TECH BRIEFS - December
At the suggestion of many Executive Officers, the following "ToolBase TechBriefs" were created by the NAHB Research Center as a way for you to provide concise, timely information on home building innovations to your members. TechBriefs will be sent to you monthly, and we would encourage you to use them in your printed or electronic newsletters or other regular communications you have with your members so they can stay poised on the cutting edge of emerging technologies for the housing industry.
Content for the TechBriefs primarily comes from the ToolBase Internet Portal, PATH Technology Inventory, and the quarterly ToolBase News publication. Links for more information are included with each item, making these ideal for inclusion in email or online communications. Enjoy!
1. ZEH WEB SITE
For builders, manufacturers, and homeowners interested in Zero Energy Homes (ZEH) as the winter months approach, the NAHB Research Center's ToolBase Services offers an online resource geared toward bringing awareness of energy-efficient construction. The goal of the Web site is to introduce construction techniques using renewable energy from the sun to power your home. Annually, a ZEH generates enough energy to offset the amount purchased from the utility-resulting in a net-zero annual energy bill.
To visit the site, just click on the ZEH icon on the ToolBase portal – www.ToolBase.org – and you'll have the option to view demonstrations and results or ways to understand and market the value of building with a zero energy home.
2. BUILDERS FOCUS ON IMPROVING HOUSING
The NAHB Research Center will be hosting focus group sessions during The 2006 International Builders' Show in Orlando. Builders of all types are welcome - including production, custom, and luxury, and are encouraged to participate to voice much needed opinions on various building materials. Participating builders will receive monetary incentives in appreciation for their time. Focus group discussions will be held at varying times from January 11 through January 14, 2006 at the Rosen Centre Hotel. Advance registration is required. Be sure to reserve your space on one of these panels by contacting Ronda Oglesby at 800-638-8556, ext. 6262 as soon as possible.
3. SECTIONAL SHOWERS HELP BOOMERS AGE IN PLACE
Lasco Bathware, one of the largest manufacturers of bathroom products in the nation, is introducing a new line of showers that can help people looking to make renovations or people who choose to age in place. The new line introduces a separate sectional, ADA-compliant shower that the distributors say is easier to install closer to the end of a renovation, and lighter weight than its counterparts that are said to be more likely to get damaged because they need to be installed earlier in the process. Because the sectional showers are smaller and lighter weight than traditional units, they tend to take up less storage space as well.
The showers are made of a reinforced fiberglass gelcoat and feature innovations like grab bars, a fold-up seat, a hand-held showerhead, and a bigger entranceway for wheelchairs. For more information, read the article, or visit www.lascobathware.com.
ToolBase is the home building industry's technical information resource. It is a service of the NAHB Research Center,funded by private industry and HUD through the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) program.
TECH BRIEFS - November
1. PATH RELEASES FOURTH TECH SET
The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) has recently released its fourth Tech Set, "Energy-Efficient Lighting." This systems approach highlights a number of affordable lighting techniques to show homeowners and builders how to combine natural daylight and energy-efficient, artificial lighting to save money, improve comfort, and ensure homeowner safety. Because lighting is said to account for 10-25 percent of the home's energy use, using these techniques may make a big difference in homeowners' electric bills.
For more information on PATH and its Tech Sets, visit PATH. For more information on the technologies incorporated, visit the Technology Inventory.
2. SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH INNOVATIVE BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES
The Technology Inventory, the building industry's online resource for practical information on innovative construction products and practices, was recently redesigned to include a more modern look, improved search function, and more detailed information on over 160 innovative building technologies. Another of the improvements to the Technology Inventory is a "Testimonials" section under each technology write-up — this is a section where visitors can find information provided by other building professionals, or provide their own experiences with that particular technology.
The Technology Inventory is an essential tool in accelerating the awareness and acceptance process for beneficial technologies that can improve housing performance. It will now more effectively provide builders, trade contractors, and remodelers access to comprehensive information more quickly and in greater detail. For more information on innovative building technologies, or to read or submit a testimonial, visit the Technology Inventory.
3. GET IN-DEPTH INFORMATION ON U.S. HOUSING MARKET CONDITIONS
For builders who want access to national housing conditions, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides a quarterly report on national housing market conditions as well as historical housing data. The report, U.S. Housing Market Conditions, includes overviews of economic and housing market trends for 10 geographical regions and profiles for housing markets in a variety of cities.
Each issue contains a summary of the overall trends in national housing and an additional resource for the home building industry. For example, the report recently offered information on the use of innovative technologies for housing construction. Technologies featured in the article included tankless water heaters, factory-built floor and wall units, new foundation systems, and PVC and PEX for plumbing. For hard copies of the report, contact HUDUSER at (800) 245-2691, or download a PDF version.