The New American Home (TNAH) 2027 is taking shape, and Phase 3 marks an important milestone in building the high-performance home that attendees can tour during the NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) 2027.
As one of the two official show homes of IBS 2027, TNAH 2027 is a real-world example of innovative residential construction, products, design and building practices. Registered IBS 2027 attendees can tour the finished home during the show in Las Vegas.
Building for Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is a top priority for TNAH 2027, with the project team targeting at least Emerald-level certification through the National Green Building Standard (NGBS).
The team is also aiming for a HERS Index in the negative 20s or negative 30s, depending on the final performance of the home’s solar array and mechanical equipment.
The home will have more than 200 solar panels on its roof, but solar power is only one piece of its energy-efficiency strategy. The construction team is taking a comprehensive approach that begins with the building envelope.
A High Performance Building Envelope
TNAH 2027 incorporates multiple insulation strategies to help create a highly efficient home.
The team is using a hybrid insulation approach that combines closed-cell spray foam and blown cellulose insulation. Some walls are being fully foamed, while additional insulation is being incorporated into other areas of the home.
Even seemingly small details are part of the energy-efficiency strategy. Additional insulation at the top chords of the home’s framing adds another layer of performance to the building envelope.
These strategies work together to help reduce energy loss and support the home’s aggressive performance goals.
Pre-Drywall Inspection: A Key Checkpoint
Phase 3 also brings the project to a critical construction milestone: the initial pre-drywall inspection.
The team is inspecting the home to ensure it is airtight and ready for drywall before closing the walls. The inspection is also a prerequisite for the home’s NGBS certification.
This checkpoint allows the construction team to verify that the work behind the walls is complete and that the home is ready to move into its next phase.
For a high performance home, what’s behind the drywall matters as much as what eventually appears on the finished walls. Air sealing, insulation and other building-envelope details all contribute to the home’s overall performance.
Collaboration Behind the Build
Keeping a project of this scale on schedule takes coordination among the entire construction team.
With five, six or seven different trades working on the home simultaneously, communication and sequencing are critical. Each trade must coordinate with the others to ensure work is completed in the right order so the project continues moving forward.
That teamwork is helping bring the vision for TNAH 2027 to life while keeping its energy-efficiency goals front and center.
Tour The New American Home 2027 at the Builders’ Show
From its advanced insulation strategies to its extensive solar array and high performance goals, The New American Home 2027 demonstrates what’s possible in today’s residential construction industry.
As one of the two official show homes of IBS 2027, TNAH 2027 will allows Builders’ Show attendees to see these strategies in action.
Registered IBS 2027 attendees can tour TNAH 2027 during the show in Las Vegas. Register in September to lock in the best pricing on an Expo or Expo+Education Pass.