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New American Home Innovations Showcase Green Building
The New American Home 2009 showcases leading-edge technologies in energy efficiency and green design. Tremendous effort has gone into the green details of this home, including design aspects related to:
- Site development
- Resource-, energy- and water-efficiency
- Indoor air quality
- Operation, maintenance and home-owner education
Among the innovations incorporated into the home, which will be open to attendees at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas next month:
Site development
The New American Home was sited to optimize solar resources and incorporates landscape design to limit water and energy demand. The development does not impact any environmentally sensitive areas. Soil erosion and disturbance have been kept to a minimum with storm water pollution prevention plans, continued on-site monitoring and best management practices.
Resource Efficiency
To minimize the quantity of materials used and reduce construction waste, the builder utilized advanced framing techniques — including pre-manufactured trusses and floor systems — and used building materials that don’t require additional on-site finish resources. Functional improvements installed to enhance durability and reduce maintenance included: overhangs at exterior doors, and over windows for solar considerations; a perimeter drain and sump system for basement footings; and a water-resistant barrier behind the siding.
The project selected manufacturers and suppliers who were able to provide recycled building materials, new materials manufactured from renewable resources or materials made with fewer resources than traditional products. During construction, implementation of a recycling and waste-management program included on-site bins for collecting and sorting waste materials to be recycled off-site.
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Features including low-e windows, advanced insulation, vertical and horizontal solar overhangs, window louvers and a highly-efficient gas-powered heating and cooling system enabled The New American Home to achieve a Five Start-Plus HERS rating of 57. Photo by Erin O'Boyle/Courtesy of the Portland Cement Association |
Energy Efficiency
The New American Home implemented a comprehensive design approach to achieve extraordinary energy efficiency. A proprietary gas-powered heating and cooling system with a SEER rating of 18 was combined with other energy-efficient features — such as low-e windows, advanced insulation, vertical and horizontal solar overhangs and window louvers — to achieve a Five Star-Plus HERS rating of 57. This is before factoring in the installation of a 12,000+ khz solar panel system striving for a net-zero level of electrical consumption.
Insulated concrete forms (ICF) were used predominately for the basement and structural walls, providing exceptional insulating properties with R-values up to 50. Additional features contributing to the energy efficiency of the home include: whole-house instantaneous tankless water heaters, a roof-top solar water heating system, an Energy Star Advanced Lighting Package, lighting control occupancy sensors and Energy Star appliances. Construction details adding to energy savings include: insulated hot water lines, heat traps on water lines from the water heaters, recessed light fixtures in conditioned space and sealed duct-work.
Factory-trained professionals installed the HVAC system and tested it to assure proper equipment performance and the achievement of efficiency goals. Third-party testing was also performed to measure the performance of the energy-related features of the home.
All mechanical, electrical and security features of the home will be controlled and monitored by a state-of-the-art home automation system that can be programmed by the home owner to ensure continued efficient and safe operation.
Water Efficiency
The New American Home has water-saving features to improve both indoor and outdoor consumption. Within the home there are under-sink on-demand water heaters, control-activated recirculation, water-conserving appliances, low-flow faucets and toilets and motion sensors on sink fixtures. The exterior of the home implements a low-volume weather-controlled drip irrigation system with a water supply supplemented by a cistern that collects rainwater and yard run-off through an inter-connected yard drain system.
Indoor Environmental Quality
To improve the air quality of the New American Home by minimizing potential sources of pollutants, green label products were used and combustion equipment was installed with direct venting or a separate area for air exchange. Green products include low-VOC carpets, carpet padding and paint and low-formaldehyde plywood. To minimize the risk of mold, moisture-resistant backerboard was used in wet areas. To manage potential pollutants generated in the home, the kitchen range is exhausted to the outside, and mechanical ventilation is facilitated by exhaust fans.
Operation, Maintenance and Home-Owner Education
The new owner of this home will be given a complete on-site orientation and training session for the operation and maintenance of the HVAC system by manufacturers’ representatives and the installation contractor. The builder will also provide training on the use and care of all systems and appliances within the home. The home owner will be given a certified-green home operations manual and product literature, including warranties for the mechanical and home automation systems.
To view more pictures and floor plans of The New American Home elsewhere in this issue, click here.
Tour Hours and Bus Schedule
Registered attendees at the 2009 International Builders’ Show can tour The New American Home during exhibit hours via free shuttle buses (ticket required) departing every half-hour from the Las Vegas Convention Center. Shuttle bus tickets may be picked up at the The New American Home, which is open during show hours and located in the Central Concourse near the entrance to Exhibit Hall CG and Attendee Registration.
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Date |
Show Home Hours |
Depart Convention Center |
Depart Show Home |
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Tuesday, Jan. 20 |
9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. |
9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. |
10:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. |
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Wednesday, Jan. 21 |
9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. |
9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. |
10:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. |
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Thursday, Jan. 22 |
9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. |
9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. |
10:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. |
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Friday, Jan. 23 |
9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. |
8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. |
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. |
To map the location on the Internet, the address is:
The New American Home 2009
6755 Agave Azule Court
Las Vegas, Nev. 89120
For more information, e-mail Tucker Bernard at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8519.
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