PATH - A Public Private Partnership for Advancing Housing Technology
PATH Articles 2006
Browse stories written by PATH in 2006.
New Ways of Thinking: The PATH Concept Home
Builder/Architect
, December 2006
The home's plan features flexibility that is entirely new in home design -- it is easily adapted to new technologies and to changing life situations.
Top Building Technologies of 2006
Professional Builder,
December 2006
If you limit yourself to the headlines, 2006 was a bad year for builders. New home sales lagged, construction costs soared and homes sat vacant for months. But for builders who have adopted new building science technologies, the market is looking bright.
Open a Faucet of Revenue
Professional Remodeler,
December 2006
Jacuzzis. Saunas. Granite countertops. These may be your client's idea of comfort and quality in a bathroom remodel, but the fancy extras can't make up for what's in the walls and under the floor - where comfort and quality truly begin.
CSST Opens Markets for HVAC Contractors
PHC News
, November 2006
Kevin Wagner of Wagner Heating and Cooling in Lititz, Pa., has been in the HVAC industry for 17 years. He has been using CSST flex pipe since 1999, when it first became available in his area.
Builders Can Break From Tradition
Professional Builder,
November 2006
Builders can tackle problems with skilled labor and climbing energy bills at the same time by considering using insulating concrete forms or structural insulated panels in their next project.
PATH Report: Ageless Designs
Professional Remodeler,
November 2006
Connect these dots: Aging-in-place remodeling is the fastest growing segment of the residential remodeling industry. About 20 percent of the U.S. population will be elderly by 2030, and in 50 years, the percentage of retirees will more than double, according to Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies.
All That Glitters Isn't Green
Blueprints,
Fall 2006
The building industry, especially the design profession, has paid increasing attention to green practices in the past decade. Though many of the relevant technologies and underlying knowledge have been around since the early days of the environmental movement (if not much earlier), the issue currently enjoys an unprecedented primacy in both the industry and popular imagination.
Let the Wind Blow: Storm-Resistant Windows and Doors
Builder/Architect,
October 2006
With the attention that violent storms the past few years have placed on the dangers of high winds, much attention has been focused recently on building to protect homes during this severe weather. Although older homes often are more vulnerable to damage, even new homes built with concrete walls and hurricane straps are susceptible without some protection.
Better Building Blocks for Better Homes
Professional Builder,
October 2006
What goes up as easily as a standard concrete masonry unit structure but is just as strong, more energy-efficient and easier to work with because of its light weight? It's autoclaved aerated concrete, a pre-cast manufactured building block made from quartzite sand, lime and water.
Plugging into Energy Efficiency
Professional Remodeler,
October 2006
Energy efficiency. Resource conservation. Green. These are the hot marketing buzzwords in new home construction. What do they mean to the professional remodeler? Potentially, they could mean a new market.
Home Energy Efficiency Rating Might Give You The Edge
Illinois Builders Journal,
September/October 2006.
After 25 years in business, Michael Lotesto of Crystal Lake has added "diagnostic services" to his professional offerings. This service determines the sources of a home's energy loss and performance problems.
From Trash to Treasure
Professional Builder,
September 2006
For some builders, job site waste is an afterthought. Many just rent the dumpster, throw the waste in and forget about it. The NAHB Research Center reports that the average builder pays $511 per house for waste disposal. The average construction job site is also reported to dispose of more than 8,000 pounds of material, or the equivalent of 50 cubic yards in volume.
Ecospotlight: Home of the Future
Ecological Homes
, Fall 2006
These are some of the basic principles behind the Concept Home, a vision of the home of the future from the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) that's pushing the building envelope for the building industry.
When Size Matters
Professional Remodeler,
September 2006
When doing an addition or renovation, remodelers often have to reconfigure or even replace the home's heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. If you want your customers to be really happy with the job, sizing the system correctly is key.
Bathrooms Look Good in "Green"
Builder/Architect,
August 2006
Today's luxury additions to the bathroom make a big impression on many potential home buyers: marble countertops, upscale fixtures, handcrafted cabinetry--all offer the "wow" factor that so many buyers are looking forward. But to have an even bigger impact, builders can use, and buyers should be educated, on some important bathroom upgrades that can't be seen: I'm talking about what can be done with the plumbing system.
Upgrading Below Grade
Professional Remodeler,
August 2006
Full-service remodelers can have their time nickel-and-dimed with a flurry of little projects. That makes it important to take advantage of the big projects that come along such as a basement remodel.
Streamline Your Business
Professional Builder,
August 2006
As the white-hot housing market cools, builders can maintain a competitive edge by improving construction quality while controlling costs.
Modular and Green
Professional Builder,
July 2006
David Bennert is co-founder of Innova Homes, a small building company in Asheville, N.C., that builds about six homes a year. His style: modular. His reasons: speed of construction, pricing and quality control. But he has a new specialty: being green.
Making Weather Work
Professional Remodeler,
July 2006
You've just completed a new addition with a beautiful pitched roof and high-end windows. After all that hard work, are you ever proud of the job. But will your addition be mold- and water-free in five years? It will if you take the time to weatherproof the roof and exterior walls.
Heat for the Feet
Her Home,
Summer 2006
At the height of summer, your home heating system may be the farthest thing from your mind. But if you're planning a new home, it's not too early to think about the kind of system you want installed. And if comfort, efficiency and allergies are a concern, you'll want to look beyond a traditional forced air system.
Put Your Stamp (and Color) on a Project
Builder/Architect,
June 2006
Concrete: It's affordable, durable low maintenance and allergen-free. Because it's energy efficient and durable, concrete is also considered a sustainable material. However, many people, when they think of concrete floor and wall, think "ugly." It's time for them to change their minds.
Solar Energy for Everyone
Professional Builder,
June 2006
Many builders assume they need a hot, sunny state to even consider installing a photovoltaic (PV) system. While there is a benefit to being in these areas, homes in colder climates may be equally good -- or even better -- candidates.
A Doctor in the House
Professional Remodeler,
June 2006
Much like a doctor diagnosing a patient's illness, remodeler Michael Lotesto makes house calls ready to treat a home. His specialty: energy-efficiency and building performance.
A Home for the Ages
Professional Builder,
May 2006
Builders find benefits in aging-in-place design. According to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, by 2030, about 20 percent of the U.S. population will be classified as elderly. Over the next 50 years, the percentage of retirees will more than double.
A Taste of Energy Efficiency
Professional Remodeler,
May 2006
Late last year, my wife and I contracted with a full-service home improvement company to redo the small, dark kitchen in our 1950s-era Maryland rambler. Having worked as a designer and consultant in residential and commercial energy efficiency for many years, efficiency was a priority.
Ask The Pros
EcoLogical Home Ideas,
Summer 2006
"Can solar panels work in an old house?" The short answer is, "Yes, they can work just as well in an older home as in a newer home." However, with an older home, you cannot take as much for granted as you can in a newer home.
Going Green with Better Greenery
Builder/Architect,
April 2006
Most builders and architects have an appreciation for landscaping. After all, a well-placed shrub or tree can make an attractive home look even better, while the right plantings can ensure proper drainage after a heavy rain. But with a little extra planning, landscaping can have a broader impact, turning an ordinary home into a "green" home that uses less energy and water.
Pipe Dreams: Behind the Scene Upgrades
Professional Builder,
April 2006
If you want to build kitchens and baths that are beautiful inside and out, you might want to make some upgrades where they can't be seen - the plumbing system. Technologies like home run plumbing, air admittance valves, tankless water heaters, low-flow fixtures and gray water reuse piping provide homeowners easier long-term maintenance and lower utility bills. You benefit from easier, speedier construction.
In Manufactured We Truss
Professional Remodeler,
April 2006
While stick building remains the standard, remodelers are taking a cue from new home builders' use of pre-assembled trusses when it comes to big jobs. Manufactured roof and floor trusses can ease and expedite the process of installing the roof and floor systems in an addition, and more importantly, provide time, labor and material savings in the process.
Tame Your Utilities
Her Home,
Spring 2006
When you're thinking about building a new home, the location of the plumbing, heating and cooling systems probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. Or the second. But if easier maintenance, greater comfort and lower energy bills sound appealing, it's worth giving some thought to where these systems go and how you'll gain access to them.
Storm-Resistant Roofing
Professional Builder,
March 2006
It only takes a moment for a hurricane or tornado to peel the roof off a house. And once the roof is incapacitated, the house is a sitting duck for further damage, if not total destruction. Your best defense: fasten the roof securely to the house and include multiple layers of moisture protection.
Replacement Window Options
Professional Remodeler,
February 2006
New windows offer the perfect opportunity to improve a home's aesthetics and energy efficiency, but too often this chance slips away with inadequate installation.
Going Green, Step by Step
California Builder,
January/February 2006
PATH has interviewed several Title 24 experts in California who have examined the new standards and the most cost-effective ways to meet the code. You can meet the new Title 24 standards at minimal cost by considering the advice of these building energy experts.
Rising Tides
Professional Builder,
January 2006
Katrina. Rita. Wilma. The hurricanes of 2005 dramatically illustrate the importance of building durable, disaster-resistant homes. As rebuilding begins in the South, PATH suggests some changes in building materials and practices that will make new homes more flood-resistant.
Silence is Golden
Professional Remodeler,
January 2006
You can do a lot to absorb, reduce or eliminate other indoor and outdoor noises that grate on your clients' nerves. Happily, what makes a home quieter usually makes it more energy efficient - which makes it more comfortable and affordable, too.
Silence Is Golden
Her Home,
January 2006
Your home is a factory. It has all the equipment and processes of almost any factory: fans, blowers, pumps, cleaning and laundering, waste disposal, heating and cooling, refrigeration, even accounting. Unlike a factory, your home should also be designed to provide a calm, livable environment -- one that maximizes comfort and minimizes intrusions, both from the outside world and from within the home.
Certification and Green Building Builds Quality Programs
Builder/Architect,
January 2006
Builders are going green in increasing numbers as more and more of them find that green building techniques can improve the quality of their homes.
Content updated on 11/6/2007
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