February 14, 2007

PATH Unveils Top 10 Technologies
Cutting-edge Innovations Show Future of the American Home

The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) announced its 2007 Top 10 Technologies to housing industry professionals during the Breakfast of Innovators at the 2007 NextGen Demonstration Home at the International Builders' Show.

With the Top 10, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) PATH takes a glimpse into the future of homebuilding, and finds faster construction, safer homes, and efficiencies of every stripe. In 2007, new technologies reflect ancient ideas about harnessing the elements, while protecting us from nature's brutal forms.

"The updated 2007 Top 10 Technologies hold the most promise for improving the quality of our homes," said Assistant Secretary Darlene F. Williams of HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research. "These technologies are ready now and they can perform in the houses that we build tomorrow."

PATH first introduced its Top 10 Technologies in 2004. It has updated the list to reflect innovations within the housing industry and technological evolutions. The latest Top 10 is intended to alert builders and homeowners to valuable innovations ready for adoption.
The Top 10 Technologies are:

• Mold-Resistant Gypsum
• Solar Water Heating
• Recycled Concrete Aggregate
• Substitutes and Admixtures
• Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
• Horizontal Axis Washer/Dryer
• Hydrophilic, Impact-Resistant Windows
• Super-Sized (Vertical) Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs)
• Induction Cooktops
• GPS for Land Development
• Permeable Pavers & Pavement

Technologies profiled by PATH are selected for their strengths in one or more of the following areas: quality and durability; affordability; energy efficiency; environmental performance; safety and disaster mitigation.

Energy Star Buildings Powered With Savings
More than 3,200 top performing buildings have earned the Energy Star for powerful cuts to their energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions. These award-winning buildings represent almost 575 million square feet, save an estimated $600 million annually in lower energy bills and prevent almost 11 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equal to emissions from almost 900,000 vehicles.

The top performing buildings that earned the Energy Star in 2006 include about 320 supermarkets, 320 office buildings and 200 K-12 schools. Almost 90 banks, courthouses, financial centers, hospitals, hotels and — for the first time — dormitories also earned the Energy Star, the most recognized national symbol for energy efficiency.

America’s desire for environmentally friendly buildings is growing, and superior energy efficiency — identified by the Energy Star — is a critical element of green building. Buildings that earn the Energy Star are the top performers for energy efficiency nationwide. In fact, buildings that earn the Energy Star use about 35 percent less energy than average buildings. Moreover, about 400 Energy Star buildings use 50 percent less energy than average buildings.

Commercial buildings account for almost 18 percent of our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Building owners earn the Energy Star scoring in the top 25 percent on EPA’s energy performance rating system, which calculates scores based on actual energy use. With interest in energy efficiency growing, Energy Star offers easy-to-use tools and guidelines that can help building owners and managers in the United States realize significant energy and dollar savings.

EPA started the Energy Star program in 1992. Energy Star is a government-backed program that helps businesses and consumers protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Last year alone, American consumers and businesses, with the help of Energy Star, saved $12 billion and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to those from 23 million vehicles.

USGBC Begins Pilot Test of New Rating System - LEED® for Neighborhood
Development to Promote Smart Growth and Community Enhancement

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is now accepting applications for pilot projects to participate in the LEED for Neighborhood Development program. This new rating system integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism, and green building into the first national standard for neighborhood design.

“The future of green building is to think beyond just buildings, by addressing important issues like density development, community infrastructure, resource availability and encouraging a healthy lifestyle,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “LEED for Neighborhood Development is an important and exciting step towards transforming the marketplace to create a healthy and sustainable future.”

Interested projects can apply to join the pilot until April 6, 2007. Application information is available from the USGBC Web site. The pilot test neighborhoods will be the first neighborhood development projects to earn the distinction of LEED certification while also helping to refine the new LEED rating system. The pilot phase of the program will conclude in early 2008. Based on feedback gathered during the pilot, the rating system will be revised as necessary prior to being balloted by USGBC's membership.

The LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system is a collaboration between USGBC, the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

"Smart growth is about innovation triumphing over our community development challenges," said Kaid Benfield, Director of Smart Growth, Natural Resources Defense Council. "This new program supports developers who are eager and willing to innovate and levels the playing field for everyone."

"Just as other LEED systems have improved building efficiency and energy performance, LEED for neighborhoods will reward efficient use of land and the building of complete and walkable communities," says John Norquist, President and CEO of the Congress for the New Urbanism. "It is helping to reinforce a more complete understanding of sustainability that extends all the way from the individual building to the neighborhood and community."

The program emphasizes the design and construction elements that knit buildings together into a neighborhood, and provides guidelines for better location, design, and construction of new residential, commercial and mixed use development. Specifically, the pilot program for neighborhood development evaluates projects in four areas:

• Smart Location & Linkage
• Neighborhood Pattern & Design
• Green Construction & Technology
• Innovation & Design Process

LEED encourages development within or near existing communities or public infrastructure in order to reduce the environmental impacts of sprawl. By promoting communities that are physically connected, the program fosters community, conserves land and promotes transportation efficiency and walkability. LEED strives to create healthy, safe neighborhoods in which people from a wide range of economic levels and age groups can live and work together.

Lifecycle Building Challenge Open
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Building Materials Reuse Association, the American Institute of Architects, and West Coast Green invite professionals and students to participate in the Lifecycle Building Challenge, a competition seeking designs and ideas that facilitate adaptability, deconstruction and reuse.

Registration closes on April 15, 2007.

In the United States, buildings consume 60 percent of total materials flow (excluding food and fuel) and construction and demolition waste accounts for about one third of total waste generated each year. With current building trends, over 27 percent of existing buildings will be replaced between 2000 and 2030, and over 50 percent of buildings in 2030 will have been built since 2000. Developing innovative design techniques now will make it easier to disassemble and reuse building materials in the future.

Students, architects, reuse experts, engineers, designers, planners, contractors, builders, educators, environmental advocates and other interested parties nationwide are invited to submit designs and ideas that support disassembly and anticipate the future use of building materials in the following categories:

1) entire buildings
2) building components
3) tools and strategies

Outstanding entries in each category will be recognized, and the three top student designs will be rewarded $2500. All winning entrants will receive free passes to the West Coast Green residential green building conference.

For more information and examples, please visit www.lifecyclebuilding.org.

Living Future - April 25-27
Sponsored by The Cascadia Region Green Building Council, two-and-a-half days in Seattle, Washington. Addresses climate change and the path to a future of Living Buildings.

Ed Mazria, FAIA, mastermind of the 2030 Challenge kicks off Cascadia's first annual regional conference on April 25, 2007. On April 26 and 27, in partnership with the AIA Seattle Committee on the Environment, Jason F. McLennan will roll out Cascadia’s vision of a sustainable future through Living Buildings and new initiatives including The Cascadia Fellowship Program, Pharos and more. Register here.

Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities, Conference, Awards & Trade Show - April 29-May 1
Co-hosted with the City of Minneapolis, the Conference is organized by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) a not-for-profit industry association working to promote the green roof industry in North America. The three-day conference will consist of plenary and specialized sessions focused on three main topic areas: Policies and Programs to Support Green Roofs, Green Roof Design and Implementation and Research and Technical Papers on Green Roof Performance. Register here.