PATH Partners’ innovative showcase home welcomes architects and public in September
Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) Partners will open the first-of-its-kind Mold Safe Model Home (MSMH) on Sept. 14th with an event for the New Hampshire chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The 3,000-square-foot two-story home in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, is a showcase for builders, architects, planners, manufacturers and consumers, who all have a stake in the prevention of mold growth in their homes.
“The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) PATH identifies the latest technologies that will help improve the quality, durability, energy efficiency and affordability of America’s housing,” says Darlene F. Williams, Assistant Secretary of HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research, which supports PATH. “The Mold Safe Model Home and its components address those critical issues. We’re pleased our PATH Partners helped launch this informative project.”
The project addresses risk management efforts designed around the development of a new mold prevention protocol. The new protocol, which focuses on smart building practices, includes the use of mold resistant building products and a thorough inspection process that begins during the design stage, proceeds through the construction cycle and the occupancy stage. The MSMH is sponsored by PATH Manufacturing Partners CertainTeed, Georgia-Pacific, Typar/Fiberweb, Wastewater Alternatives, and Whirlpool. The home was built by PATH Builder Partner Courtlan Construction.
“With the help of PATH and its partners, we are discovering products and building techniques that will be instrumental in developing healthy homes that are protected from mold infestation,” said Charlie Perry, principal of Environmental Assurance Group, a risk management and real estate consulting firm leading the project.
The opening AIA event will include a tour of the MSMH, a presentation by some of the sponsors, a discussion on mold, and a presentation on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™, a nationally recognized certification for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.
Other project sponsors include Uponor, Huber, American Mold Guard, Tamaccio Architects, Energy Kinetics, Benjamin Obdyke Residential and Roofing, Bonneville Windows and Doors, Western Red Cedar Lumber Association, Evergreen Slate, Creations in Stone, Sonoma Forge Faucets, Emtek Hardware, Kraftmaid Cabinetry, and Arthur Whitcomb Stone and Masonry.
For more information on the events or to arrange a visit to the MSMH, please contact the Environmental Assurance Group at 860-521-4747 or at perry-eag@earthlink.net .
