APA, the Southern Pine Council and the USDA Forest
Products Laboratory Advanced Housing Research Center
have partnered together on the building of a 2,200
square foot demonstration home on the grounds of
the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin.
From the permanent wood foundation to the flashing
around the chimney, this 4 bedroom, 3-bath two-story
house showcases moisture-resistant building practices,
the latest in energy efficient appliances and HVAC
systems and 'green building' technologies advocated
by the leading building science experts.
The Build
a Better Home demonstration house serves as
an ongoing classroom of better building practices:
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A team of researchers instrumented
the walls in an effort to monitor the moisture
content and temperature behavior therein.
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To test the house’s
tolerance for elevated indoor humidity, the house's
interior is maintained at 40% relative humidity
during the winter months.
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Each phase of the construction
process was photographed and videotaped for future
educational use.
The construction was completed in October, 2001
and the house is open to the public for touring.
APA representatives and other Build
a Better Home partners will conduct ongoing better
building practices meetings and seminars at the house.
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