Nationwide Custom Homes' PATH Tutorial Townhouses
	Mike Blanford, a research engineer for PATH, works with home builders to increase energy efficiency, improve durability, raise levels of quality, ensure labor safety during construction, minimize environmental impact and reduce natural disaster damage. "Wind-resistant shingles are a perfect example of reducing natural disaster damage," says Blanford. "For minimizing environmental impact, you have bamboo flooring, an example of using a renewable, sustainable resource. It's also a good product. Last year we used it in a model home at both the Consumer Electronic Show and IBS. It saw foot traffic of 15,000 people from the combined events and it held up perfectly."
	Nationwide designs and decorates home offices to appeal to urban professionals
	Floor plans for the Nationwide Custom Homes PATH Tutorial Townhouses First Level Floor Plan Second Level Floor Plan

Nationwide Custom Homes' PATH Tutorial Townhouses give you an inside look at energy-efficient, sustainable building and living

Walking into Nationwide's PATH Tutorial Townhouses at Show Village ‘05, you'll see technology at work and sustainable materials in action. Chances are, you've seen most of these things before. Chances are also that you're currently using many of these materials in the homes you build, from tankless hot water units to ENERGY STAR-rated appliances. It is unlikely, however, that you've seen all these things in one home at one time. And that's what makes the Nationwide PATH Tutorial Townhouses well worth a visit - it's a great example of how builders apply technology in houses that appeal to today's home buyers.

PATH stands for Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing, a collaboration between the Department of Housing and Urban Development and leaders in home building, product manufacturing, insurance and financial industries. Its goal is to change the way Americans live by improving both the quality and affordability of American housing. The PATH program spurs change in home design and construction by providing builders with the latest information on innovative materials, processes and systems.

A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN

The two Nationwide PATH Tutorial Townhouses give you a unique perspective on an array of techniques and technologies. In one unit, you will see cutaways of the various technologies, materials and installations. PATH organized a self-guided tour through the unit using placards that describe each product and explain its benefits to builders and homeowners.

On the other side, you see the finished product, which is all about livability. Interior designer Margie Wright describes the Nationwide townhouse as something which might appeal to a hip, young, urban professional couple, who may or may not have a child. "We create a mental image of the family when we design and decorate," says Wright. The interior features a contemporary contrast in colors: rich tones blended with subtle offwhites. The lighting features brushed chrome, the design of the home stresses simplicity. "We're using a new tile from Interceramic," says Wright, "a natural limestone with definition that helps to increase the perception of the space." In the bathroom you'll see stackedlooking stone to create a flowing movement. Wright stresses the importance of creating a sense of movement and flow, to create a sense of continuity as you walk from room to room. Throughout the house, you will see design elements that are popular with home buyers; ideas which any home builder can appreciate.

Technologies on Display in the Nationwide Custom Homes PATH Tutorial Townhouses

The unique two-unit site, built by leading manufactured homes builder Nationwide Custom Homes, features a variety of technologies, including several from the PATH top ten list. The innovations include:

Many of these technologies increase the townhouse's durability and resistance to disaster. During the 2004 hurricane season, teams of engineers and building scientists inspected damaged Florida homes and identified the most common failures. Inside the townhouse you will find PATH's review of hurricane damage in Florida and suggestions for building homes that are more disaster resistant. PATH addresses the common points of failure and suggests improvements to strengthen the home during construction. Using PATH strategies will help fortify your homes against major storms.

By meeting strict energy efficiency criteria, townhouse qualifies for ENERGY STAR certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Homes that qualify for the ENERGY STAR label are at least 30% or more energy efficient than homes built to the 1993 Model Energy Code, or 15% more efficient than the state energy code, whichever is more rigorous. According to the EPA, ENERGY STAR-qualified new homes use significantly less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating, so homeowners can expect to save about $200-$400 annually on their utility bills. Homes that include innovative technologies to improve energy efficiency can be significantly more affordable on a monthly basis. (See chart at right.) For more information on the building practices and technologies featured in this townhouse, visit the PATH booth, #4371.