Current Research
Member organizations conduct housing research, publish papers, and participate in outreach activities. Find out more about current research activities by the National Consortium of Housing Research Centers.
See the newly released Green Building Educator's Toolkit (PDF)
Cornell University
Housing Research and Education Program
Activities, publications, and honors for 2010 included:
- J. Laquatra and M. Pierce led the Consumer Education Program for Residential Energy Efficiency (CEPREE), which was active throughout the network of Cornell Cooperative Extension in 32 counties in New York State in addition to New York City. Educational efforts were targeted to home owners and renters, builders, landlords, and others.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension (through DEA) and the New York State Department of Health are training partners with the National Center for Healthy Housing. 2-day trainings were held throughout New York State for Extension Educators; State, County, and City Health Department personnel; and others.
- DEA sponsored Energy Efficiency and Climate Change during Career Explorations, a campus-based event for 4-H members. Ithaca: June 29 - July 1, 2010.
- Laquatra and Pierce spoke on residential energy efficiency at Extension-sponsored events throughout New York State over the course of the year, assisted Educators with their local energy-related programs, and published two issues of the Housing and Home Environment News.
2010 Annual Report (PDF)
University of Georgia
Housing and Demographics Research Center
Noteworthy projects, publications, and activities for 2010 included:
- Weatherization Monitoring/Education Program (ARRA), Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, Turner, Pamela R (Principal Investigator).
- Natural Gas Customer Education, Georgia Public Service Commission, Atiles, Jorge Horacio (Principal Investigator)
- Cude, B. J., Kitt, K., J. H., Swanson, P. (2010). Consumer education: Moving from confusion to clarity. Proceedings of the Eastern Family Economics Resource Management Association.
- Sweaney, A. L., Mimura, Y., Starling, D. (2010). Opportunities for Energy Star certified manufactured homes (pp. 32-38). Housing Education and Research Association.
- Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) Program
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program
2010 Annual Report (PDF)
Louisiana State University
Department of Construction Management and Industrial Engineering
Activities in 2010 include the following:
- Research on Improving Plant Operating Efficiency and Safety through Lean Production
- Helping Local Builders to achieve Builders Challenge certification - Modular Plant
- Strategy for Establishment of Housing Production Facilities Outside Disaster Areas
- Impact Study of Louisiana Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) for the Louisiana Association of Community Action Partnership (LACAP)
- Nahmens, I. and Mullens, M. (2011). Lean Homebuilding - Lessons Learned from a Precast Concrete Panelizer. Accepted for publication in ASCE Journal of Architectural Engineering.
Michigan State University
Housing Education and Research Center (HERC)
The Housing Education and Research Center worked on several research projects and reports, including:
- Build America Project - Deep Energy Retrofit in Existing Housing, U.S. Dept. of Energy / National Renewable Energy lab.
- Green Building Guidelines in the U.S. and India, 2007-10, GATI Initiative - MSU and U.S. Dept. of Education
- Singh, A, Berghorn, G., Joshi, S., and Syal, M. (June 2010). "Review of Life-Cycle Assessment Applications in Building Construction," Published online in June 2010, expected to appear in the March 2011 issue, Journal of Architectural Engineering, ASCE, vol. 17(1)
- Ali, S., Hammad, A., Hastak, M., and Syal, M. (2010). "Analysis of a Modular Housing Production System Using Simulation," Jordan Journal of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, vol. 4(2), 256-269.
- Korkmaz, S., Messner, J. I., Riley, D. R., and Magent, C. (2010). "High Performance Green Building Design Process Visualization and Integration". ASCE Architectural Engineering. Scheduled for publication in March 2010.
2010 Annual Report (PDF)
University of Minnesota
Activities in 2010 include the following:
- Research on SEP/ETMMS (Structural Engineered Panel / Exterior Thermal and Moisture Management System)
- The University of Minnesota is one of fifteen project teams nationwide chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy to help develop cost-effective solutions to reduce the average energy use of housing, while improving comfort, durability, and indoor air quality.
- Lead workshop on Smart Green Remodeling: A Systems-Guided, Performance-Based Approach
2010 Annual Report (PDF)
NAHB Research Center, Inc.
Published in September 2010, the Green Building Educator's Toolkit (PDF) provides an annotated bibliography for two- and four-year university programs in Residential Construction Management. It represents an assessment of and response to institutions' needs for instructional materials on sustainability and green building. The Toolkit contains the following types of items:
- Annotated bibliography of resources
- Instructional aides
- Approaches to green curriculum
- Course syllabi
Many initiatives were conducted in 2010, including:
- National Green Building Certification
- Pre-disaster Planning for Permanent Housing Recovery
- Out of Plane Testing
- Assessment of FEMA P695 on Seismic Design of Light-Frame Wood Residential
- Drumheller C.S., and C.G. Carll (2010). Effect of Cladding Systems on Moisture Performance of Wood-Framed Walls in a Mixed-Humid Climate, ASHRAE Transactions (2010, vol 116, part 2).
- Cantrell, R.; Nahmens, I.; Bryant, K.; and J. Peavey (Forthcoming). Pre-disaster Planning for Permanent Housing Recovery - Volume 4: Basic Plant Design, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
2010 Annual Report (PDF)
Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania Housing Research Center
PHRC's activities and accomplishments for 2010 include:
- PHRC delivered 29 technical workshops and webinars to 1,278 builders, remodelers, educators, design professionals and code officials during this reporting period.
- PHRC will develop or update the following new training programs: 2009 IRC Update Program, Blueprint Reading Program, Wall Bracing: Prescriptive Design and Plan Reviews, Electrical Essentials, Residential Sprinklers.
- Annual Pennsylvania Housing and Land Development Conference
- Horvath, B., I. Peszlen, P. Peralta, B. Kasal, and L. Li. 2010. Effect of lignin genetic modification on wood anatomy of aspen trees. IAWA Journal, Vol. 31 (1), 2010: 29–38.
- Impact of the Uniform Construction Code in Rural Pennsylvania, was approved by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania on April 15, 2010. The findings of this report were summarized at the spring 2010 PHRC Industry Advisory Council meeting. The report was delivered to the legislature September 20, 2010, and is now available on the Center for Rural Pennsylvania website: http://www.rural.palegislature.us/.
2010 Annual Report (PDF)
Purdue University
Housing Research Center
The Purdue Housing Research Center's activities and accomplishments for 2010 include:
- Haiti Housing Relief Competition for 2010 sponsored by the Department of Building Construction Management Overview: Working in interdisciplinary teams of 6 students, each team developed a design- construction-delivery concept for secure, long-term temporary housing (up to 3 years) to be provided in Haiti. The housing structures were designed to meet the basic needs for occupancy of a family of four and be able to be constructed / deconstructed in 2 days or less. The system needs to be planned for mass production and worldwide distribution to related relief efforts as a result of a disaster response. The houses were required to allow for repackaging and shipping to another disaster location. This -2- competition involved a total of 16 teams registered representing 103 students from 10 majors, including all departments in the College of Technology plus students from CE/CEM, LARCH, and ME. Please see video at: mms://video.dis.purdue.edu/bns/fasttrack/fasttrack100212.wmv
- Solar Decathlon House Competition Team. An interdisciplinary team led by BCM and MET departments was successful in obtaining entry in to the International Competition sponsored by the Department of Energy. This campus wide effort is being led by William Hutzel (MET), Dr. Mark Shaurette (BCM), and Eric Holt (Ph.D. Student – BCM). The home is now under construction and will be on display in Washington, D.C. in October 2011.
- Alhaj Ali, Souma, Ayman Abu Hammad, M. Hastak, and M. Syal. (2010). "Analysis of a Modular Housing Production System Using Simulation" Jordan Journal of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Published by the Jordanian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in corporation with the Hashemite University, Jordan. 4(2), 256-269. (1st tier category).
- A Center of Re-Construction is in the process of being established to work in the areas of building rehabilitation as the result of disaster or natural deterioration.
2010 Annual Report (PDF)
State Farm Insurance Companies
State Farm's Building Technology Research Unit conducted several research projects and activities, including topics such as:
- Water Loss Mitigation Testing
- Freeze Review for PEX Piping
- Roofing Material Study
- Fire Suppression Device Testing
- Wind Mitigation
- Seismic Research
- Wall Sheathing Attachment Testing
2010 Annual Report (PDF)
Virginia Tech Center for Housing Research
Virgina Tech had several significant accomplishments, including:
- Continued work on a project sponsored by the General Services Administration and run through the D.C. Office of Planning examining housing and transportation issues regarding future location of federal offices.
- The Center began a green building initiative with emphasis on sustainable communities that will guide the Center’s strategy for future research. Work continues on examining recent homeowners in Blacksburg both those moving into green homes and traditional homes.
- Grant received for Fairfax County Comprehensive Review, Revision and Development of Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) Construction Specifications and Pricing Methodology; And Development of Workforce Dwelling Unit (WDU) Construction Specifications and Pricing Methodology, Fairfax County, Virginia.
- Fhe Center sponsored a Sustainable Communities Roundtable in Washington, DC in September 2010 to help HUD set policy surrounding sustainability. Also, in 2011, the Center will be leading the housing initiative for a HUD regional planning grant awarded to the New River Valley Planning District Commission in fall of 2010.
2010 Annual Report (PDF)