Home ownership is more than a symbol of the American dream — it is a significant force in our nation’s economy. Last year, housing construction and related industries generated more than $27 billion in annual revenue in North Carolina alone. Within 25 years, it is projected that N.C. will rank among the 10 most populous states in America, with around 2.4 million new residential units added by 2030. This rate of growth raises an important question for our state’s fabled quality of life: how can we make home ownership not only more accessible and affordable, but also more environmentally responsible?

WPS is working with other areas at NC State to address this important question by exploring new technologies, new building materials and new methodologies of design and construction that could well revolutionize the housing industry. We are also creating consumer interest in next generation housing through such unique initiatives as The American Home at NC State, a neighborhood of demonstration homes on 4.5 acres in the heart of NC State’s Centennial Campus. This neighborhood will showcase the best innovations in housing available today. Demonstration homes will range in size from 1,200-square feet to more than 4,000-square feet and showcase such features as energy efficiency systems, indoor air quality, sound insulation and more. Bold innovations such as in-wall sensors that measure heat and moisture, and regulated monitoring systems that track vibration paths and air circulation, will be featured throughout the homes. Plexiglass portholes will provide an insider’s view of infrastructure, while interactive kiosks will educate and inspire homeowners, homebuilders, architects, engineers and other visitors to view these prototype homes as the new standard for excellence in planned neighborhoods. Outside, visitors will learn about landscaping, sustainable land use, preservation of trees and topography, rainwater collection and water quality, designing for native wildlife and more. Site features will include such touches as a constructed wetland to promote on-site retention of storm water runoff, porous pavements that increase groundwater infiltration into soils, and native vegetative swales and rain gardens that exemplify natural filtration while adding visual value.

Each house will be uniquely constructed using different materials and methods — providing diverse examples of how the newest technologies and methodologies in construction could be used to conserve energy, preserve natural resources and result in more affordable homes. In addition, research labs and classrooms located throughout the campus — including the Hodges Wood Products Laboratory — will provide additional learning environments where students and professionals alike can participate in related research, education and extension activities.

The long-term goal of WPS, NC State and such initiatives as the American Home at NC State is to encourage the building of attainable, sustainable homes that address vital issues such as comfort, security, safety, affordability and conservation — while generating economic benefits, not just for industry, but for everyone with a dream of home ownership. Call it the new American dream.

Related Links

• American Home
• WPS Degrees

Key Contacts