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Builders' Brief - Current Issues - June 2007The US government's "Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing" (PATH) program opened the first "PATH Concept Home". This particular 2100 square foot detached house uses innovative technologies and has achieved ratings from four (4) systems: the NAHB's Model Green Building system, EnergyStar, Masco's "Environments for Living" and LEED for Homes. It is a wood frame panelized house in Omaha Nebraska - supplied by a regional company called Millard - and you can see the panels assembled in video #2. There are also PDF and CAD files for first and second floor framing that can be downloaded at the site. I highly recommend you visit the site at: http://www.pathnet.org/concepthome if for no other reason than to see some very interesting innovative approaches to building. It is our view that the way we build houses will be changing significantly in the next decade in order to achieve better quality, lower costs, reduce on site skilled labour requirements and meet evolving environmental and energy efficiency standards as required and for marketing purposes. This is the best demonstration site we have yet to come across. Housing innovation will form an important part of RESCON’s strategic plan. We would appreciate any comments or feedback from our Members with respect to how you think we might facilitate change. Best Regards, Richard Lyall |
   
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