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Turn on the TV, open a magazine or newspaper, or log on to a Web site and chances
are you will find at least one story about new technology in fields as diverse
as medicine, space travel and farming. Have you ever wondered what
technological advances can contribute to the construction of your next home?
At the recent International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH)
spotlighted a number of new technologies that are rapidly gaining prominence in
the housing industry. According to PATH, these technologies are proven,
practical, easy-to-use and quickly drawing interest as both builders and
consumers reap their benefits. Technologies profiled by PATH are selected for
their strength in one or more of the following areas: quality and durability;
energy efficiency; environmental performance; safety and disaster mitigation;
and affordability.
You can improve the quality and affordability of your next home by considering
the following innovations when building or purchasing a home.
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand without storage—shaving 10 percent to 20 percent off your water heating bill—by reducing or eliminating standby losses (energy lost from warmed water sitting
in a tank).
Tankless water heaters have
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an electric, gas or propane heating device that is activated by the flow of
water. Once activated, the heater provides a constant supply of hot water.
These heaters can be used for supplementary heat, such as a booster to a solar
hot water system, or to meet all hot water needs in your home.
HVAC Optimization
Proper sizing of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning equipment can mean
savings in
initial and operating costs of mechanical equipment and increased comfort for you and your family. To maximize efficiency, use properly sized equipment and place HVAC equipment inside the conditioned space. Savings resulting from proper sizing can offset increases in costs associated with improving the energy efficiency of a home.
Optimum Steel/Wood
Combination Framing
Combination steel/wood framing systems use recycled steel studs and joists that
attach directly to wood plates and
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bands using the same tools and methods as conventional framing techniques. The
steel components are lightweight and quality consistent, and conserve lumber,
speed up construction and add structural flexibility.
The relatively stable steel price makes combination framing an attractive choice
for consumers. Compared to wood, steel costs less can be used with less waste
and can save homeowners up to 30 percent on insurance thanks to its high
natural force resistance.
Pre-cast Concrete Panels
Pre-cast concrete systems can be installed in a fraction of the time needed for
a poured foundation, resulting in labor savings that can be passed on to the
consumer. A typical pre-cast concrete panelized foundation, consisting of
steel- reinforced concrete studs, reinforced top and bottom beams and concrete
facings, can be erected in four to five hours, with no on-site concrete work.
Cold weather erection is less complicated because no pouring or curing is
required,
and waterproofing is simplified due to the material’s resistance to water penetration.
Additional top technologies named by PATH include air admittance valves, home
run plumbing systems, low impact development, engineered panelized systems and
shared wastewater treatment systems. For more information on these innovations,
visit
www.pathnet.org.
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