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Wednesday, May 8, 2002 Spotlighting emerging home trends and products By Eddie
Lusher, President
Showcasing the latest in innovative and emerging products and technologies that will one day be common features of new homes built in this country, the New American Home 2002 debuted at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders' Show in Atlanta. Sponsored annually by the National Council of the Housing Industry (NAHB's national organization for building product manufacturers and suppliers) and Builder magazine, the 19th New American Home is a 6,700 plus sq. ft., three-level home located in the Vinings Estates neighborhood of Mableton approximately 20 minutes from downtown Atlanta, the site of this year's show. The one-of-a-kind residence is valued at more than $1.3 million and is billed as a "casual Southern Caribbean home," with architectural features inspired by Georgia's country homes and Charleston's Caribbean estates and plantations. The home is laid out in a "series" design. The main house features an entrance hall and rotunda, as well as a dining room. The main house is attached to a guest cottage, which serves as the owner's spacious private suite. The home features four bedrooms (with options for up to seven), five and a half baths, two fireplaces, a carriage house, waterfall swimming pool and hot tub, sunset terrace, an upstairs kids' loft, exercise room, recycling center, gourmet kitchen, sauna and indoor/outdoor tea room. Two ongoing trends in the building industry are reflected in the home. First, the New American Home meets the latest "visitability" standards by making accommodations for a physically challenged person, in or out of a wheelchair, throughout the entire main-level living area. This special flexibility adds to the home's value and hospitality. Another emerging trend is evident in the home's creators. This year marks the first in the New American Home's history that women led the three major teams that created the home. The architect who designed the project was Melanie Taylor, based in New Haven, Connecticut; the builder was Michelle Horstemeyer of John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, Inc. in Atlanta; and the interior designer was Jillian Pritchard, MIRM, president of JP Limited, also in Atlanta. Together, this all-female creative force represents an emerging societal trend in the building industry in which women are increasingly filling top-level managerial positions throughout the profession. Focusing on quality construction, durable materials, energy-efficient systems and environmentally sensitive building practices, the team engineered a design capable of earning certification as an Energy Star home and as an EarthCraft house, meeting both U.S. Department of Energy standards for highly energy-efficient design, and green building standards established by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and the Southface Energy Institute. The home will use 58 percent less energy for cooling than a home of comparable size and boasts a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) level of 91.1. The builders paid particular attention to air-tightness work done in the cathedral ceiling, drainage and moisture controls and window flashing. Special energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive features include: Energy Recovery Ventilator that tempers fresh outdoor air before delivery to the HVAC system; Superior Wall System with overall R-value of 24, creating a thermal shell; Two HVAC units positioned in conditioned space rather than the attic; Intricate duct design layout, HVAC optimization and airtight design elements; Electric car charger in garage; Home recycling center. Eddie Lusher, who is with Jerry Ballard Homes, is president of the Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia, which serves a membership of approximately 485 builders and associate members in Fayette, Coweta, Spalding, Heard and Meriwether counties.
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