PATH in the News

Cross Section: Affordable Design Meets High-tech Housing Technology, Fine Homebuilding, Feburary/March 2007.
Fernando Pages Ruiz, a frequent contributor to Fine Homebuilding and the author of Building an Affordable Hoiuse (The Tauton Press, 2005) is getting a unique opportunity to integrate affordable-home design.

Forget "What a Find!" and "Custom-built Gem", The Palm Beach Post (Florida), January 29, 2007.
As builders vie for customers in a tepid housing market, the new catchphrase for marketing homes is "storm-resistant. Last week, Mercedes Homes started throwing around the term to sell its new community in Jensen Beach, The Falls. All 130 homes in the development behind Treasure Coast Square will feature cast-in-place concrete walls, protective exterior coatings and reconfigured soffit vents to minimize water intrusion. The Melbourne-based builder developed the features with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's PATH.

Green Design: Lighting, Kitchens.com, January 2007.
Especially in a multipurpose, highly trafficked room like the kitchen, lighting should be an integral part of the project, not an afterthought. Proper lighting improves the function, appearance and energy efficiency of your home and is also important to your comfort, health and safety.

Green Design: Kitchen Remodel, Kitchens.com, January 2007.
When you're remodeling, the kitchen presents a big opportunity to improve the home's energy performance. Broadening the scope of your project to include energy efficiency, ecological benefits, accessibility and health considerations will provide long-term cost savings, comfort, peace of mind and safety.

Building to Resist a Disaster, Philadelphia Inquirer, December 3, 2006.
Existing houses can be retrofitted to better withstand high winds by securing roof sheathing to trusses when replacing roofs, using anchor straps for the foundation, and adding hurricane-resistant doors and impact-resistant windows - especially in houses that can't accommodate hurricane shutters, which cost about $700 for a single-family house with 312 square feet of windows, according to the PATH.

The Quality of a Mercedes, Construction Today, December 1, 2006.
For the past few years, HUD's PATH and Mercedes Homes have been working together to create hurricane-resistant houses. These homes, the company says, incorporate proven wind-resistant features, including solid-poured concrete construction, tie-downs, steel reinforcement, secondary roof coverings and window shutters.

Making Headway, Alabama Homebuilder, Winter 2006
To be competitive in the building industry, you must offer a high-quality product at a good price and on schedule. Often, modern technologies can help. For more suggestions on the latest building technologies, visit the PATH Web site.

Druid Hills Renovation Project Receives Awards, GoDeKalb.com, November 29, 2006.
Carl Seville of Seville Consulting has continued to receive recognition for his sustainable renovation and expansion of a 1918 brick bungalow in the historic district of the Druid Hills area in DeKalb County. The home, which was featured at the 2005 Southern Building Show in Atlanta, was also a finalist in the residential category of the 2006 Environmental Design and Construction Magazine Excellence in Design Awards. In addition, PATH conducted a case study on the project and published it on the Tech Practices page of its PATHnet internet site.

Department of Energy Says R-49 Insulation Is Best, The Detroit News, November 18, 2006.
When you have sufficient insulation, you keep the heat from being lost during the winter. You also keep the hot summer attic heat from coming into your house during the summer. To make sure that I had the final word on the subject, I went to the PATH Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor site. PATH is a voluntary partnership between government agencies and the homebuilding industry coordinated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Policy Development and Research.

First Student-Built ‘Green’ Home Follows NAHB Model, Nation's Building News, November 13, 2006.
The NAHB Research Center has partnered with the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center (LCCTC) in Pennsylvania to develop one of the first homes rated under the new NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines as a field evaluation project for the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing.

PATH, McGraw-Hill Construction Release Results of Innovation in Residential Building Project, EarthTimes.org, November 9, 2006.
PATH and McGraw-Hill Construction released today four reports, one of which -- "Residential Market Research for Innovation" -- details the entire scope of work under a partnership conducted by PATH and McGraw-Hill Construction to investigate the most critical research data gaps impeding better understanding of innovation adoption.

2007 International Builders Show Will Feature Safer Living Standard, Orlando Business Journal, November 6, 2006.
This marks the fifth year that the NextGen "First to the Future" demonstration home will be built at the show through partnerships. This year, it is working with such organizations as the Institute for Business & Home Safety, Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. PATH selected about 15 technological advancements that will be showcased in the demonstration home that address one-time and longer-term disaster issues such as moisture and mold, Carlos Martin, a PATH researcher, says in the release.

2007 International Builders' Show to Feature 'First to the Future' Home, Yahoo! Finance, November 3, 2006.
When the International Builders Show, the largest light construction show in the world, returns to Orlando, Fla. Feb. 7 to 10 next year, the more than 105,000 expected attendees will likely be in search of answers; and they will find them at The NextGen "First to the Future" Demonstration Home. Approximately 15 technological advancements chosen by PATH specifically for this demonstration home will also be showcased.

Breaking Ground: PATH Concept Homes, MarketWeb, November 2006.
In October, The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH), in conjunction with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), broke ground on its first Concept Home, which features innovative, efficient products and systems designed to construct affordable homes.

Vision for future: A house that changes as quickly as we do, The Charlotte Observer (North Carolina) ,
October 28, 2006.
Welcome to the PATH Concept Home, a "house of the future" designed -- and soon to be constructed -- under the aegis of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program has been conceived by the department to catalyze change in the housing industry, which has historically been slower than other industries in adopting innovations.

Ground Blessing Event Launches Construction Farm Worker Housing Project, Charlotte Sun Herald (Florida), October 21, 2006.
Casa San Juan Bosco is an answer to the lack of affordable, quality housing in DeSoto County for seasonal farm workers. The single-family homes will exceed national building practices by including child safety and other measures of the Healthy Homes Initiative, and the energy efficiency and disaster resistance standards recommended by PATH.

Concept House, Senior Living, Businesses Under Construction, Omaha KETV.com, October 19, 2006.
A first-in-the-nation project called a PATH Concept Home will be built with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at 25th and Parker streets. It must be sold to a minority or low-income family, and is a prototype home that will be environmentally sensitive, efficient and unusually flexible.

Breaking New Ground, Omaha WOWT.com, October 19, 2006.
A groundbreaking on Wednesday marked what many hope will signal a new trend in housing. The model is the PATH Concept Home.

Two Omaha Houses To Be First Of Their Kind In U.S., Omaha World-Herald (Nebraska), October 18, 2006.
Flexible. Efficient. Sustainable. Those are the three themes builder Fernando Pages is incorporating into two of what the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development considers state-of-the-art homes to be built in Omaha. A groundbreaking ceremony was held this morning at the corner of 25th and Parker Streets, where the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing unveiled its plans for the construction of the houses.

HUD Breaks Ground On America's First PATH Concept Home, States News Service, October 18, 2006.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development today broke ground on America's first PATH Concept Home, which will feature innovative products and sys-tems with traditional design elements to create a comfortable and affordable home.

Tech Set Lists Features to Make Kitchens Green, Nation's Building News, October 16, 2006.
A new tech set from the Partnership for Advancing Housing Technology (PATH) provides information on improving the energy-performance of kitchens that can be used for new construction or remodeling.

Construction Starts on 'Green' Technology Home, Lancaster New Era (Pennsylvania), October 3, 2006.
Construction of a "green" technology home was scheduled to begin today at the Mount Joy Campus of the Lancaster County Career & Technology Center in an educational project sponsored by public and private partners. The LCCTC and the Building Industry Association of Lancaster County are leading the project, under the auspices of the PATH program of the NAHB Research Center and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

PEX vs. Copper, Builder Online, October 1, 2006.
THE RISING COST OF COPPER has boosted the appeal of plastic piping alternatives such as cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) among builders. In a field study of copper and PEX water supply systems, the NAHB Research Center and PATH partnered with builder Fernando Pages to provide a definitive comparison of the installation time, material cost, and performance of each in single-family homes.

Ritchie Recognized for Building, The Enid News and Eagle (Oklahoma), September 17, 2006.
David Ritchie, owner of Chisholm Creek Development, has been recognized by PATH as an innovator in durable, energy-efficient building. Ritchie is one of 30 builders, remodelers and service providers in the nation selected for a new case study series on advanced homebuilding technology reducing energy or water use or increasing a home's storm resistance.

Big Builders Play It Safe on Innovative Technology, Nation's Building News, September 11, 2006.
In an industry that is slow to give up the traditional way of doing things, larger, national production builders may not be entirely sold on innovative building technologies and materials, but they are more likely to invest in them than their smaller counterparts and they do see many possible benefits from using them over the next couple of decades, according to a recent report from PATH.

Website Redesign Helps Builders Find Technical Information Faster, Environmental Design & Construction, September 1, 2006.
The NAHB Research Center's ToolBase Services website has been fully redesigned and re-launched to help building professionals navigate comprehensive information on materials, innovative technologies, business management and housing systems more easily. Provided by the NAHB Research Center with support from the PATH Program, the website is a resource for accelerating the awareness of beneficial new technologies and updating building professionals on industry issues and research.

Choose the Right Roofing, Professional Builder, September 2006.
According to the PATH, builders should take several steps to prevent a roof from failing, especially in hurricane-prone areas. PATH recommends moderately pitched hipped rather than gabled roofs to better withstand strong winds, hurricane straps, baffled ridges and soffit vents, among other precautions, to minimize roof penetrations and water damage.

Crews Prepare for Recovery Expo at Coliseum, The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Mississippi), August 6, 2006.
Almost a year after Hurricane Katrina, South Mississippi homeowners are learning a larger lexicon of housing terminology. As emergency housing needs begin to shift to more permanent or in-between choices, information on what's available becomes more vital. Gov. Haley Barbour's Recovery Expo, scheduled Aug. 11-13 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, will offer product demonstrations, a wide variety of vendors and presentations, even a raffle for a new home.

Building seminar brings new ideas, The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Mississippi), August 2, 2006.
Public housing authority officials, faith-based organizations, community housing groups, developers, city government officials and their consultants were on hand to get the latest on disaster-resistant materials and building techniques at a Sustainable Housing Technology Symposium, which began Tuesday at the IP Casino and Hotel in Biloxi.

Instant Hot Water; Tax Credit, Too, The Washington Times, August 2, 2006.
Because tankless water heaters operate differently from tank water heaters, the gas line coming to the unit usually needs to be larger. Therefore, units can cost two to three times more than a tank water heater, ranging from $800 to $2,200, depending on the type of system. Installation can range from $600 to $1,500.
Tankless water heaters this year made the list of 10 top technologies chosen by PATH.

Building America Puts Residential Research Results To Work, The Chief Engineer, August 1, 2006.
Building America provides energy research support to a broad range of residential building programs and partnerships, including Energy Star® Homes, several state programs (such as ComfortWise in California), and PATH.

Green Getaway, Minneapolis Star Tribune, July 22, 2206.
Vacation homes have been sprouting throughout North America for 150 years or more. Now, these sprouts are becoming increasingly green, as a combination of good intentions, guilt and the quest for bragging rights spur owners of second homes to make more eco-friendly choices.

Pilot Project Friendly to Environment in Salem, New Hampshire Union Leader, July 14, 2006.
A residential project in Salem is the only one in New England to use a new technology designed to reduce the impact on the environment by preserving natural resources while reducing infrastructure costs. The Braemoor Woods project uses techniques called low-impact development developed through PATH that are alternatives to standard designs.

PATH, HUD Partner to Showcase Concept Homes, HousingZone.com, July 1, 2006.
PATH has partnered with HUD and several private sector businesses to build two concept homes that transform and grow with the changing lifestyles and needs of its inhabitants. The Concept Homes will focus on flexible design and improved time-saving production processes. The homes will feature movable walls, which enable homeowners to create an extra room or enlarge a small room by adding or removing a wall, and organized, accessible utilities.

Bensonwood Homes And MIT Launch Initiative to Transform the Way America Builds Homes, Yahoo!News, June 22, 2006.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Bensonwood Homes are building a series of four prototype homes through the Open Prototype Initiative, designed to bring innovation to the construction industry.Bensonwood is basing the design and construction of Open_1 on the innovative Open-Built® principles it has developed over the past fifteen years. Open-Built® principles are also being used in the PATH Concept Home.

Government Programs that Help Builders, HGTVPro.com , June 8, 2006.
Carlos Martin with the PATH program sums it up nicely when he says that all three programs are intended to address different market needs. "I look at it this way," he says. "The DOE's Building America Program is focused primarily on research. The PATH program is focused primarily on providing information. The Energy Star program is primarily a marketing program."

Second Homes That Put Ecology First, New York Times, June 2, 2006.
In building their lake house, now in its final days of construction, the Baileys also used old blue jeans for a cinsulation. They also used soy-based cellulose for the exterior walls, low-flow toilets and recycled concrete and drywall. It was all part of an effort to make their vacation retreat as green as possible, with eco-friendly features that were missing from their Lincoln Park home in the city. Resources: PATH - Tips on building energy-efficient homes, finding builders and obtaining tax credits.

Housing within Reach: Innovations in Affordable Housing, Forest Products Journal, June 1, 2006.
Professor Paul Fisette, UMass Building Materials and Wood Technology Program, gave an overview of federal efforts in the area of housing. He described recent efforts by HUD, including PATH. His work on a National Research Council panel investigating PATH goals uncovered the complexity of achieving aggressive affordability goals.

New PATH Study Finds Savings in Panel Use, Forest Products Journal, June 1, 2006.
Integrating Panels into the Production Homebuilding Process, a new study by PATH, surveyed 24 builders in the southwestern and southeastern United States, and found that long-term cost savings, shorter construction times, reduced labor and material costs, and enhanced energy performance were all key factors in homebuilder's decisions to integrate panels into their building practices.

PM Installation Survey: High Velocity Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Mechanical, June 2006.
So what is a high-velocity air-conditioning system? They use small diameter, flexible, pre-insulated ducts - mini-ducts - that can be easily threaded through existing floors, ceilings and walls to deliver cool air where needed, making them ideal for retrofit installations. According to PATH, a special fan coil and air handling unit generates high-pressure air, which is forced through ducts; a main supply trunk supplies air to the flexible, 2-inch plastic feeder ducts. The air passes through sound-suppressing tubing at the end of the duct before entering the room through a plastic collar fitting, or register. Air is supplied at 440 to 1,200 cubic ft. per minute.

Copper Prices Put Plastic Water Piping on the Rise, Nation's Building News, May 29, 2006.
With prices of many building products continuing to rise and little relief on the immediate horizon, Martin said that the Research Center has created a new Web site for Toolbase.org to provide builders with the latest information on how to keep costs under control without sacrificing quality or performance. In addition to copper, the site provides alternatives for lumber, insulation and cement, with links to further areas of interest. Accompanying each item on the list from PATH is information on installation, initial and operating costs, a cost-benefit analysis, field evaluations and code acceptance.

Workshop to Teach How to Prepare, Repair Homes, The News-Press (Southwest Florida), May 26, 2006.
The US Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing and The Home Depot are partnering to offer free home preparedness & repair workshops to Floridians.

Cookin' with Gas: CSST Installation Solves Tough Problems, Reeves Journal, May 1, 2006.
More than 150 million feet of corrugated stainless steel tubing have been installed since 1989, according to PATH.

Concrete Solutions for Lurking Moisture, Professional Builder, May 1, 2006.
Concrete is the most common material for foundation construction. It provides a stable, fairly permanent base for a home, as well as an effective barrier from the elements, rodents, fire, noise and, of course, water. "It is a relatively impermeable, impervious material," says Dana Bres, research engineer with the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing program. "Water doesn't naturally go through concrete. As a result, a poured concrete wall does provide a physical barrier to moisture."

Efficient Ductwork Cuts Heating and Cooling Costs, Nation's Building News, May 1, 2006.
Winners of the NAHB Research Center's EnergyValue Housing Award have found innovative ways to ensure the efficiency of ductwork, which is responsible for as much as one-fifth to even one-third of a home's heating and cooling energy use. For more information about duct design, check out the PATH Technology Inventory or obtain a copy of "A Builder's Guide to Placement of Ducts in Conditioned Space" from the NAHB Research Center.

Home, Smart Home, Readers' Digest, May 2006.
If we're going to live in our homes longer, they'll need to be more flexible. The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH), a public-private initiative, is working on houses that can be easily reconfigured.

Builders And Buyers Often Not On The Same Floor Plan, Chicago Tribune, April 30, 2006.
Take energy efficiency, for example. Consumers talk a good game, but we don't put our money where are mouths are. And we won't until sales people stop explaining the benefits and start warning of the consequences. In other words, they need to accentuate the negative rather than emphasize the positive. Maureen McNulty, information and outreach coordinator for PATH, calls it the "fear factor."

USDA Awards $6 million for Farm Worker Housing Project, Charlotte Sun Herald (Florida) , April 29, 2006
Casa San Juan Bosco is an answer to the lack of affordable, quality housing in DeSoto County for seasonal farm workers and migrants. The homes will exceed national building practices by including child safety and other measures of the Healthy Homes Initiative and the energy efficiency and disaster resistance standards recommended by the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing.

Take A SIP?, ProSales Magazine, April 2006
Yet SIPs still make up less than 2 percent of the residential construction market, according to the Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA). A new partnership between SIPA and APA-The Engineered Wood Association is focused on increasing that market share to 5 percent in the next five years. SIPA also is working with the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing to develop a set of prescriptive performance standards, which will then be submitted for inclusion in the International Code Council's Residential Code.

Framing the Future, Better Homes & Gardens, April 2006
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 PATH program.

PATH for Homeowners, Smart HomeOwner, April 2006.
There's a new online resource for homeowners who want to build, remodel or purchase a home that is energy efficient, durable, healthy and disaster resistant. The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing, an alliance of public and private organizations and companies related to the homebuilding industry, recently launched PATH for Homeowners, its redesigned website aimed at assisting homeowners and homebuyers.

Morristown is seeing green at office building, Daily Record (Morris County, New Jersey), April 5, 2006.
Conflicts between existing ordinances and the use of green technologies can slow the development of such projects, said developer Bill Asdal of Chester, who has been waiting for two years to get a certificate of occupancy for a bed-and-breakfast he would like to open in a historic building he rebuilt in Califon, Hunterdon County. It would not be such a sore point if the project was not being hailed at the first zero-energy home rebuilding project in the country, Asdal said. PATH, a public-private partnership for advancing housing technology, said the project was certified by the National Association of Home Builders Research Center.

Houses That Change When We Do, Washington Post, March 23, 2006.
A recent partnership between the private and public sectors hopes to tip the scales to the advantage of homeowners, however. The fruit of this collaboration is a house designed to anticipate and accommodate exigencies, such as the sudden and urgent need for a new bedroom or study, an updated electrical system or a home elevator. Welcome to the PATH Concept Home, a "house of the future" designed -- and soon to be constructed -- under the aegis of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program has been conceived by the department to catalyze change in the housing industry, which, according to one official, has historically been slower than other industries in adopting innovations.
*Article also was published March 25 in the Cincinnati Post, March 26 in the Orlando Sentinel, March 29 in the Denver Post, March 30 in the Macon (Georgia) Telegraph, April 1 in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and April 2 in the Forth Wayne (Indiana) Journal Gazette and the Bradenton (Florida) Herald, April 9 in the Miami Herald, and October 28 in the Charlotte Observer.

Case Study: Making Every House His Own, Digital Connect, March 1, 2006.
Andre Brown is so serious about customer service that he considers each of his custom integration projects as if it were intended for his own home. One project that will consume much of his time in coming months is the NextGen Home certified community being built in Tampa, Fla., by BrownStone Builders & Associates. Among those who will have a say in the Tampa project and will offer their accreditation: the Institute for Business & Home Safety, PATH, the U.S. Green Building Council and the Consumer Electronics Association.

Windows, Roofs, Doors hold Tight in High Winds, Orlando Sentinel, February 12, 2006.
The home's roofing system involves 11 innovative building techniques executed by a Department of Housing and Urban Development program called PATH.

'Fear Factor' Sells Advanced Home Technology, Nation's Building News Online, February 6, 2006.
While it sounds counterintuitive, builders attending a convention seminar last month in Orlando, Fla. were told that emphasizing the negative is often the best way to convince consumers to incorporate advanced technology into their homes. "We're more afraid of losing than we are happy about gaining," said Maureen McNulty, the information and outreach coordinator for the PATH.

Insurance Industry Noticing 'Fortified' Homes, The Morning News (Northwest Arkansas), February 5, 2006.
Between 1991 and 1995, wind and hail resulted in an average of $8 billion in insurance payouts per year, according to PATH, a group that attempts to improve the flow of information concerning the development and use of new building products.

GridPoint Featured in Innovative Home Construction Products Inventory from Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing, Business Wire, January 24, 2006.
GridPoint, Inc.(TM), a provider of intelligent energy management appliances, today announced that it is featured in the PATH Technology Inventory, which provides practical information on innovative construction products and practices that can improve housing performance.

Supercomputing Time Offered for Gulf Coast Levee Restoration, Environment News Service, January 23, 2006.
The Department of Energy is also offering hurricane affected residents free rebuilding workshops providing expert advice on the latest energy efficient products and techniques, in addition to donating 200 pieces of used furniture to a Louisiana school. In partnership with Entergy New Orleans, The Home Depot, and PATH, the DOE is offering free home repair workshops in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, as residents begin to repair and rebuild.

Rebuilding workshops for hurricane victims offered, Hattiesburg American, January 20, 2006.
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) today announced that it will co-sponsor free, two-day home rebuilding workshops that will offer hurricane-affected residents with expert advice on using the latest energy efficiency products and techniques as they seek to rebuild their homes and communities. DOE has partnered with Entergy New Orleans, The Home Depot, and PATH to host these workshops.

Lincoln Builder Chosen to Build Pioneer Affordable Housing, Lincoln Journal Star (Nebraska), January 14, 2006.
A Lincoln homebuilder has been chosen to build a one-of-a-kind home in Omaha. Brighton Construction will build the first-ever "concept home" through PATH, a public-private arm of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

From The Sidewalk to The House: New Uses for An Old Material, The Journal News (Westchester, New York), January 14, 2006.
Habitat for Humanity of Westchester is building the housing units in partnership with AltusGroup and PATH, a voluntary partnership involving representatives from homebuilding, product manufacturing, insurance, financial services and select federal agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HUD Plans Concept House for Omaha, Omaha World-Herald (Nebraska), January 12, 2006.
The "home of the future" is coming to Omaha. Innovations will include a flexible floor plan, customizable design and advancements that will speed building and improve durability. HUD's PATH is behind the project. Brighton Construction in Omaha was selected as the builder.

Sticks or Stones?, Sun Herald (Biloxi, Mississippi), January 8, 2006.
The technology is called insulating concrete forms and contractors can build to suit the most-paranoid home buyer, with concrete walls reinforced with iron rods measuring as much as four feet thick. Indeed, home building science experts say that when the building envelope -- the foundation, walls and roof -- are all made with ICF, the structure carries the strength of a skyscraper and the insulation of a thermos. "Nothing is stronger than concrete, especially when you build it with rebar," said Asa Foss, a building science specialist with PATH. "And you recoup the additional cost on energy savings."

Officials Pitch Modular Housing, Sun Herald (Biloxi, Mississippi), January 7, 2006.
Members of the modular building industry met with area builders, officials and potential buyers at the Harrison County Courthouse on Friday to pitch factory-built homes and businesses as one option for post-Katrina reconstruction. "In general, we are big fans," said Asa Foss, a building science specialist with the PATH.

Palm Harbor Homes to Provide Showcase Homes at International Builders' Show, Houston Chronicle, January 5, 2006.
Palm Harbor Homes, Inc., a Gold Award winner for Quality from the National Association of Home Builders, will be providing four display homes at the 2006 International Builders' Show. The Palencia, Palm Harbor's fourth home in the show, will serve as the 2006 NextGen Peace of Mind Home to demonstrate the industry's best products and practices in home automation, green building, energy efficiency and storm resistant construction. This 2,565-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath home overflows with high end customization in addition to the more than 15 safety technologies approved by the PATH.

2006 NextGen Demonstration Show Home Offers Homebuyers 'Peace of Mind', Yahoo! Finance, January 3, 2006.
Today, concerned homeowners and homebuilders look towards prevention, and they will find many answers at the 2006 NextGen Home Experience at the International Builders' Show in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 11 to 14. "We're really excited about bringing new technology to the marketplace, especially as it involves disaster resistance, the need for which has definitely been seen this year," says Carlos Martin, a researcher for PATH. The home will showcase more than 15 PATH-approved technologies.

Help Clients Reduce Energy Costs, Lowe's for Pros, January 2006.
One of the simplest ways to cut electrical bills is to suggest customers switch from regular incandescent lights to compact fluorescents lights (CFLs). Glen Salas, engineer with D&R International, a partner with PATH, says, "Make sure it's ENERGY STAR qualified lighting. They have improved their specs, and you get good quality light. You use about 5 to 25 percent of the energy of traditional lights, even though they cost more. But the price is coming down."

The Push and Pull of Building Innovation, Builder/Architect, December 2005.
How does a new building innovation or technique graduate from the infancy of an idea into the maturity of reality? If you follow today's news, you might think government incentives or association-related research programs are the driving forces. But the people running these headline-getting programs readily admit that a new technology or new way of thinking will never reach the mainstream unless driven by homeowner desire.

Cross Section: After the Storm, Fine Homebuilding, December 2005/January 2006.
Experts from PATH teamed with Mercedes Homes to take the next step in storm-resistant construction. In June 2005, they completed two prototype houses designed not only to stand up to strong winds but also to prevent water intrusion from wind-driven rain.

BASF Chemicals Awarded Best Sustainable Practice, Jobwerx Manufacturing Network, December 18, 2005.
Leading chemicals company BASF wins SBIC sustainable research, development, construction process and demonstration category award. The BASF Near Zero Energy Home-Paterson, N.J., incorporates Zero Energy Housing concepts from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and building science principles from PATH/Build America expert Steve Winter, AIA.

Baje Sus Cuentas de Calefaccion en Invierno, Washington Hispanic, December 16, 2005.
¿Cuánto pagó el año pasado en sus cuentas de calefacción? $200, $300, . . . ¡hasta $500 al mes! Esto es lo que millones de personas pagaron el año anterior para mantener sus hogares calientes durante el invierno.

BASF, The Chemical Company, Presents Green Demonstration Home in Paterson, NJ, PR Web, November 30, 2005.
BASF announced that its green demonstration home, The BASF Better Home Better Planet: Near Zero Energy Home-Paterson, N.J., has been selected by the U.S. Green Building Council's pilot testing for the recently launched Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes (LEED-H) rating system. To achieve an expected LEED-H Gold Rating, BASF is currently working with a host of partners, including the Building America team at Steve Winter Associates through a PATH grant.

Installing Kitchen Cabinets, Fine Homebuilding, October/November 2005.
It's a good idea to talk with your plumbing inspector before adopting unfamiliar technologies in your building project. PATH listed air admittance valves as one of its top-10 building technologies for 2004.

Mercedes Homes is sought out for "Shelter from the Storm", HousingZone.com, October 20, 2005.
In the October issue of Professional Builder, senior editor Bill Lurz wrote "Shelter from the Storm" about Mercedes Homes and the technology it and its public and private partners, including PATH, spent eight years and millions of dollars developing - 6-inch-thick, cast-in-place concrete walls that can withstand hurricane winds of 200 mph.

Builders Save Time, Money, Energy with Panels, Study Finds, Business of Building e/Source, October 19, 2005.
Builders have found increased business opportunities using panels in construction, according to a new study from PATH. Because panels decrease project lengths and costs, many builders have expanded their businesses to supply and even fabricate panels, according to the study, "Integrating Panels into the Production Homebuilding Process."

Study Finds Panels Offer Costs Savings, Quality, Nation's Building News Online, October 10, 2005.
Builders looking for ways to increase their profits, improve their turn-around times and reduce callbacks should consider using panelized building methods, according to a new study by PATH. After surveying builders in the Southeastern and Southwestern United States, PATH concluded that home builders who are using panelized housing are deriving several crucial advantages from the technology.

Getting on the Same Page, Sustainable Home, October 2005.
Steven Winter, previously the chairman of the U.S. Green Building Council and currently co- chairman for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes Committee, is also the founder of Steven Winter Associates, Inc., a leading research/design firm specializing in energy efficient and sustainable housing. The firm is also under contract to HUD to conduct research under its PATH program.

Shelter from the Storm, Professional Builder, October 2005.
Florida-based Giant Mercedes Homes is betting the farm that home buyers are willing to invest an extra $3000 to $5000 to live in houses with cast-in-place solid concrete walls - 6 inches thick - that withstand hurricane winds of 200 mph. Keep your eye on how this plays out. Another hurricane season like the last two and we may see half the country living in houses like those.

2006 International Builders' Show to Feature Stronger, Safer 'Peace of Mind' Home, Yahoo! Finance, September 27, 2005.
After drawing more than 100,000 attendees from across the world this past January, the International Builders' Show -- the largest annual light construction show in the world -- will run again next year from Jan. 11 to 14 in Orlando, Fla. The show's attendees will most likely be gathering at a very timely exhibit: The NextGen "Peace of Mind" demonstration home. The home will showcase more than 15 PATH-approved technologies.

2006 International Builders' Show to Feature Stronger, Safer 'Peace, Daily Nebraskan, September 1, 2005.
Cecilia Rossiter is one of eight people who have already reserved lots for the 20-unit Liberty Village project, a brainchild of Fernando Pagés and the City of Lincoln that will provide cutting-edge low- to moderate-income housing designed around the needs of multicultural and nontraditional homeowners. The project broke ground in June and will be monitored by PATH.

Adaptable Architecture, Industrial Engineer, September 2005.
Instilling a desire for innovation with lean production as full-on philosophy in the home manufacturing industry is the purview of a new research project that HUD/PATH and the Manufactured Housing Research Alliance developed in 2004.

Builder Uses New Methods on 2 Hurricane-Resistant Homes, Orlando Sentinel, August 14, 2005.
Disaster-mitigating products and techniques were used in two showcase homes built recently by Melbourne builder Mercedes Homes. These prototype homes in Rockledge were unveiled in June to serve as examples of what can be done to minimize the impact of hurricanes. The builder collaborated with PATH, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the University of Florida and the Florida Energy Extension Service.

Tech Package Shows How to Improve HVAC Systems, Nation's Building News Online, August 8, 2005.
The latest Tech Set from PATH provides information on forced air HVAC systems that can reduce callbacks and speed construction. The third in a series of quarterly technical sets of information developed by the NAHB Research Center, "HVAC Package for New Construction--Forced Air System," provides guidance to reduce initial costs, improve energy efficiency, improve comfort, enhance indoor environmental quality, and reinforce best practices.

Easy Energy Upgrades Can Save Fistfuls of Dollars, Nation's Building News Online, August 8, 2005.
The August Tip of the Month from PATH provides households with simple, cost-effective steps that will quickly improve the energy efficiency of their homes and save them fistfuls of money.

BASF Breaks Ground in Paterson, N.J., Environmental Design + Construction, August 2005.
BASF broke ground for its Paterson Showcase project on Tuesday, June 28th at 262 East 29th Street in paterson, N.J., the site featuring "green" energy conservation building practices and technologies. The house will incorporate Zero Energy Housing concepts from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and building science principals from PATH.

On The Right PATH, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, July 23, 2005.
Mercedes acted upon the experts' recommendations, and in June unveiled its first two "hurricane houses," designed not only to stand up to high winds, but also to turn back wind-driven rain. Teaming up with HUD's PATH, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the University of Florida and the Florida Energy Extension Service, Mercedes built the houses in a subdivision in Rockledge, near Cocoa in Brevard County.

Liberty Village Groundbreaking, HUD Homes and Communities, July 1, 2005.
Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman was the featured speaker at the Liberty Village groundbreaking ceremony on June 28, 2005.

Mercedes Homes Unveils Hurricane-Resistant Homes in Florida, Builder Online, June 15, 2005.
At the beginning of what hurricane forecasters predict will be another active season, Mercedes Homes, in conjunction with PATH and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, unveiled two new hurricane-resistant home prototypes in Huntington Lakes, a Mercedes Homes community in Rockledge, Florida.

Florida Test Homes Built to Withstand Wind and Rain, Nation's Building News Online, June 13, 2005.
Two prototype homes incorporating technologies and practices that can make houses safer in Florida and other hurricane-prone areas were unveiled last week by PATH and Mercedes Homes in Rockledge, Fla.

Mercedes Unveils Hurricane-Resistant Homes in Brevard County, Orlando Business Journal, June 10, 2005.
With the 2005 hurricane season's first named storm already stirring up the waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Mercedes Home has introduced two new hurricane-resistant home prototypes. The Melbourne-based home builder unveiled the new homes--designed and built in conjunction with HUD's PATH and the Federal Emergency Management Agency--in its Huntington Lakes community in Rockledge on June 9.

Mercedes Homes Unveils Hurricane-Resistant Homes in Brevard County, Yahoo! Finance, June 9, 2005.
At the beginning of what hurricane forecasters predict will be another active hurricane season, Mercedes Homes, in conjunction with HUD's PATH and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, unveiled two new hurricane-resistant home prototypes in Huntington Lakes, a Mercedes Homes community in Rockledge, Fla.

PATH Unveils New Storm-Resistant Houses, HGTVPro.com, June 7, 2005.
PATH and Mercedes Homes will unveil two hurricane-resistant prototype homes on June 9, 2005. The houses, at 1170 and 1176 Serengeti Way in Rockledge, Fla., were built as the result of collaboration by PATH, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the University of Florida, the Florida Energy Extension Service, and Mercedes Homes.

21st Century Residential Design, "State of Nevada with Gwen Castaldi" on KNPR, May 9, 2005.
In a continuing series with the American Institute of Architects, the show turns to trends in residential design, specifically in senior communities and low income housing. PATH's Carlos Martín discusses access to good design and quality construction technologies (in 18th minute of program).

PATH Provides Advice on Energy-Efficient Rehabs, Nation's Building News Online, May 9, 2005.
Homeowners and building professionals can find tips on how to integrate cost-effective energy efficiency into their next remodeling project through the Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor, a resource provided by PATH.

Special How-to Feature, Builder Online, May 1, 2005.
With more complex and tougher codes in the offing, builders need to combine their good instincts with a better understanding of the engineering principles that apply to new homes. Here's a primer.

The Living Is Easy, Hour Detroit, May 2005.
From wireless home networking and movable walls to "smart" houses that can adjust indoor temperatures, our domiciles of the future will work to ensure our health and comfort.

Great Ways to Use Home-Run Plumbing, HGTVPro.com, April 25, 2005.
The PATH Concept Home illustrates methods for disentangling systems to accommodate both current stability and future change in the homeowner's housing situation.

The Winds of Change, Chicago Tribune, April 24, 2005.
What, if anything, can be done to build houses that better weather powerful storms? The housing industry thinks it has an answer in systems-built houses.

New Building Method Brings Homes to the Market in Little Time, The Detroit News, April 23, 2005.
PATH, quarterbacked by HUD and the NAHB Research Center, promotes advanced building technologies, materials and products to make residential building more efficient and cost-effective.

PATH Releases Second Tech Set, HGTVPro.com, April 15, 2005.
PATH has announced its second release in its Tech Set series: Durable Building Envelope Details for New Construction or Additions. The new Tech Set details such features as insulated headers, "smart" vapor retarders and roof overhangs.

PATH Announces Series of Best Practices, HGTVPro.com, April 15, 2005.
PATH announced an upcoming series of building-technology best practices at the 2005 International Builders Show in January.

Carlos Martín on the PATH Concept Home (PDF, 178 KB), Dwell, April/May 2005.
We spoke with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development researcher Carlos Martín, PhD, about how prefab figures into PATH.

Mod Townhouses at IBS, Building Systems Magazine, March-April 2005.
Nationwide Custom Homes showcased the modular building system with the PATH Tutorial Townhouses in the IBS Show Village.

Agenda Journalism, Professional Builder, March 1, 2005.
An aggressive information campaign can help protect funding for programs vital to the residential construction industry, including programs like PATH.

Davidsonville Firm Working on Inner City Home of the Future, Annapolis Capitol, January 30, 2005.
Why move out of the family home when the kids are all grown and on their own? That's the question PATH is asking. And it's also working to come up with an answer.

International Builders' Show Features Energy-Efficient Homes, EERE News, January 19, 2005.
PATH built its two-unit PATH Tutorial Townhouses at the International Builders' Show. The modular townhouses feature such technologies as high-efficiency heat pumps; tankless water heaters; and Energy Star-rated insulation levels, windows, doors, lighting, appliances, and electronic devices.

Mod Townhomes At IBS, Building Systems Magazine, January-February 2005.
To alert builders to the technological advances in multifamily construction, Nationwide Custom Homes is exhibiting two townhomes in the IBS Show Village. The two homes showcase the modular building system and PATH innovative home building techniques.

Tankless Water Heaters Can Be A Money-Saving Change, The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 26, 2004.
Although tankless water heaters have been in use in Europe and Asia for years, they have appeared in the United States only in the last few years. It was in January of this year that tankless, or "demand," heaters also made the list of 10 top technologies chosen by PATH.

Townhouses Showcase PATH Technologies, Nation's Building News Online, December 20, 2004.
More than 20 innovative technologies from the PATH will be on display at twin two-story townhouses in Reed Building Group's Show Village at the International Builders' Show in Orlando on Jan. 13-16. One of the PATH Tutorial Townhouses is unfinished so that builders can see exposed building products that promote affordability, energy-efficiency, durability and quality; diminish the home's impact on the environment; and protect it from natural disasters.

Hurricanes Spur Interest in Solid Concrete Homes, Florida Today, December 20, 2004.
In the wake of Hurricane Andrew's devastating journey across South Florida in 1992, wood frame houses fell from favor in the Sunshine State as new home buyers opted for sturdier concrete-block homes.

Brave New House, Ithaca Times, December 15, 2004.
A growing group of planners, architects and builders are developing fresh ideas for creating shelter, both new and rehabilitated, that will absorb less of our earnings and non-renewable resources. With these ideas come new adjectives - such as sustainable, inexpensive and flexible - to supplant the bias-laden "affordable."

The PATH to Innovation, HousingZone.com, December 2004.
Nationwide Custom Homes' PATH Tutorial Townhouses give you an inside look at energy-efficient, sustainable building and living.

The Flexible Home, Smart HomeOwner, Novermber/December 2004.
Flexibility is an issue for most homeowners at one time or another. The PATH concept home addresses that issue by using a design and construction system called open building.

Towards The Beginning of Modular Homes, The Financial Express, November 20, 2004.
Come 2020, houses in the U.S. can be built in 20 days flat. PATH, a leading body in the U.S. set up under the government's housing and urban development department, has revealed a new technology for building a house in 20 days flat-from ground breaking till the house is occupied.

House Showcases Latest Advances in Environmentally Friendly Home Building, Nation's Building News Online, November 1, 2004.
Billed as one of the most environmentally friendly and technically advanced homes ever built, the NowHouse incorporates several technologies promoted by PATH to improve its energy efficiency, durability and affordability.

NowHouse Demo Home Showcases Latest Advancements in Today's Environmentally Friendly Homebuilding, Builder Online, October 24, 2004.
Open to the public in the parking lot of San Francisco's SBC Park through December 2004, structure features latest in cutting-edge technology and home furnishings.

PCA Pushing Aggregate, Rock Products, October 1, 2004.
The Portland Cement Association sponsored an architectural model of the PATH concept home in Washington, D.C. last month.

Solar Tour Offers "Zero" Energy Possibilities, SolarAccess.com, October 1, 2004.
Learning about solar power options for a home is one thing, but putting that knowledge into practice is a leap that only a few people seem willing to take. PATH has worked with home development companies to get solar installations included in the designs.

Events, The Washington Post, September 25, 2004.
The National Association of Home Builders headquarters has on exhibit the PATH Concept Home through Oct. 1. The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing's architectural model demonstrates advanced technologies, innovative building practices and a flexibility of systems to meet homeowner needs.

HUD Officials in Port Charlotte, WCGU, Fort Meyers, Florida, September 24, 2004.
A trio of houses in Port Charlotte was the focal point of a news conference yesterday -- aimed at demonstrating how homes built using new technology resist storm damage. The houses were completed just one week before Hurricane Charley hit -- and came through with very little damage.

HUD Chiefs Visit Local Houses, Charlotte Sun-Herald, September 24, 2004.
Top-ranked officials for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development dropped in on a Port Charlotte single mother of four Thursday to show off her house. The house was constructed with a new, more energy-efficient and disaster-resistant building material -- and it withstood the winds of Hurricane Charley better than many of its neighbors.

Federal Officials Display Styrofoam Homes, Fort Myers News-Press, September 24, 2004.
Representatives from the Department of Housing and Urban Development staged a media event in Port Charlotte on Thursday to showcase how new building technologies can be used for affordable, energy-efficient housing durable enough to withstand a hurricane.

Color Mainstream Green, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, September 7, 2004.
It's time to move green building beyond its current niche status and into the mainstream.

PATH Unveils Its Concept Home to Embrace Evolutionary Technology, TecHome Builder, September/October 2004.
Homeowners have become used to the tyranny of the home technology treadmill: update or stagnate. And as many homeowners and most homebuilders know, updating can come with a considerable cost to a home's walls and other structural elements. But imagine a home built to adapt to new technologies, whatever they might be. Attempting to do just that, PATH unveiled its first model of such a home at Union Station in Washington, D.C. on June 23.

Futuristic Concept Home Stresses Flexibility, Chicago Tribune, August 22, 2004.
The home of the future won't look any different from today's. But it will be new on the inside. In PATH's conception, the future home will anticipate the changing needs of its owners, with movable walls that adjust to fit their lifestyles so they never outgrow their homes.

Some Exciting Innovations to Consider for Your Home, The Spokane Spokesman-Review, August 8, 2004.
Have you ever wondered what technological advances can contribute to your home? At the recent International Builders' Show in Las Vegas, PATH spotlighted a number of new technologies that are rapidly gaining prominence in the housing industry.

PATH Partnership Unveils Concept Home With Moveable Walls, Building Online, August 4, 2004.
Recently, PATH unveiled its Concept Home, an archetectural model of a high-quality, affordable home with a custom-built look.

PATH's Home of the Future, Professional Builder, August 1, 2004.
Imagine being able to build a home in 20 days. Or add extra rooms and space to any house by simply moving walls. PATH has created a Concept Home model that could make these ideas a reality.

Dreaming Up a House That Can Evolve With Its Occupants, The Washington Post, July 10, 2004.
The PATH Concept Home seeks to demonstrate that American homes can be designed and constructed to be much more flexible and adaptable to evolving needs.

Path to the Future (PDF, 17.4 MB), Builder Magazine, June 2004.
If you build homes, expect to use some of these products and processes in the next few years.

Plastics' Role Growing in 'Green' Construction, Plastics News, June 14, 2004.
A new focus on housing sustainability is expected to boost the use of plastics in residential construction.

PATH Picks the Top Technologies, Housingzone.com, April 1, 2004.
The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing, made up of government entities, home builders, product manufacturers and others, has chosen the top 10 home building technologies to develop further and bring to a wider market in 2004.

NextGen Opens Builders' Eyes to Possibilities (PDF 198 KB), Building Systems Magazine, March 2004.
Conventional site builders were clearly intrigued by modular technology and the "Evolution of the American Home," the theme for the 2004 NextGen Demonstration Home at the International Builders' Show this past January in Las Vegas.

New Jersey Zero Energy Remodeling Project Points the Way to Gains In Residential Energy Efficiency, Nation's Building News Online, March 8, 2004.
An energy-efficient restoration projects on run-down structures in Lebanon, NJ is expected to produce the nation's first rehabbed zero-energy home.

FOCUS ON: Green Housing, REALTOR Magazine, March 2004.
Knowing what makes a home healthy is key to sales success.

These 10 Technologies Could Solve Housing Problems in the Future, The Detroit News, Feb. 14, 2004.
Did you know that there's an agency of the federal government whose No. 1 goal is to shake up the building business and make your life better?

NextGen 04:The Evolution Of The American Home (PDF 170 KB), Building Systems Magazine , Jan./Feb. 2004.
Modular technology is contributing to the "Evolution of the American Home," the theme for the 2004 NextGen Demonstration Home. In addition to showcasing what can be accomplished within a factory setting, this home spotlights the evolution of building science, safety and technology--three amenities that never go out of style.

IBS Exhibit | NextGen 04 The American Home Evolves, Builder and Developer, Jan. 1, 2004.
Attention builders who want to build better and sell faster: NextGen04 is an IBS attraction you can't afford to miss.

Building Fresh Opportunities: Sale of High-Tech NextGen House Will Benefit Local Charity, Las Vegas Sun, Jan. 2, 2004.
Opportunity Village was chosen out of dozens of local charities as the recipient of the 2004 NextGen Demonstration Home, a showcase for the evolution of building science, safety and technology to be on display during two conventions this month.

International Builders Show Showcases Energy-Efficient Homes, EERE News, Jan. 21, 2004.
Two highly energy-efficient model homes are now being showcased at the International Builders Show, underway at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Award-Winning Building Products and Projects Advance Energy Efficiency, EERE News, Jan. 28, 2004.
PATH names the Top Ten Technologies at IBS 2004.

Las Vegas builders show housed new ideas for homes of the future, The Detroit News, Jan. 31, 2004.
If a builder wanted to learn, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) made it very easy for him to be a big winner at the Jan. 19-22 International Builders Show in Las Vegas.

Content updated on 2/6/2007