ORLANDO, Fla.—The New American Home® (TNAH) 2007 reflects two trends in homebuilding—urban settings and energy efficiency. And, for the fourth consecutive year, concrete wall systems contributed to its success.

The home, which debuts at the International Builder’s Show® in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 7-10, 2007, utilizes precast, insulated concrete sandwich walls. The home is expected to earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR rating and use nearly 73 percent less energy for heating and cooling than a comparable wood-framed home.

“Precast concrete walls are an excellent choice for the home builder and owner concerned about energy efficiency and green building,” said Jim Niehoff, Portland Cement Association (PCA) residential promotion manager. “Not only do they offer superior insulation, but they create an airtight wall system that keeps cooled or heated air inside for optimal comfort.”

Precast concrete walls systems provide the home other environmental and comfort benefits. Like other concrete building systems, precast walls create a home that is resistant to fires, wind, hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters. Additionally, because the walls are produced in a factory setting, there is very little construction waste. Precast concrete homes also offer superior soundproof qualities and can be assembled with minimal disturbance to the community, factors important for TNAH 2007, which was located in a neighborhood close to downtown Orlando.

“As more homeowners are moving into the cities, concrete homes are becoming more attractive,” said Niehoff. “The greater mass of concrete walls can reduce sound penetrating through a wall by more than 80 percent when compared to wood-frame construction. Plus, construction time for a precast home can be up to 30% less than for a traditionally constructed home, reducing the amount of time a community is disturbed.”

The wall system was not the only sustainable building contribution cement-based products made to the TNAH 2007. The home boasts a green roof, supported by precast hollow-core concrete panels. Durable, insect-resistant fiber-cement siding covers the exterior as does pollution-fighting “TX Aria” cement-based stucco. This photocatalytic cement reduces atmospheric pollutants such as nitric oxides, carbon monoxide and sulfur monoxide—all commonly created by car exhaust emissions.

The Portland Cement Association and the Precast-Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) played a major role in the official showcase house of the annual International Builders’ Show, coordinating product donations and providing technical expertise. PCA and PCI join the National Council of the Housing Industry, a division of the National Association of Home Builders, in sponsoring TNAH.

About PCA
Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs.

Editor Note: Click here to see more images of The New American Home. All images by Erin O'Boyle Photographics/Courtesy Portland Cement Association.