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ToolBase E-News Gets a Facelift
Welcome to the new and improved ToolBase E-News – a bi-weekly e-newsletter on housing technology provided by the NAHB Research Center.
We hope you enjoy the new look and navigation of this newsletter. The redesign is in keeping with the recent updates made on the ToolBase.org website – if you haven’t been to the site in a while, check out what you’ve been missing. The NAHB Research Center staff is constantly adding new content on innovative building technologies and refining the navigation to better serve the information-gathering needs of busy home building professionals. If you are receiving this e-newsletter for the first time, welcome. If you’ve previously unsubscribed from ToolBase E-News but received this message, we apologize. To unsubscribe from the newsletter, simply click the link at the bottom of this message and you will not receive any future editions. Enjoy this edition of ToolBase E-News.
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Competition Yields High-Tech Food Concept Appliances
According to a recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer (Alan J. Heavens, 01/13/07), Swedish appliance manufacturer Electrolux received hundreds of entries from students in 37 countries for its fourth annual Design Lab competition, which solicits ideas for innovative kitchen products. Entries included the “Spice Hood,” which combines existing range-hood technology with an automated spice rack. It is designed to reduce kitchen clutter, and also filters, dehumidifies and cools extracted air to meet the storage requirements of the herbs inside.
Other entries include the Nevale, a personal food carrier that can serve both hot and cool meals; the Organic Cook, which uses high-efficiency radiant energy to cook without fat when frying, grilling and broiling; the Vessto, an energy-efficient portable stove; the Fit Snack Joy, which disinfects, bakes, seasons and forms fruit and vegetables into made-to-order shapes; and the Vege, a full-size unit for growing vegetables from seed using hydroponics. To learn more about the winning concepts, read the
article.
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Hot Savings — New Heat Pump Said to Use Half Energy of Traditional Units
Homeowners could see their electric bills reduced considerably with a new integrated heat pump developed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), according to a recent press release (01/19/07). The unit combines water heating with heating and cooling, dehumidification, and ventilation functions and can use half the energy of standard heat pumps and water heaters. According to Richard Murphy, a researcher at ORNL’s Building Technologies Program, the unit saves energy by providing hot water at heat pump efficiencies. It also uses variable speed components that can adjust operating rates to meet current loads. For more information, read the release.
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Concept Home Fast Becoming Reality
The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) recently announced the completion of the foundation, basement, and wall and floor framing for the PATH Concept Home Omaha, Neb. The Concept Home, a 2,000-square-foot village vernacular house, combines innovative products and systems with traditional design elements. The home also aims to substantially reduce construction times and material waste. The home’s foundation combined preassembled Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) panels integrated with a waterproof membrane with a modular egress system.
These technologies allowed crews to complete the foundation and basement in one week, and will provide a basement that is a safe, comfortable, and livable space. A few days later, crews completed the home’s envelope with prefabricated floor systems and wall panels. Aside from quick installation, the factory-built floors and walls offer improved quality and precision and reduced waste. To learn more about the home and to check its progress, visit www.pathnet.org/concepthome.
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PATH Sponsors Innovative New Southern Home
The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) recently announced its sponsorship of the 2007 New Southern Home. According to a release (01/10/07), the home will be displayed during the 29th annual Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) from July 12-14, 2007, and will remain open to the public through the 2008 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla. The 10,200 square-foot home will be energy efficient, built to withstand extreme weather conditions, and will have enhanced accessibility for those with disabilities. For more information, read the release.
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One-Year Federal Energy Tax Credit Extension Approved
President Bush recently approved a bill that will extend federal tax credits for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. According to a item in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) EERE News (01/04/07), the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 provides a one-year tax credit extension for new properties that produce geothermal power or make use of solar energy; for homeowners that purchase solar water heating, solar photovoltaic, or fuel cell systems; for businesses that purchase fiber-optic lighting systems, solar energy systems, or fuel cell power plants; for new energy-efficient homes; and for energy-efficiency improvements to commercial buildings. To learn more, read the statement.
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Katrina Victims Find Modular Solution
According to a recent article in the New York Times (Leslie Eaton, 01/06/07), modular homes are increasing across the Gulf Coast as citizens seek to speed recovery from Hurricane Katrina. The quickly-assembled homes were almost unknown in the region before Katrina, but are now appearing in a variety of forms, from shotgun-style cottages to mini-mansions. Modular homes offer an alternative to traditional rebuilding, which has been hampered by rising building material costs and scarcity of contractors. The number of modular homes constructed in the region is still small, but experts agree that modular housing will grow rapidly this year, and may lead to larger changes in the way homes are built. To learn more, read the article.
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