Call for Entries Announced for 2014 NAHBGreen Awards

NAHB Press Release

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28--The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is now accepting submissions for its 2014 NAHBGreen Awards. Each year, NAHB recognizes individuals, companies and organizations for excellence in residential green design and construction practices and for green building program and advocacy efforts.

The awards will be presented on Feb. 5 during an event held in conjunction with the 2014 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas.

"In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in green building, and the industry has responded by designing and constructing high-performance homes that reflect not only green and energy efficient principles, but also innovative design," said NAHB Chairman Rick Judson, a home builder from Charlotte, N.C. "Each year, NAHB recognizes the very best work in this sector in its NAHBGreen Awards."

In an effort to create a more streamlined submission process and to make it easier and quicker for applicants to apply, the applications for all Project of the Year categories have been revised this year and can be submitted online. The awards are open to both NAHB members and non-NAHB members. To be eligible for the Green Project of the Year categories, projects must have been started no earlier than January 2010 and substantially completed by December 2013.

Categories include: Project of the Year--Single Family, Project of the Year--Multifamily, Project of the Year--Remodel, Project of the Year--Green Site Development, and Advocate of the Year.

All homes and developments must be scored to either the 2008 or 2012 ICC-700 National Green Building Standard®, to ensure fair comparisons for judging purposes. This can be done by downloading the scoring spreadsheets at homeinnovation.com/greenscoring.

All entries must be received by Oct. 15, 2013. Application fees are $250 for Project of the Year categories and $150 for the Advocate of the Year award.

For more information, or to apply, please visit www.nahb.org/greenbuildingawards. Please contact Chad Riedy atcriedy@nahb.org with any additional questions

2013 NAHB Show Home Focuses on Outdoor Living

By: Karen T. Nakamura, CEO 

Building Industry Association of Hawaii

Each year in conjunction with the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show a home is built that showcases innovative products for the future of home building—and features great ideas for anyone thinking of building or remodeling a home.

The 2013 New American Home® (TNAH) in the suburbs of Las Vegas, Nev., is the 30th edition of TNAH. It incorporates the latest concepts in architecture, construction methods, lifestyle trends and new products that can be replicated—in whole or in part—in housing built any region and in any price range.

This contemporary home features a focus on flexible spaces and outdoor living, trends that continues to gain popularity nationwide.

The home’s architecture takes maximum advantage of Nevada’s year round temperate climate with easy flow from indoor to outdoor spaces. The main room expands into the backyard and pool area through large automated pocket doors that open at the touch of a button and allow for cross ventilation and unobstructed views. An outdoor daybed is located just behind the master bedroom, and the rejuvenation room opens to the outdoors on three sides like a spa.

Flex space planning throughout the home makes it convenient for young professional families and older generations to live together yet still maintain independent lives. Common gathering spaces are included among private living areas, a design feature that encourages unlimited movement within the space by all members of the household.

Even with the extensive indoor-outdoor flow spaces, TNAH is environmentally sensitive and ecologically smart.

Green building features include a gas HVAC system, solar hot water heater with gas fired back-up, photovoltaic panels, hydronic air handlers and closed spray foam insulation that also reduce sound transmission through plumbing walls. The weather-sensitive irrigation system automatically adjusts usage relative to the immediate climate.

The water features in the home are not only functional, they are also fashionable. Reflecting pools and waterfalls help humidify and cool the air in summer months, which reduce the home’s operating costs by using less energy and improving air quality. A visually stunning waterfall located in a central part of the home has a projector shooting onto it, reflecting the image in a still pool below.

The home owner can monitor, manage and control security systems, climate, televisions, music, lighting, shades and more from their smart phones, tablets or laptops with the wireless network that offers wall-to-wall coverage throughout the home, in the outdoor living spaces and in the front and back yards.

Blue Heron, a Las Vegas luxury home builder, led all phases of the project, including architecture, construction and interior design.

To see photos of the 2013 TNAH and find out more information about the features and product manufacturers, go to TNAH.com.

Contact BIA-Hawaii: info@biahawaii.org to learn about the latest technologies and designs being used in new homes in the Hawaii.