Homes
Across America
opens
the "front door" to resource efficient and high performance
home building in the U.S. This demonstration shows what the site will
offer. Visitors can:
- search for
homes around the country and find out about the "green"
technology used to build them
- find builders
and designers who have created resource efficient homes
- study climate
factors relevant to home designs in different areas
- find local,
non-biased technical assistance for building green
- track trends
and innovations in the residential market over time
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Featured
New Home
![Entrance to the Utah House](ImagesHome/UT_UHhome.jpg)
Click here to
tour the Utah House
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Why
Is It Important?
Home
construction is a $275 billion a year industry in the U.S. Construction
and home operation demand a tremendous
amount of resources including raw materials, water and energy. These
activities also pose a pollution risk to surface water, air quality
and produce tons of debris.
Resource efficient homes conserve natural resources, minimize pollution
and waste products, provide a healthy environment for the occupant,
and reduce costs associated with maintenance, repair and utilities.
The quality of these homes is achieved through high performance design,
green products and the application of best management practices during
construction. New technologies and approaches are rapidly emerging.
Interest in resource efficient homes is growing.
Homes
Across America aims to build the bridge between homebuyers,
builders, designers and technical assistance providers who have
questions, ideas and information to share about resource efficient
features and innovations. The project developers have partnerships
nationwide that will facilitate broad participation in Homes
Across America. The result will be a searchable, technology
showcase of resource efficient homes and contacts across the nation.
This showcase is scheduled to be on-line in early 2003.
Continue through a demonstration of the showcase by proceeding
to the mock Search page. Or learn more
about what the demonstration has to offer by reading below.
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Why
are homes unique?
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construction
budgets are relatively small
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homes
are designed as living spaces for people
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house
systems (heating/cooling, water, etc.) operated by
untrained individuals
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codes
and requirements vary widely depending on locale
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construction
often based on experience and custom with less rigid
plan documents
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market is less stable; homes are often built on speculation
- homeowner
preference or builder initiative drives innovation
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How
Does It Work?
Homes Across
America
will allow builders, designers, owners and educators to submit
case studies for:
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Built or retrofitted for the open market, these homes
utilize innovative ideas and technology to minimize waste, prevent
pollution and increase efficient use of resources. |
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Constructed for the purpose of research, demonstration and education,
these homes provide hard data proving that resource efficiency is
a viable alternative. |
Sample Submittal Form
Homes Across America will demonstrate construction practices
and finished homes with these resource efficient features:
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Click on an icon above or go to the
Terms Defined page for a description of
these features.
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Homes
that are designed and constructed considering the interactions of each component
(products, location, orientation, equipment, etc.) and using a team approach
to optimize resource efficiency will be designated as an Integrated Design.
Homes Across America visitors
will be able to search for home case studies
using a variety of criteria like "state" and "type of resource
efficient feature". The search results
will list homes and assistance providers with direct links to home case
studies and contact information.
Homes Across America
case studies will feature homes . . .
Proceed to the Search page
for an actual demonstration of Homes
Across America.
This
Demonstration is Only the Beginning . . .
Contact us to:
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ask questions or
make comments
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tell us about
your resource efficient home
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tell us about resource
efficient building in your community
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