Learn About the Latest Industry Innovations at NAHB’s Residential Research Symposium

NAHB members attending the Fall Leadership Meeting later this month will have a unique opportunity to learn about the latest in energy conservation, uses of virtual technology in the residential building space, how educators plan to combat the next-generation's need for construction employees, and more during NAHB’s upcoming Residential Research Symposium.

The symposium will be held Wed., Sept. 20 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, Calif., from 10 a.m.-3:35 p.m. PT. Registration is also available for virtual attendance.

All members are welcome to attend any of the scheduled presentations, each of which will offer key insights from a variety of industry leaders.

Some of the key presentations include:

Comparing Energy Usage in Single Family Homes Based on Exterior Wall Assemblies and Insulation

This research project by Somik Ghosh, PhD, LEED AP and Ben Bigelow, PhD, CAPS, CGP University of Oklahoma, seeks to address the gap in real empirical data analysis by comparing the energy usage of homes with wood framed exterior walls and insulated concrete forms (ICF) walls in the Central Oklahoma region. Read the abstract.

Spray Foam Insulation and Its Impact on Energy Codes, R-Values and Design Considerations

Lantz Holtzhower, Kennesaw State University, will discuss the many considerations for using spray foam insulation as a thermal insulating requirement in residential and commercial buildings. Read the abstract.

Driving Sustainability in Residential Construction: Solar Panels and V2G Integration for CO2 Reduction

Atefeh Mohammad, PhD, P.E., PMP, LEED AP BD+C, California State University, Sacramento studies how energy models are investigated to optimize energy flow in smart residential construction equipped with solar energy and electric vehicles. Read the abstract.

Assessing the Construction Costs for Improved Energy-Efficient Houses in Massachusetts

Payam Bakhshi, PhD, Wentworth Institute of Technology compares the incremental construction costs of typical size new houses across four Home Energy Rating Scores (HERS) scenarios to illustrate the increase in construct costs by following Massachusetts’ proposed Specialized Code for code compliance. Read the abstract. 

Addressing the Construction Labor Shortage Through Connected Secondary and Post-Secondary Construction Education Pathways

Francois Jacobs, PhD, University of Wyoming, researches educators at the high school and community level who have partnered with a university to pilot collaborative efforts to increase construction education and awareness through co-curricular platforms to address future construction employment needs. Read the abstract.

Impact of Workers’ Transportation on Carbon Emissions in Site-Built and Modular Residential Construction

Maryam Kouhirostami, PhD, California Polytechnic State University, compares GHG emissions of workers’ transportation in a modular house and three equivalent site-built houses with different construction processes in O’Brian, Fl. Read the abstract.

View the full symposium schedule.