This session focused on HUDs Partnerships for Advanced Technology
in Housing (PATH) Program. It provided information on new technologies to
improved energy and environmental efficiency, reduced maintenance and repair
costs, and better housing affordability. The session also highlighted developers
that have successfully contributed to the construction of sustainable communities
by combining advanced technologies and subsidies that reduce housing costs
and improve the overall quality of life.
The Partnership for Advancing Technology in
Housing (PATH) is a public/private initiative whose primary objective is
to accelerate the widespread use and creation of advanced technologies in
order to improve the durability, quality, energy efficiency, environmental
performance, and affordability of housing in the United States. PATH is
a voluntary partnership in which industry leaders (i.e., product manufacturing,
home building, financial and insurance industries) join forces with housing
representatives from federal government. PATH offers technical assistance
to individual builders and remodelers willing to utilize innovative technologies
in their housing projects. Likewise, manufacturers participating in the
program can ask for feedback on changes needed to improve their products'
ability to meet PATH goals. By working together, PATH partners have successfully
increased both the quality and affordability of today's new (and existing)
homes; strengthened the U.S. technology infrastructure and assisted in building
"foundations" for the next generation of American housing.
Carl Franklin Homes, constructs 50 to 100
homes a year, with eighty percent of their business derived from the affordable
housing market. Because they primarily develop large affordable housing
communities, they usually partner with a charitable housing organization
that acts as developer. The homes range in size from 1,400 to 2,000 square
feet, and feature one to two car garages, two full baths and three or four
bedrooms. The homes are also equipped with geothermal heat pumps, tankless
hot water heaters, stained concrete floors, seamless sheetrock corners,
stackless vents, SIPs, low maintenance exteriors, and affordable utilities.
The Hillside Oaks development in East Dallas, Texas, is just one example
of their successful construction projects. The houses at Hillside Oaks sold
for $77,000 (half the median home price in Dallas) and residents meeting
assistance qualifications receive a $2,000 down payment from the Dallas
housing department. Low operating costs can be attributed to the exceptional
performance of the exterior skin and heating system. The company has completed
similar affordable housing projects in the Kensington Village subdivision
and in Plano, Texas. Furthermore, the company has already started production
of smaller new component construction homes, which will sell for less than
$50,000. |