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PATH's vision includes the goal of reducing the energy use and environmental impact of new housing by 50% and energy use in existing homes by 30% in the future. Technology has a clear relationship to the energy a house will use after it is built, as well as the resources consumed and pollution generated during its construction. PATH develops new energy- and resource-efficient systems, promotes the recycling of building materials, and helps homeowners and developers remodel their homes with technologies that are proven to reduce energy bills.
PATH Tools
Accelerating the Adoption of Vacuum Insulation Technology in Home Construction, Renovation, and Remodeling December 2002
Vacuum Insulation is a technology with the potential to improve the thermal performance of housing. In response to the opportunity for gains in residential thermal performance, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development commissioned a program aimed at accelerating the development of Vacuum Insulated Panel products for home construction, renovation, and remodeling.
BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) software
Produced by NIST's Building and Fire Research Laboratory with funding from PATH and the Environmental Protection Agency, BEES supports purchasing decisions by providing relevant science-based information often lacking in selection of "green" or environmentally preferable building products. Can be downloaded from NIST's Web site at no charge.
Demonstration Sites
Builder sites where PATH assesses and evaluates technologies being used in housing, typically involve more units and technologies than evaluation sites.
Energy Desk Book
The Energy Desk Book spotlights the heavy burden utility costs can place on affordable housing and economic development. It reviews the important energy mandates for HUD programs and discusses the resources available to reduce these costs for American families and communities.
Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor
This easy-to-use Web-based tool will help you integrate energy efficiency into your remodeling or rehab project. It provides recommended energy efficiency measures for most types of rehab projects, as well as the associated costs, energy savings and additional benefits of incorporating the measures.
Energy Performance Contracting for Public and Indian Housing February 1992
This Guidebook was developed to explore and clarify the use of energy performance contracting by Public Housing Agencies and Indian Housing Authorities (PHAs and IHAs). It defines how performance contracting may be done in accordance with regulations governing HUD's Performance Funding System for Public and Indian Housing.
Field Evaluations
Builder sites where PATH assesses and evaluates technologies being used in housing.
A Guide to Deconstruction: An Overview of Deconstruction With a Focus on Community Development Opportunities February 2000
Describes techniques for deconstruction, the process of selective dismantling or removal of materials from buildings before or instead of demolition.
HVAC Sizing Methodology for Insulated Concrete Homes February 2004
The objective of this work was to compile available information regarding energy use in concrete homes, develop additional information as needed, and use this information to develop a methodology to properly size heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment for concrete homes in the US and Canada.
Life Cycle Assessment Tools to Measure Environmental Impacts December 2001
Given the potential importance of these tools for America's homebuilders, HUD commissioned the NAHB Research Center to convene a meeting of experts to critique LCAs and offer suggestions on making the tools more useful.
Overview of Retrofit Strategies: A Guide for Apartment Owners and Managers
This publication describes techniques property managers may use to conserve water, with approaches requiring modest investment and minimal construction.
The Practice of Low Impact Development July 2003
This publication presents a land development process--Low Impact Development (LID)--that uses various land planning and design practices and technologies to conserve and protect natural resource systems and reduce infrastructure costs.
A Report on the Feasibility of Deconstruction January 2001
Deconstruction is the process of selective dismantling or removal of materials from buildings before or instead of demolition. Based on a study of four urban communities, this report details how communities can potentially use deconstruction to support and complement other community objectives.
Technology Stories
Success stories gathered by PATH to demonstrate the use of new housing technologies.
ToolBase
ToolBase is the housing industry's resource for technical information on building products, materials, new technologies, business management, and housing systems.
Content updated on 10/29/2004