PATH Uses Top Technologies in 2007 Concept Home ICFs, permeable pavement and mold-resistant gypsum board are some of the innovative technologies used.

By Andrew Hunt Click here to visit the PATH website. When The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) announced its 2007 Top 10 Technologies at the International Builder's Show in February, they decided to take some of the suggestions for a test drive. The soon-to-be-completed PATH Concept Home in Omaha, Neb., employs several of this year's top 10 technologies including permeable pavers, paperless gypsum and horizontal axis washer/dryer units. The PATH Concept Home, built by Brighton Construction of Lincoln, Neb., is designed to embody the spirit of the PATH program by satisfying four main criteria: Reduce building and energy costs by cutting construction time and improving the overall energy efficiency of the home. Increase life expectancy of the home by increasing durability and reducing maintenance needs. Create greater flexibility in the home design to allow adapt it to the changing needs of the occupants. Reduce the overall impact of the home on the environment, including reducing job-site construction waste. Managing the construction of the 2000 PATH Concept Home is Newport Partners LLC of Davidsonville, Md. James Lyons is the project manager for Newport Partners and is a mechanical and environmental engineer with more than 10 years of experience in building performance and design. His technical areas of focus include energy performance, moisture management, durability, technology development, and indoor air quality, which dovetail nicely with the goals of the Concept Home. "Our role in the project is fairly broad," said Lyons. "We do most of the technology specs and selections. We brought in over 50 manufacturer partners and have worked to coordinate the integration of the technologies for the house's climate, design, the four pillars of the PATH program, as well as affordability." Putting the technology to use Because the Concept Home is part of an affordable housing community, Newport was challenged with creating a high-performance home within a reasonable budget. "It's not a 4,000 square foot house; it is only about 2,060 square feet, and it's really driven by the high-level themes of the project," said Lyons. "Strategically, we've tried to uphold the values of PATH in the Concept Home so it's not just a collection of 'stuff.' Instead many of the technologies and designs were driven by the offset of these goals. We decided to do the things that made sense from an economic standpoint as well." Super-sized (vertical) ICFs. Vertical ICFs (insulating concrete forms) have been used in home construction for a few years, but for the Concept Home a new twist was added. "There are lots of homes out there with ICF foundations, but for this project we wanted to explore connecting larger sections off site," said Lyons. Instead of the normal single-block application, multiple blocks were stacked together for faster installation. "The basement foundation was set and poured in a single day. A large part of that was because they didn't have to set block by block on site." Lyons stressed the benefits of offsite fabrication to help reduce the cost of building by reducing construction time. "You get all the benefits of shorter onsite job time, shorter work time, not having to worry about weather, and reduced safety concerns." ICFs have exceptional energy efficiency and strength, which make them an attractive option for builders. The wall sections are built using two polystyrene panels held together by a steel I-beam or plastic support. Once in place they are filled with concrete.   1 | 2  NEXT RELATED ARTICLES: Breathe Easy: Radon Mitigation at the PATH Concept House A PATH to the Future of Homebuilding