We are pleased to welcome LGI Homes (AZ, FL and TX) to the Alliance.
Boston Marathon Runners Raise $12k for Charity
IBACOS Runners Leyah Valgardson and Kevin Brozyna Come Through
Leyah Valgardson, IBACOS’ Manager of Builder Relations and Kevin Brozyna, Program Manager of Technology & Innovation, raised more than $12,000 for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and for the Colin Moran Memorial, benefitting Allen Community Outreach in Texas.
We are pleased to welcome T.W. Lewis (Phoenix, AZ) to the Alliance.
Getting Paid Action Group Kickoff Meeting Notes
Your Concerns and How We’ll Take Them On
6 Alliance Member Representatives Make "40 Under 40"
Professional Builder's Annual Listing Includes DSLD, Jagoe, Lend Lease, McCall, Maracay and Toll Brothers
Representatives of six Alliance builders were recognized in Professional Builder’s annual list of the top “40 Under 40 in Residential Construction.”
Alliance Members are 7 of the Top 10 Most Trusted Builders in U.S.
A study recently released by Lifestory Research ranked “The Most Trusted Builders in America,” and Alliance members held seven of the top ten spots.
"Start Fresh. Buy New." Campaign Supported by 17 Alliance Members
Tested in several markets last year, the "Buy New" ad campaign, which encourages homebuyers to consider the advantages of new homes, went national in March.
Welcome to our Newest Sponsor, 84 Lumber
Welcome to our newest Alliance sponsor, 84 Lumber. Learn more about them.
Boston Marathon Run for Colin Moran Memorial Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Watch Our Journey and Pledge Your Support
A friend and Alliance sponsor unexpectedly lost his son Colin, age 27, this past year to a brain tumor. IBACOS is sponsoring two runners in this year’s Boston Marathon® to raise money for the for the Colin Moran Memorial Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Learn more, follow our journey and pledge your support.
Addressing Change Head On
Over the course of 2012, we heard the following themes over and over again: Getting Paid for Performance, Decoding Codes and Standards, Increasing Velocity While Delivering Quality, Rebuilding Confidence and Engaging Customers. Learn how we’ll be tackling those challenges head on through Alliance Action Groups.
2 New Builders Join the Alliance
Welcome Goodall Homes and Lennar Corporation
We are pleased to welcome Goodall Homes (TN) and Lennar Corporation (18 states) to the Alliance.
Alliance Builders Take Top Honors
Alliance builders recently took home more than 50 top industry awards.
Alliance Builders Take Home More than 30 National Sales and Marketing Awards
Shea Homes, Schumacher Homes are Big Winners
Alliance builders made a powerful showing of their marketing savvy at the Nationals℠ , picking up more than 30 awards during the January International Builders Show in Las Vegas. Members picked up 31 awards in various categories, 12 of them Gold awards. Winners include Brookfield Homes, DR Horton, KB Home, M/I Homes, Orleans Homes, Pardee, Pulte, Schumacher Homes, Shea, Standard Pacific and Stanley Martin Homes.
Imagine Homes Wins 4th NAHB Green Award
Individual Project Award for “Chocolate Bunny” House
Learn more about the project.
Alliance Members Receive 19 Eliant Homebuyers’ Choice Awards
Brookfield, MBK and Robson Resort Communities Win for Customer Satisfaction
Three Alliance members were recognized for exceptional customer satisfaction earlier this month.
Solving a Problem vs. Selling a Product
Give Homebuyers What They Need, and Get What You Need in Return
Marketing lessons can come from the most unexpected places. Read how a little blue rimmed box in a hotel mini bar revealed two best practices for marketing homes – or any consumer product for that matter.
7 New Builders Join the Alliance
Welcome Epcon Communities, Jagoe, Pardee, Savvy, William Ryan, Woodside and WRECO
We are pleased to welcome Epcon Communities (AL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MA, MI, MN, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, and WI), Jagoe Homes (IN, KY), Pardee Homes (CA, NV), Savvy Homes (AL, NC), William Ryan Homes (AZ, FL, IL, and WI), Woodside Homes (AZ, CA, NV, TX and UT) and WRECO (Weyerhaeuser) (Camberley, Maracay, Pardee, Quadrant and Winchester Homes) to the Alliance.
Model Home Meets Science Center
C.R. Herro gives a walking tour of Meritage Homes Phoenix model
See how one builder brings building science into the mainstream.
Share Enough Information in the Right Places
Insights from Marketing HERS vs. ENERGY STAR Research #4
If you’re committed to performance as a key component of your message, don’t gloss over it. Go through our checklist below to find out if you’ve done a good job of presenting your performance message.
Alliance Builder Toll Brothers Named 2012 Builder of the Year
Alliance member Toll Brothers has been named Builder of the Year.
Alliance Members Dominate the 2013 NHQ Awards
All 2013 National Housing Quality Award-winners are Alliance Members
Announced recently in Professional Builder, this year’s National Housing Quality awards went to Alliance members DSLD Homes (Silver), Wayne Homes (Silver), Charter Homes and Neighborhoods (Gold), and new Alliance member, Vintage Homes (Bronze).
2012 Annual Meeting - More Resources to Come
There were a lot of good presentations and discussions at our 2012 Annual Meeting. PDFs of the presentation files are already available for download, but a lot of the flavor of the event was in the dialogue itself. Learn about additional audio, video and other resources we'll be making available over the next couple of months.
4 New Builders Join the Alliance
Welcome to MBK, Maracay, Robson Resort Communities and Vintage
We're proud to welcome our newest Alliance members, MBK Homes (CA), Maracay Homes (AZ), Robson Resort Communities (AZ and TX) and Vintage Homes (TN and MS).
Getting Specific About Benefits
Insights from Marketing HERS vs. ENERGY STAR Research #3
What’s your performance value proposition sound like? Is it all well-intentioned words and vague phrases like “commitment to sustainability,” or are there some hard facts and numbers for the homebuyer to grab on to? Your company’s deep commitment might sound good, but homebuyers will want to see what’s in it for them, and how those values impact their everyday lives for the better.
Putting Your Value Proposition First
Insights from Marketing HERS vs. ENERGY STAR Research
Some builders put their value proposition up front, and do a great job of articulating it, often using established programs like ENERGY STAR or HERS. Others hide their value proposition on sub-pages, or miss opportunities to cross-promote their participation in multiple standards and programs by failing to clearly show how they relate to their value proposition. Curious as to how your website rates? Go through our checklist below to find out if you’re making the case for your company’s value proposition.
GE Appliances is Newest Alliance Sponsor
An international company, GE Appliances has been in business since 1907, and produces refrigerators, freezers, cooking products, dishwashers, washers, dryers, air conditioners, water filtration systems and water heaters.
Welcome Brookfield Homes and Ideal Homes
The Alliance is proud to welcome Brookfield Homes and Ideal Homes.
Leveraging Your Website to Sell Energy Efficiency and Performance
Best Practices Research into Marketing HERS vs ENERGY STAR
Over the past couple of months, we’ve been taking a good look at builders’ websites—130 or so—to assess how different builders handle Hot Topic #1, Marketing HERS vs. ENERGY STAR.
How to Work More Effectively with Your Code Official in a Climate of Change
Alliance Radio Podcast #2
Between 2006 and 2012 IECC, energy use was cut by 30%. How are builders and officials staying up-to-date on codes and building science? How can you follow your own path and prove compliance? We talked to the International Code Council.
Following Website 101 Rules of Thumb
Insights from Marketing HERS vs. ENERGY STAR Research
As part of our Best Practices Research into Hot Topic #1: Marketing HERS vs. ENERGY STAR, we looked at more than 130 homebuilders’ websites to see what they’re saying about the quality and performance of their homes and how they’re saying it. Some builders hit all the right targets with their websites…others show a lot of missed opportunities. Curious about how your website rates? Go through our checklist below to find out if you have the basics down.
Training Trades for High Performance
Q&A with Erik Anderson on REAC, Lutron’s Residential Energy Accredited Contractor Program
Since Hot Topic #4 is Training Trades to Execute High Performance, we thought it would be a good idea to start with our Alliance sponsors, and find out what strategies they’ve found successful.
Top 5 Reasons to Right-size HVAC Systems
Here at IBACOS, we get a lot of questions from builders about why it’s important to right-size HVAC systems. The answers, it turns out, have a lot to do with Hot Topic #2: Understanding and Leveraging Value Engineering.
The Latest Feedback on Alliance Hot Topics
Through our Best Practices Research process, we’re continually sharing insights and resources and asking our builder members what they think, know or want to know related to our five hot topics. See what Alliance members and other builders had to say, and share your thoughts with us.
1st Alliance Podcast Discusses Dollars and Sense of IECC 2012
Alliance Radio Launched June 6th
On June 6th, Alliance Radio was launched with a podcast entitled "2012 IECC: Is Upgrading Really Worth It to Homebuilders and Buyers?" Two leaders from the BCAP - Alliance to Save Energy team share insights from their recent research study.
Hot Topic #1: Marketing HERS vs. ENERGY STAR
Meritage Homes Example
Recently, CR Herro responded to the request for marketing examples we sent out through the newsletter and our Alliance LinkedIn group with an example of a piece that Meritage uses in every model and every home they build.
Training Trade Contractors to Execute High Performance
Builders in the Alliance recognize that training trades is more complicated than just picking topics from a course catalog.
Understanding 2012 IECC (Versus 2006 and 2009 Code)
After more than 20 years of modest gains in new home energy efficiency, the building industry received a swift kick in the butt in 2006. According to U.S. Department of Energy data, energy use was cut by 30% between the 2006 and 2012 IECC.
IBACOS Seeks Partners for Advanced Building America Research
IBACOS is currently looking for builders who are interested in participating in Building America research, partnering in the design and construction of test houses and communities for the 2013 Research Plan.
Initial Research into Marketing HERS vs. ENERGY STAR
To kick off Topic #1, we’re looking at how builders are using HERS and ENERGY STAR in their marketing. We've also identified other angles to explore. Let us know what you think.
Defining the Value(s) You'd Like to Engineer
In terms of Value Engineering, we think there are 3 key buckets: material use, people and process, and integrated design and energy efficiency. Read more about the questions we've outlined, and tell us where you'd like the research to head.
Measuring Quality in the Field
Measuring quality doesn’t just involve whipping out a yardstick. It requires a lot of preplanning, a clear and logical process, enhanced communications, and a commitment to follow through. For purposes of researching and sharing Best Practices on this topic, we’ve broken it down into 5 key buckets.
PCBC June 26-28: Will You Be There?
We’re locking in the location for our 2nd annual summer networking event at PCBC. Will you be in San Francisco? Take our quick poll.
The Alliance Welcomes 2 New Builders
EcoCraft and La Mirada Join Alliance
We are pleased to welcome EcoCraft Homes (Pittsburgh, PA) and La Mirada Homes (Arizona) to the Alliance.
Q&A from 1 Year Later: Results from the Lab Home...So Far
The April 26 webinar covered some of the results of the data we’ve been collecting from more than 300 sensors in our Energy Efficiency Lab Home. Here's some Q&A from that session.
The Results are In
The Alliance is an organization for builders, driven by builders. One of our key focus areas is researching and sharing best practices to solve today’s hot issues. So, what topics are critical to our builders’ businesses now?
The Alliance Welcomes 3 New Builders
Lend Lease, McCall Homes and Stanley Martin Homes Join Alliance
We are pleased to welcome Lend Lease (worldwide), McCall Homes (Billings, MT) and Stanley Martin Homes (DC, MD, VA) to the Alliance.
Meet Erik Pekarski, IBACOS’ New Director and Vice President of Business Development
Erik, who now leads the company’s domestic and international business efforts, has worked and traveled all over the world, but grew up in western PA, where IBACOS is located.
New Private, Members-Only Group on LinkedIn
Connect with Other Alliance Members Online
We’re pleased to announce the launch of a private, members-only Best Practices Research Alliance Group on LinkedIn.
3 Alliance Builders Make Professional Builder's "40 Under 40"
Representatives from Toll Brothers, Meritage and Cobblestone Recognized
Four representatives from three Alliance builders were recognized in Professional Builder’s “40 under 40” list as young leaders in homebuilding. Find out more about them.
Standard Pacific Joins Alliance
We are pleased to welcome Standard Pacific Homes (AZ, CA, CO, FL, NC, NV, SC and TX) to the Alliance.
Q&A from HVAC Right-Sizing Part 3 Webinar
Air Distribution and Duct Design
The January 20 webinar, the third and last in our 3-part series on HVAC Right-Sizing, dealt with Air Distribution and Duct Design and featured Arlan Burdick, Building Performance Specialist, as primary presenter.
Preparing for Future Changes in Codes and Standards
Insights from the 2011 Alliance Annual Meeting
The Alliance Meeting’s Codes and Standards presentation, by IBACOS CTO Brad Oberg and Dean Potter, VP of K. Hovnanian’s Quality and Home Production Process, pointed out a hard truth: ENERGY STAR v. 3 is due to kick in for some new homes January 1, 2012, and most builders there agreed they had a lot of work to do if they hoped to meet that deadline.
4 Alliance Award Winners Profiled in Professional Builder
Recipients of Builder of the Year and NHQ Awards
Alliance members have picked up several major industry awards over the past year. Four of them are profiled in the October and November issues of Professional Builder, including DSLD Homes (LA, MS), Charter Homes (PA), Schumacher Homes (IN, KY, LA, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA and WV) and Wathen-Castanos Hybrid Homes (Clovis, CA).
2011 Alliance Annual Meeting - Thinking Differently
On November 2 and 3, the fifth Alliance Annual Meeting brought sixty of the homebuilding industry’s thought leaders to Pittsburgh for networking and idea exchange on the topics members told us were most critical to them—topics like preparing for future changes to building codes to marketing energy efficient homes.
The Alliance Welcomes M/I Homes
We are pleased to welcome M/I Homes (FL, IL, IN, KY, MD, NC, OH, TX, and VA) to the Alliance.
Making Quality and Performance Your Field Team's Business
A 5-step Process for Setting and Implementing Q+P Standards with Perspectives from Pulte
Covering a lot of ground, this presentation by IBACOS Services Manager Anthony Grisolia touches on every aspect of the process required to set and implement quality and performance standards, as well as presenting real-world examples from PulteGroup’s Director of Research and Development Jim Petersen.
Preparing for Future Changes to Codes and Standards
Benefits of Thinking Ahead, Process/Logic Behind Changes, and How Some Builders are Preparing
Both IBACOS CTO Brad Oberg and VP of K. Hovnanian’s Quality and Home Production Process, Dean Potter, say the key to meeting the challenges of new codes and standards is to test home performance and institute higher standards now, rather than later, since racing to catch up is more expensive than planning to exceed.
Optimizing Design, Minimizing Waste and Improving Performance
This joint presentation by Alan Laing, one of the industry’s leading consultants, and IBACOS Research Manager Duncan Prahl shows that Value Engineering has come to mean a lot more than standardizing a home’s design or cutting waste.
Marketing and Selling Energy Efficient Homes Parts 1 and 2
Best Practices, Pardee Homes Case Study and Exercises
This two-part presentation included homeowner/homebuyer statistics, a case study on Pardee Homes, a high level list of Best Practices for messaging and delivery and exercises.
Charter Homes Wins NHQ 2011 Builder of the Year
Also Wins ENERGY STAR, Safety Excellence Awards
Q&A from the HVAC Right-Sizing Part 2 Webinar
Equipment Selection and Sizing
The September 7 webinar, the second in our 3-part series on HVAC Right-Sizing, featured Arlan Burdick, Building Performance Specialist, and Brad Oberg, CTO, and covered best practices for equipment selection and sizing.
K. Hovnanian Homes® Starts Construction of Energy Efficient Test Home
Marks 7th Project with Building America Program, IBACOS
The Alliance Welcomes HearthStone Homes™, Taylor Morrison and Toll Brothers
We are pleased to welcome HearthStone Homes (Omaha, NE), Taylor Morrison (AZ, CA, CO, FL and TX) and Toll Brothers™ (AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, IL, MD, MA, MI, MN, NV, NJ, NY, NC, PA, SC, TX and VA) to the Alliance.
Featured Winner of the Quality + Performance™ Award: K. Hovnanian Homes®
In 2010, five homebuilders were recognized as inaugural winners of the Best Practices Research Alliance Home Quality + Performance award. This month we're featuring K. Hovnanian Homes®, one of the country's top ten builders. We'll examine what makes them an Alliance award-winner, including how they brought together their trade partners, suppliers and manufacturers in a collaborative forum by founding the Trade Partner Council. To learn more about the Home Quality + Performance awards, visit here.
New Builders Join the Alliance
We're pleased to announce that Addison Homes (Greenville, SC), David Weekley Homes (CO, FL, GA, IN, NC, SC, TX) and Westport Homes (IN, OH) have joined the Alliance.
Professional Builder Launches Top "40 Under 40"
Representatives of 6 Alliance Builders Recognized for Contributions to Homebuilding Industry
Representatives of six Alliance builders were recognized in Professional Builder’s first annual list of the top “40 under 40 in Residential Construction.”
Featured Winner of the Quality + Performance™ Award: Wathen-Castanos Hybrid Homes
In 2010, five homebuilders were recognized as inaugural winners of the Best Practices Research Alliance Home Quality + Performance award. This month we're featuring Wathen-Castanos Hybrid Homes in Fresno/Clovis, CA. We'll examine what makes them an Alliance award-winner, as well as winner of the EVHA Builder of the Year award and the National Housing Quality award this year. To learn more about the Home Quality + Performance awards, visit here.
Research Spotlight on HVAC Flex Duct Design
Project Aims to Set New Standards for Junction Boxes
In working with production homebuilders, IBACOS has seen poor air distribution and comfort-related issues in flex duct HVAC systems that use a type of equipment for which ACCA Manual D provides few guidelines: ductboard distribution boxes, also known as junction or “splitter” boxes
Cornell Homes, Providence Homes Join Alliance
We are pleased to welcome Cornell Homes (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania) and Providence Homes (Jacksonville, FL) to the Alliance.
Profile: Home Quality + Performance™ Award Winner – S&A Homes
In 2010, five homebuilders were recognized as inaugural winners of the Best Practices Research Alliance Home Quality + Performance award. This month we're featuring S&A Homes, based in State College, PA. We'll examine what makes them an Alliance award-winner--aside from building the Alliance's flagship project, the Energy Efficiency Lab Home.
The Alliance Inaugurates “Ask the Experts” Feature
One of the greatest values the Alliance provides is the ability to ask a question about high performance homebuilding and trust the answer that you’re getting – whether it’s related to business and quality management, construction best practices, energy standards, specific technologies and systems, etc. To facilitate this process among Alliance members, IBACOS created an “Ask the Experts” email box.
Q&A from the High Performance Lighting Webinar
Differentiating High Performance Homes with Lighting and Controls
The July 7 webinar on High Performance Lighting featured Brad Oberg, Chief Technology Officer at IBACOS, along with Erik Anderson of Lutron and Todd Roy of Progress Lighting for a look at the leading edge of lighting technology, including how lighting strategies and innovative controls can differentiate homes in a competitive market and save energy.
Q & A from Top 5 Construction Quality Hot Spots Webinar
In a webinar led by Richard Baker and Anthony Grisolia, the top five construction quality issues encountered in the field were covered, with a list of technical and business best practices to prevent them.
Profile: Home Quality + Performance™ Award Winner - Imagine Homes
In 2010, five homebuilders were recognized as inaugural winners of the Best Practices Research Alliance Home Quality + Performance award. This month we're featuring Imagine Homes, a southwestern builder based in San Antonio, Texas. We'll examine what sets them apart from other homebuilders and what makes them an Alliance award-winner—as well as a winner of a 2011 NAHB® Green Building Award for Project of the Year, Single-Family Production Builder.
Schumacher Homes Joins the Alliance
Largest Custom Homebuilder in the U.S.
We are pleased to announce that Schumacher Homes, custom homebuilder in 13 states, has joined the Alliance. Schumacher is the largest "on your lot" homebuilder in America, having built more than 6,000 homes since their founding 17 years ago.
Q&A From IBACOS/Department of Energy’s Webinar
HVAC Right-Sizing Part 1: Calculating Loads
Presented by IBACOS’ Arlan Burdick, Building Performance Specialist and Anthony Grisolia, Services Manager, with the support of the Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Program, this webinar highlighted the importance of creating accurate heating and cooling load calculations and examined the criteria required to do so. Current industry rules of thumb, and perceptions and barriers to right-sizing HVAC were also discussed. This is the first in a 3-part series, to be followed by Part 2, Choosing Equipment Size and Part 3, Choosing the Right Distribution System.
The Alliance Welcomes Three New Homebuilder Members
The Alliance is pleased to announce the addition of three new homebuilder members. New homebuilding leaders in the "club" include Citizens Homes (North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee), D.R. Horton (28 states), and Keystone Custom Homes (Central Pennsylvania).
Profile: Home Quality + Performance™ Award Winner - Meritage Homes
In late 2010, five homebuilders won the Best Practices Research Alliance Home Quality + Performance award. This month we're featuring award-winner Meritage Homes, which offers homes across the southern and western United States and is one of the ten largest homebuilders in the country. We'll examine what sets them apart from other homebuilders and what makes them an Alliance award-winner.
The Alliance Welcomes Another Homebuilder Member
The Alliance is pleased to announce that Highland Homes – (Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, TX) has become an Alliance member.
Best Practices Shared During Quality Management Webinar
During our March webinar, we took a look at tools and techniques, and best practices of National Housing Quality Award winners, who have successfully implemented Quality Management as a business strategy. Take a look at slides, Q&A and an archive of the event.
A Systems Engineering Approach
Not Just for High-Efficiency Homes
"A Systems Engineering Approach" tells how an integrated design approach should be a fundamental part of the process to ensure design efficiencies are recognized for homes at any level of performance. It appears in the April 2011 "Framework," the newsletter of the Builders Association of Central Pennsylvania (BACP).
Additional ENERGY STAR® Version 3 Q&A
Clear Answers to Homebuilder Questions
In a webinar led by Ari Rapport, an IBACOS Building Performance Specialist, we looked at ENERGY STAR® Version 3 from a homebuilder’s perspective. This is the second article to examine the questions and answers that came out of that session.
Eight New Homebuilder Members Join the Alliance
The Alliance is pleased to welcome eight new homebuilder members: Charter Homes & Neighborhoods, Darling Homes, Doucette Communities, Hubbell Homes, Mistick Construction, Orleans Homes, Richmond American Homes and Veridian Homes.
Lively Q&A During ENERGY STAR Version 3 Webinar
EPA's Sam Rashkin Fields Questions
In a webinar led by Ari Rapport, an IBACOS Building Performance Specialist, we took a look at ENERGY STAR Version 3 from a homebuilder’s perspective – touching on three key areas: the relationship between ENERGY STAR® and the evolution of codes, how to use ENERGY STAR’s Performance Path to your advantage, and the most confusing conditions of the program and how to address them. Here's a recap of that session.
Two Alliance Members Take Home NHQ Bronze
Wathen-Castanos Hybrid Homes and Charter Homes & Neighborhoods made an impressive showing at the International Builders Show this year, taking home Bronze in the National Housing Quality Awards.
Four Builder Members Recognized through EnergyValue Housing Awards
Alliance members were well-represented at the EnergyValue Housing Awards® (EVHA) this year. Four homebuilders were recognized: Cobblestone Homes (MI), Imagine Homes (TX), Meritage Homes (AZ) and Wathen-Castanos Hybrid Homes (CA).
Alliance Welcomes 8 New Homebuilder Members
New homebuilding leaders in the “club” include Cobblestone Homes, Dominion Homes, DSLD Homes, History Maker Homes, KB Home, Shea Homes, Wayne Homes, and Winchester Homes.
Alliance Homebuilders Receive National Recognition
Kudos to Wathen-Castanos Hybrid Homes for taking home the Bronze Award in the 2011 National Housing Quality Awards, and to Cobblestone Homes, Imagine Homes, Meritage Homes, and Wathen-Castanos for becoming finalists in the 2011 EnergyValue Housing Awards.
Industry Leaders Converge in Pittsburgh for Alliance Annual Meeting
Roughly 45 industry leaders – including homebuilders, product and material suppliers, and business and technical experts from throughout the U.S. – joined IBACOS in Pittsburgh for the 2010 Alliance Annual Meeting, which included a networking reception and tour of the Energy Efficiency Lab Home and a series of presentations and interactive discussions on Putting Energy Efficiency to Work in Your Business from an operational and technical perspective.
IBACOS Launches Home Quality + Performance™ Leadership Recognition Program
At the 2010 Alliance Annual Meeting, IBACOS introduced a new program recognizing Alliance homebuilders who have demonstrated their commitment to improved quality and performance in homebuilding. At that meeting, five homebuilders were recognized as inaugural winners of the Best Practices Research Alliance Home Quality + Performance award.
Interactive Quality Management Discussion Held in Pittsburgh
In late October, a number of Alliance members joined IBACOS, Building Excellence Consulting and other experts to discuss best practices for implementing quality management in homebuilding companies and evaluate a number of resources developed to help builders.
Best Practices for Using Energy Efficiency as a Competitive Advantage
Construction guys as sales agents? Keeping a homebuyer engaged for 3 hours? 1-hour realtor training sessions? Selling more value for more money in this economy? Earlier this month, Alliance members John Friesenhahn of Imagine Homes, Mike Nimon of Wathen-Castanos Hybrid Homes, and Michael Dickens and Brad Oberg of IBACOS participated in a panel discussion entitled "How to Use Energy Efficiency as a Competitive Advantage" through BUILDER Online's Presidential Seminar Series.
"Integrated Design Process" or "Lean Design" - You say Tomato...
Duncan Prahl, leader of Quality and Business Management research for IBACOS and the Alliance, firmly believes that the overall operational profitability of a company building high performance homes can be as good as or better than a company building simply to code. One way to help pay for higher performance strategies and get the most bang for the buck is through Integrated Design Process (IDP).
“My Future Home” Contest - Deadline Oct. 26th
Winners Announced at the 2012 Alliance Annual Meeting
If you have a child, grandchild, niece or nephew (12 or under), we’d like to see what kind of home they want to live in when they grow up. Invite them to submit a piece of artwork for IBACOS' "My Future Home" contest. Deadline is October 26, 2012.
ICC and BECP Launch Comprehensive Codes Resources
Alliance Audit of New Web Section with "Best of" Links
In April 2013, the International Code Council and the DOE's Building Energy Codes Program launched a new section on the ICC website to assist building code officials, providing a central clearinghouse for a vast number of resources that are available on the web. We've combed the site and created a guide for finding the best it has to offer.
