Welcome to the ToolBase/PATH E-News. You can access prior issues or subscribe to this electronic news service on the ToolBase Services website - http://www.toolbase.org - by clicking the "Newsletters" link at the top of the page.
We want to hear about your housing-related news for future issues - email information to the E-News Editor. (The NAHB Research Center's ToolBase editorial staff reserves the right to refuse or condense any news submission.) Enjoy this issue of ToolBase/PATH E-News.
In This Issue:
NEW DESIGN GUIDE FOR PEX NOW AVAILABLE ON TOOLBASE.ORG:
This newly-released Design Guide - Residential PEX Water Supply Plumbing Systems – prepared by the NAHB Research Center for the Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI), the Plastic Pipe and Fitting Association (PPFA), and PATH – provides the information and resources needed by builders, designers, and trade contractors to design and install cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) water supply systems in residential buildings. It includes comprehensive design concepts and installation guidelines to increase the acceptance and proper use of PEX. This guide will introduce potential users to PEX and enable current users to optimize their PEX systems and minimize costs. Download a PDF copy of the design guide now.
HOLLOW BRICK PASSES FIRE-RATING TESTS:
According to a recent release (11/28/06), the Brick Industry Association (BIA) recently tested the fire resistance of two new types of hollow brick. Hollow bricks have a hollow core that makes them lighter in weight and easier to produce with fewer materials. Because of these attributes, the BIA touts hollow brick as a green building material that is cheaper to transport and easier to handle and install. However, the new products had not been tested previously for their fire rating for exterior walls. The fire tests, conducted at an authorized independent facility, tested exterior wall sections made from each of the new brick materials by subjecting them to fire for one hour. Both brick materials passed the test, and achieved a one-hour fire-resistance rating. To learn more about the tests and about hollow brick products, read the release.
BuildingGreen's 2006 TOP 10 GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS:
According to a recent release (11/15/06), BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of Environmental Building News, recently announced its 2006 Top-10 Green Building Products awards. The winning products include a polished concrete system that turns both new and old concrete slabs into durable, finished floors; a dense, water-resistant, solid-surface composite material made from recycled paper and a resin derived in part from oil found in the shells of cashews; recycled content interior molding; an electronically tint-able interior glazing that provides glare control on demand while preserving views; and a water-efficient showerhead that allows water to retain heat better than other low-flow showerheads. For the complete list of winners and additional information on all the winning products, read the release.
NATION'S CAPITAL LOOKING TO BECOME PIONEER IN 'GREEN' CONSTRUCTION MANDATES:
According to a recent article in the Washington Post (Nikita Stewart, 11/16/06), Washington, D.C. may become the first major city in the country to require that private developers build environmentally friendly projects that incorporate energy-saving measures. If the city council gives final approval to a bill next month, most large construction in the city, including commercial and city-funded residential, would have to meet the standards by 2012. Using standards established by the Green Building Council, the green buildings would feature low-flow showerheads; recycled building materials; designs that encourage walking; drought-tolerant plants; and reduced need for artificial heating and cooling. Opponents believe that building green can add as much as 11 percent to construction costs, but supporters place the extra costs at 2 to 4 percent. To learn more, read the article.
GREEN MANSIONS:
A recent article in Forbes (Lucy Maher, 11/15/06) evaluates recent trends in luxury green home building. According to the article, the shift among “non-tree-huggers” to consider alternative power sources may be prompted by many factors including social consciousness, health concerns, fluctuating energy costs, and blackouts and storm-induced power outages. But those aren’t the only drivers, according to the article – a thoughtfully designed house can use a fraction of the amount of energy a normal house would without compromising comfort. The article highlights several high-end homes that have incorporated environmental-friendliness, including a $45 million, 18,000-square foot home with a geothermal heating system, and the Solaire, a residential tower in downtown Manhattan, which has solar panels built into its skin, a water treatment facility, and two green roofs. To learn more, read the article.
HYBRID PANELS COMBINE STRENGTH OF STEEL WITH SPEED OF SIPS:
According to a recent article in Nation’s Building News (11/20/06), carpenter and custom builder Fred Ballard no longer has to worry about warped walls, mold issues, or termites thanks to steel structural insulated panels (SIPs). Ballard, who participated in a Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) case study, found that the quickly-assembled panels can reduce the framing and insulation stage of construction by three to five weeks. Additionally, the panels are waterproof and able to withstand extreme weather conditions during construction. Although they add between 5 and 10 percent of the overall cost of construction initially, the investment in steel SIP construction is usually recouped within 10 years, thanks to monthly energy savings of 30 to 50 percent. To learn more about steel SIP construction, read the article.