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PATH Announces First Top 10 Remodeling Technologies
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.
Like other lists in the Top 10 series, the Top 10 Remodeling Technologies for 2007 features innovations that are within easy grasp, but are either new or have yet to be widely adopted in the remodeling industry. The technologies include: air sealing with spray foam insulation; smart ventilation/ventilation control systems; HVAC sizing; high-efficiency toilets; compact fluorescent lighting; high performance windows/storm windows; wireless lighting, thermostats and other controls; solar hot water; recycled/renewable flooring options; and tubular skylights. For more information, visit the PATH Remodeling Top 10.
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Solar Industry Seeks Congressional Help to Maintain Momentum
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 article from Cox News Service (Bob Keefe, 09/30/07), the solar industry wants Congress to extend tax breaks that give consumers and business owners who install solar equipment an income tax credit equal to 30 percent of the cost of the system, up to $2,000. The tax breaks, which initially passed in 2005, are set to expire in 2008, but energy bills in both the House and Senate would extend them for up to eight years. Currently, the solar industry is experiencing a boon, thanks to the federal incentives as well as state incentive plans, falling material and equipment prices, and environmental, supply and pricing uncertainties surrounding fossil fuels. To learn more, read the article.
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German Student Team Wins Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon
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. According to a recent article in Environment News Service (10/22/07), the architecture jury said the house pushed the envelope on all levels, and the engineering jury gave the team the highest possible score for innovation. Twenty university teams transported attractive, energy-efficient, solar-powered homes to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The homes are net-zero-energy, yield zero carbon, and feature high-tech solutions and money-saving benefits without sacrificing comfort, convenience, or aesthetics. The University of Maryland team’s LEAFhouse received second place honors, and was the favorite house among visitors. To learn more about the Decathlon and the winning homes, read the article or visit DOE’s Solar Decathlon website.
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New Report Shows Green Home Ownership Expected to Increase Rapidly
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). According to a recent release (10/22/07), the report found that the market for true green homes is expected to rise from $2 billion to up to $20 billion over the next five years, and that 40 percent of homeowners are using green products for remodeling. Additionally, the report found that most Americans find out about green building by word-of-mouth, followed by television and the Internet. The report also shows the most significant obstacles to the green building market are education and awareness, which outrank even additional first costs. To learn more, read the release.
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Japanese Government to Push for 200-Year Homes
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. According to the Construction and Transport Ministry, the average life span of residences in Japan is about 30 years, compared with 55 years in the United States. The project will establish a new recognition system for residences that includes increasing post and beam sizes to improve earthquake-protection; making foundations higher to improve airflow and durability; and encouraging regular maintenance. The proposal, which includes tax incentives to build and buy durable homes, was initiated by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. To learn more, read the article.
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NAHB Research Center to Conduct Landmark Study of Disaster Relief Housing Alternatives
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded the NAHB Research Center a $2.9 million grant to conduct extensive research and provide recommendations on effective post-disaster housing alternatives in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. According to a recent release, the Research Center will evaluate the construction and viability of housing built under FEMA's Alternative Housing Pilot Program (AHPP), an initiative aimed at expanding the types of housing FEMA provides disaster-affected communities. The Research Center will provide HUD and, ultimately, Congress with an in-depth assessment of how the AHPP projects are performing in Gulf Coast states. The effort will also provide FEMA with a structured and comprehensive approach for evaluating and prioritizing housing options used for future disaster recovery. Because much of the proposed AHPP housing is factory-built, the Manufactured Housing Research Alliance (MHRA) will be the Research Center’s primary partner for technical engineering analysis during the project. ABT Associates, a consulting company, will conduct a concurrent social science evaluation of AHPP housing and residents. For more information, read the release.
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