The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in early June completed America's first PATH Concept Home in Omaha, Neb., featuring more than 60 efficient, sustainable and flexible products and systems all in one affordable home.
“With the PATH Concept Home, HUD has created a blueprint for the future of the American Dream by using innovative housing technologies that support our goals of sustainability, efficiency and flexibility in an affordable home,” HUD Assistant Secretary Darlene F. Williams told the gathering of more than 100 visitors at the ribbon-cutting event and open house held here. “June is National Homeownership Month, and we are excited to showcase a home that is affordable to purchase, maintain and renovate as families and their needs change over time.”
The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing program is a public-private partnership between the U.S. government and America's housing industry that works together to advance the use of technology in the housing infrastructure.
Architecture firm Torti Gallas and Partners created the PATH Concept Home Omaha design. It meets the requirements for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes, Environments For Living, ENERGY STAR and National Association of Home Builders Green Building Guidelines. The Concept Home plans are available at www.pathnet.org.
“By using building techniques that create better homes faster, and applying cutting-edge technologies for sustainability and efficiency, I can do a better job of providing durable, comfortable and affordable homes,” Concept Home builder Fernando Pagés Ruiz of Brighton Construction said. “Plus, innovation and vision allow America's home-building industry to continually improve our building processes and quality.”
The city of Omaha donated the site for the PATH Concept Home. The site, a corner lot located among new affordable homes and quaint historic bungalows, is convenient to both downtown Omaha and Creighton University. The neighborhood is part of broad commercial and residential redevelopment efforts by the city.
Several leading manufacturers have supported the demonstration project including Masco Corp. and its subsidiaries, Behr, BrassCraft, Merillat, Milgard, Hansgrohe, Delta and Masco Contractor Services' Environments For Living program.
HUD's next PATH Concept Home will be built in Charleston, S.C. Concept Home Charleston will continue to demonstrate construction efficiency, flexibility and sustainability while focusing on durability and the ability to withstand everything nature has to offer, such as high winds from hurricanes, possible flooding, termites and a climate with year-round humidity that can lead to moisture and mold problems.
Additional information on the PATH program, including the Concept Home plans and the technologies employed, is available at http://www.pathnet.org/concepthome .