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Energy-Efficient Housing Online |
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The Internet contains a great deal of information on energy-efficient housing technologies and “green” rehabilitation techniques. HUD’s Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) is one place to begin. PATH promotes the use of new technologies to build houses that are durable, affordable, energy efficient, and disaster resistant. The PATH Web site, designed for housing industry professionals and consumers, provides a database of technologies, details federal initiatives and funding opportunities, and lists conferences and other events. The NAHB Research Center (NAHBRC) is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Association of Home Builders. The research center keeps U.S. homebuilders abreast of new technologies and the changing needs of consumers. It provides testing and certification of building products, prepares reports on new technologies, and hosts professional conferences for builders and manufacturers. The Web site has information on green building activities and NAHBRC’s EnergyValue Housing Award, which recognizes energy efficiency in homebuilding. The research center, in conjunction with PATH, also operates ToolBase SERVICES to provide the housing industry with practical solutions to construction problems, technical information on building products and systems, and benchmarks for quality business practices. The HUD USER database lists publications on energy-efficient design. HUD’s PATH publications on energy-efficient building design can be purchased online at this site. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN) is a comprehensive resource that contains more than 600 links and 80,000 documents providing information on energy-efficiency programs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site covers programs that promote energy efficiency. The Energy Star Buildings and Green Lights partnership program link contains information on voluntary programs and products that promote energy efficiency, reduce pollution, and save money. Energy Masters International, Inc., the company that worked with the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority to generate millions of dollars in energy savings (see article, facing page), has a Web site with resources on energy-performance contracting. The Web site features a case study on Minneapolis. The nonprofit Alliance to Save Energy publishes a bimonthly electronic newsletter on energy efficiency, e-FFICIENCY NEWS. Note: Internet addresses may change without notice. If you have difficulty with any of these Web sites, a search engine may help you find your way.
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