times a week.

According to an article in the Washington Post (Dina ElBoghdady, 02/17/06), some of the more talked-about products at last month’s International Builders’ Show targeted consumers who want to save space in their homes.

Homebuyers could soon find themselves walking across floors made from manure, according to a recent Associated Press article (David N. Goodman, 02/10/07). Researchers at Michigan State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture say that fiber from processed and sterilized cow manure could replace sawdust in producing fiberboard, which is used for products like flooring, furniture, and shelves.

It's not just for isolationists anymore! Whether you want to be entirely "off the grid" or just supplement your utility power, CHP systems can supply electricity much more efficiently than power plants.

According to a recent article on MSNBC.com (Alan Boyle, 02/01/07), NASA’s plans to build a permanent moon base may include the deployment of lunar habitats in the 2020s.

According to a recent article on CBSNews.com (Christine Lagorio, 02/28/07), Behrokh Khoshnevis, an engineering professor and director of the Center for Rapid Automated Fabrication Technologies at the University of Southern California, believes robots could bring about a sweeping change in the construction industry.

Recent research by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) found that the pace of change in the American home is likely to accelerate dramatically over the next several years, according to an article in Nation’s Building News (02/26/07).

According to a recent article in Popular Science (Michael Behar, 03/07), a 15-foot tall machine dubbed the "Plasma Converter," by researchers at Startech Environmental Corporation can turn garbage into energy.

According to a recent release (02/08/07), the NAHB Research Center announced winners of the EnergyValue Housing Award (EVHA) during a banquet held in conjunction with the 2007 IBS.

A recent article in TWICE (Colleen Bohen, 02/12/07) provided some highlights from the major appliance—or majap—category at the 2007 International Builders' Show (IBS).

The “Design Guide - Residential PEX Water Supply Plumbing Systems,” written by the NAHB Research Center, was officially released at the 2007 IBS, and is now available both as a free PDF download, and as a printed document for sale.

Each year, EnergyValue Housing Award (EVHA) winners showcase the winning practices that have put them at the forefront of energy-efficient construction. This offers an excellent chance to learn about both advanced technologies that are paving the future of energy efficiency, and about practical approaches that many mainstream builders can implement now.

The NextGen Home at the 2007 IBS demonstrated how new homes can better withstand the destructive force of future storms as well as longer-term issues like avoiding moisture and mold, and promoting durability.

Shawn Martin and Carrie Conrad of the NAHB Research Center presented a session at the 2007 International Builders’ Show to help builders and remodelers find Internet resources for building techniques and technologies that help improve business practices, save time, increase efficiency, and improve durability.

In this soft housing market, many builders have experienced a decline in sales and production numbers. However numbers don’t always tell the full story. There are often other key areas of your business which, when operating with optimum efficiency, can help to bridge the gap during tough times.

According to a recent release (02/08/07), these technologies, which were selected from among the PATH Technology Inventory, hold the most promise for improving the quality of homes.

PATH’s new “Top Ten Technologies” were introduced at the 2007 International Builders’ Show. These are proven building technologies that haven’t yet achieved widespread market acceptance, but will help builders build better homes.

Each year, as demand for aging-in-place and universal design approaches grows, an increasing number of building professionals find themselves researching, planning, and building homes designed to help older residents and those who have special physical needs live more comfortably, safely, and independently in their homes.

Over the past several years, the building industry has become increasingly aware of the benefits of universal design, or accessible housing. Universal design includes a wide variety of features—such as wider doorways, entrances, stairways and hallways; curbless shower stalls; accessible appliances; and lever door handles—that make a home comfortable for people of all physical abilities.

According to a recent article in the New York Times (Leslie Eaton, 01/06/07), modular homes are increasing across the Gulf Coast as citizens seek to speed recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

During the 2007 International Builders’ Show (IBS), the NAHB Research Center presented “The Best Online Resources for Building Technologies,” an educational program aimed at updating builders on many of the most useful and time-saving resources currently available online.

President Bush recently approved a bill that will extend federal tax credits for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) recently announced its sponsorship of the 2007 New Southern Home. According to a release (01/10/07), the home will be displayed during the 29th annual Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) from July 12-14, 2007, and will remain open to the public through the 2008 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla.

According to a recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer (Alan J. Heavens, 01/13/07), Swedish appliance manufacturer Electrolux received hundreds of entries from students in 37 countries for its fourth annual Design Lab competition, which solicits ideas for innovative kitchen products.

Less than 2 percent of all American homes are new, and the average age of the remaining 98 percent of homes is 32 years and rising. So, it's no wonder that Americans spent almost a quarter of a trillion dollars on remodeling and repairs in 2003.

The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) recently announced the completion of the foundation, basement, and wall and floor framing for the PATH Concept Home Omaha, Neb. The Concept Home, a 2,000-square-foot village vernacular house, combines innovative products and systems with traditional design elements.

Homeowners could see their electric bills reduced considerably with a new integrated heat pump developed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), according to a recent press release (01/19/07).

Less than 2 percent of all American homes are new, and the average age of the remaining 98 percent of homes is 32 years and rising. So, it's no wonder that Americans spent almost a quarter of a trillion dollars on remodeling and repairs in 2003.

According to a recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer (Alan J. Heavens, 01/13/07), Swedish appliance manufacturer Electrolux received hundreds of entries from students in 37 countries for its fourth annual Design Lab competition, which solicits ideas for innovative kitchen products.

We hope you enjoy the new look and navigation of this newsletter. The redesign is in keeping with the recent updates made on the ToolBase.org website – if you haven’t been to the site in a while, check out what you’ve been missing.

According to a recent article in the New York Times (Gregory Dicum, 01/04/07), thousands of Californians have installed solar power systems in their homes in the past year, thanks to recent legislation that provides financial incentives.

2007 may prove to be the dawn of the new age of thin-film photovoltaics (PV), according to a recent article in R&D Magazine (Adria Nieswand, Dec. 2006). The article states that one of the biggest reasons that PV has not yet experienced widespread application is because of the limited supply and high cost of polysilicon, which is used by 90 percent of PV solar cell manufacturers.

According to a recent article in Professional Builder (Scott T. Shepherd, Dec. 2006), the home building market looks bright for builders who have adopted new technologies, despite recent headlines of lagging new home sales and soaring construction costs.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Building America program recently released Builders and Buyers Handbook for Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate, according to a DOE press release (12/06/06).

According to a recent article in the Sacramento Bee (Edie Lau, 01/01/07), retired structural designer Milton Carlson is giving life to the concept of environmental efficiency by taking “impossible” locations and making them work as buildable lots.

According to a recent article in Nation's Building News (12/11/06), the 2007 International Builders' Show (IBS) will offer five seminars about how specific information technology solutions can increase efficiency and profitability.

A new flow-reversing valve designed in the United Kingdom could play a crucial role in the design of hurricane-resistant buildings, according to a recent article in the UK's Eureka Magazine (Tom Shelley, 12/20/06).

According to a recent article in the Charlotte Observer (Doug Smith, 12/05/06), residents in a new North Carolina subdivision will have access to a new "technology concierge," a service that will help them troubleshoot TV, Internet, and telephone problems.

Larry Williams, president of the Steel Framing Alliance, recently addressed a meeting of the National Association of Real Estate Editors to discuss strengthening codes and building practices to prevent future Katrina-like disasters.

Entries are now being accepted for NAHB's National Green Building Awards, which recognize individuals, companies, and organizations for helping to move green into the mainstream of the housing industry through their designs and construction practices.

According to a recent release (11/22/06), the NAHB Research Center has announced 10 finalists for the 2007 EnergyValue Housing Award (EVHA).

A recent article in Steelcase 360 (December 2006) describes a new certification standard for identifying green and sustainable products called Cradle to CradleTM (C2C), which identifies the environmental impact of a product from its origins to its ultimate disposal.

According to a recent release (11/15/06), BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of Environmental Building News, recently announced its 2006 Top-10 Green Building Products awards.

According to a recent release (11/28/06), the Brick Industry Association (BIA) recently tested the fire resistance of two new types of hollow brick.

This newly-released Design Guide - Residential PEX Water Supply Plumbing Systems – prepared by the NAHB Research Center for the Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI), the Plastic Pipe and Fitting Association (PPFA), and PATH – provides the information and resources needed by builders, designers, and trade contractors to design and install cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) water supply systems in residential buildings.

The Wall Street Journal's 2006 Technology Innovation Awards contest, now in its sixth year, considers novel technologies from around the world in several categories, including Energy and Power, Environment, Materials, Medical Devices, Wireless, Software, and others.

According to a recent article in Builder Magazine (Ted Cushman, 10/01/06), although green building is clearly an idea with practical merit, "green" is also the hot new marketing fad, which has resulted in plenty of green claims based on sketchy rationales.

Popular Science’s recent profile of the Top 100 Innovations of 2006 (Nov. 2006) includes several new home technologies, including a nail that can help homes better withstand hurricanes and earthquakes.

According to a recent release (11/08/06), the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) has entered a cooperative agreement with the Manufactured Housing Research Alliance (MHRA) to help understand the role of lean manufacturing methods in improving home building practices.

Recent articles in the Knoxville News-Sentinel (Michael Silence, 10/10/06) and in the Orlando Sentinel (Jerry W. Jackson, 11/06/06) report on the increasing popularity of manufactured homes, which can reduce labor costs for builders and result in lower prices for buyers.

According to a recent article in the New York Times (Robert Sharoff, 11/05/06), two projects currently under development in Chicago symbolize the city’s commitment to housing the homeless and indigent and to sustainable design.

According to a recent article in Nanowerk Spotlight (George Elvin, 11/09/06), the construction industry is ripe for innovations offered by nanotechnology and nanomaterials.

According to a recent release (11/09/06), research conducted by the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) and McGraw-Hill Construction found that additional market research can better equip stakeholders to meet the challenges to adoption of technology in housing.

The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) recently added epoxy pipe lining to its Technology Inventory. The Inventory highlights new and emerging technologies that demonstrate great potential for improving housing performance.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently released a new guide to panelized housing for consumers. According to a recent release (10/18/06), panelized home building systems combine the best aspects of traditional stick-built homes and modern technology, are cost-effective, have flexible designs, are energy- and resource-efficient, and offer well-designed homes in less time.

According to a recent feature in Popular Science (Dawn Stover, 10/06), MIT architect Ken Larson envisions transforming America’s construction industry by building “open source” homes, or homes built the way computers are built.

According to a recent article in gizmag.com (09/28/06), the Loftcube, a 39- or 55-square meter penthouse designed by German firm Werner Aisslinger, has been designed to take advantage of prime real estate – on rooftops of city buildings.

According to a recent article in Popular Science (Gregory Mone, October 2006), architects have designed a house that will grow from a few seedlings into a two-story, water-recycling, energy-efficient home.

According to a recent release (10/06/06), engineers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a database of more than 200 residential buildings representing 80 percent of the U.S. housing stock in order to conduct nationwide analyses of ventilation, air cleaning, or moisture control strategies to reduce indoor air pollution.

A recent article in the Miami Herald (Beatrice A. Garcia, 10/13/06) describes groundbreaking work being done at Florida International University’s (FIU) International Hurricane Research Center (IHRC) that aims to determine how building materials, construction practices, and structures stand up to massive storms.

Wood science researchers in the College of Forestry at Oregon State University have developed new wood-plastic composites that they say are stronger and less expensive than any similar products now available.

A 400-square-foot, steel-framed “Cajun Cottage” constructed by the Steel Framing Alliance (SFA) was exhibited in the New Orleans Housing Solutions Summit on September 29-30.

According to a recent article in the Engineering News Record (Tudor Van Hampton, 10/09/06), inventors have reshaped concrete to do more and last longer with a variety of new innovations. Translucent concrete uses precast blocks and panels with glass fibers, which transmit light from one side of the concrete to the other.

The latest PATH Tech Set, highlighting a Green Kitchen Remodel, has been released, according to a recent release (10/12/06). The Tech Set explains how improving the energy efficiency, ecological benefits, accessibility, and health considerations of a kitchen will provide life-long comfort, peace of mind, and cost savings to residents.

On October 18, 2006, HUD Assistant Secretary Darlene Williams, Regional HUD Director Macie Houston, Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey, and builder Fernando Pages broke ground for the first PATH Concept Home and unveiled revised plans for a 2,000 square foot “farm house” design.

According to a press release (09/14/06), Affordable Comfort Inc. (ACI) will present its 2006 New England Conference “Growing Green with Building Science” on October 4 and 5. The conference aims to show builders how to boost business with the latest whole-house performance techniques.

The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) recently published a report that profiles how production builders select, implement, and communicate innovation. "Characteristics of Innovative Production Home Builders" analyzes the results of a 2005 national survey of builders who construct 200 or more homes per year.

The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) is supporting a project conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Building and Fire Research Laboratory on the durability of caulking. According to a recent PATH release (09/27/06), although caulking is vital for keeping moisture out of buildings and increasing energy efficiency, no widely-accepted, analytical method for predicting its durability exists. As a result, it is difficult for builders to select caulking that offers the best value.

According to a recent article in Nation’s Building News (09/11/06), solar-powered attic fans are an affordable alternative to conventional fans. The fans, which are now available from many manufacturers, cost nothing to operate, reduce summertime cooling loads, and offer ventilation without added utility cost.

Steel Panel Foundations (SPF) has introduced a new steel panel basement foundation technology that will enable builders and developers to construct water-tight finished basements in less time and at lower costs than conventional cement foundations, according to a press release (09/27/06).

During the first week of October, the NAHB Research Center and the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center (LCCTC) will kick-off construction for one of the first homes rated under the new NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines.

According to a recent article in the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Sun Star (Molly Dischner, 09/26/06), the University has unveiled a new facility that will study how to makes houses more functional in cold climates.

A recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle (Kevin Burnett, 09/09/06), highlights two building industry advances in mold prevention. One innovation, Cosella-Dorken's Delta-Dry house wrap, is a semi-rigid, heavy-duty, silver-coated polyethylene membrane extruded in a waffle-like pattern that, when installed over exterior plywood or OSB sheathing, creates channels for water to drain and air to ventilate both the interior and exterior sides of the building membrane.

Construction of the NAHB Research Center’s new, state-of the-art product testing laboratory began this month. According to a recent release (09/06/06), the expansion will include the addition of advanced testing equipment to broaden the company's capabilities as an accredited test laboratory, quality assurance and certified product listing agency.

According to a recent article in Realty Times (Broderick Perkins, 08/28/06), Californians will have the option of solar power by the turn of the decade, thanks to the “Million Solar Roofs Initiative,” which was signed into law in August.

The first House of Innovation, a collaboration between Popular Science and Sunset magazines, reveals just how far technology can take home living, according to a recent article in the Contra Costa Times (Ann Tatko-Peterson, 09/08/06). The 6,500 square-foot home features numerous design and product innovations, including windows that turn from clear glass to opaque with the click of a button, a touch-screen panel that pipes music through speakers throughout the house, and robotics that clean the floors and carpets and mow the lawn.

Inhabitat.com recently published its Top Ten Eco-Innovations (09/06/06) as part of its Green Building 101 series, a weekly column that provides information on how to better understand green building.

According to a recent release (09/08/06), nextBUILD™, the newly-renamed technology component of the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) International Builders’ Show (IBS), will feature more than 200 exhibitors offering both the top technologies for homes and back-end office technologies to help builders improve their business management processes.

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