The recent International Builders Show in Las Vegas which houses the annual building products convention sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders featured their version of the “green” home of the future, a massive 8,721 square foot building they call The New American Home.

While the 2009 show home does integrate some of the latest energy efficient heating and cooling technology, and employs some off site building methods that can minimize material use and reduce waste, its size and overt luxury beg the question why despite the housing crisis the “New American Home” keeps getting bigger? And also why the IBS chooses not to show off the latest building efficiencies in a more reasonable “Real American Home?”

There is an apparent disconnect in the building industry when young engineers not yet out of college this year at the Solar Decathlon will build and showcase models of sustainable houses that are more relevant than the featured “New American Home” from the National Association of Home Builders.

You Had Me At Eco
After touring The 2009 New American Home one gets the sense that the leaders of the US housing industry still fail to understand the two major reasons for the industry blowup - houses are too big and too expensive for the average American family. Hopes can only be bolstered by the apparent awareness of some green technologies. Still, it seems until builders come to grips with reasons one and two, the industry is likely to continue to regress.

One way the NAHB could start to regain credibility in 2010 is to feature an averaged-sized affordable house more in step with the times! Perhaps something more along the lines of the EcoFabulous Home by Architecton in Vancouver, BC.

EcoFabulous was chosen as Feature Home for the recent 2008 Home and Garden Show by the Greater Vancouver Home Builders Association. When you see the house and do a mental accounting of the infused “green” amenities that are a part of EcoFabulous, you can only conclude that the Vancouver Home Builders understand the current and future housing market better than some American counterparts.

The award-winning architect behind EcoFabulous is Kanau (Kon) Uyeyama. Uyeyama has designed hundreds of structures during his long distinguished career. In EcoFabulous he has combined materials and practices used in previous work into one modern sustainable and affordable gem. “We put all our knowledge to the test and designed and built the EcoFabulous Home,” said Mary Todd, Promotions and Development Consultant for Architecton.

Eco As Fabulous
Starting with its small Eco-footprint, EcoFabulous is 1000 square feet but still manages two bedrooms and two bathrooms, large enough for many different households including singles, roommates, or young families. Plus, a 400 square foot red cedar deck accessible to both wings of the house increases the living space on non-inclement weather days.

The house materials include sustainable or recycled cork, cedar, cotton, wool, and silk are simply beautiful; and there is no shortage of amenities often categorized as “high-end” such as an integrated Home Control System (smart wiring), spa, fireplace, and built-in recycling bins in the kitchen.

EcoFabulous is factory built to reduce waste, uses energy efficient lighting, windows and appliances (included with the house), a hydronic heating system which is over 95% efficient, and a solar panel. In addition to all of the above, “green” paint and other materials used in the house emit zero or minimal VOC’s (volatile organic compounds).

Perhaps best of all Uyeyama’s EcoFabulous house can be put together in just eight weeks, and the expected price to build excluding foundation, shipping, and assembly starts at $180,000 (Canadian). US residents will of course need to account for slightly longer build times and some increased costs due to shipping. The final costs of EcoFabulous for US residents is likely to fall between $200,000 and $300,000.

In the end EcoFabulous may come at a slightly higher dollar cost than some other similarly sized sustainable prefabbed houses manufactured in the US. But because of its advanced features the added costs will likely be viewed as added value to many interested buyers.

Then again, think how much added value you’d have if you bought the “green” 8700 square foot house the NAHB adored at the International Builders Show.

View the Featured EcoFabulous Slide Show.