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features

Sun-Powered Slabs

Concrete construction and solar power are proving to be a potent combination. Near Chico, Calif., a home built with insulated concrete forms (ICF) and powered by solar panels might never have a utility bill, general contractor Steve Ferreira of Ferreir..

Management

Michael Pyatok: Neighborhood Building

Compared with people in the rest of the world, Americans are among the best housed. Still, a startling number of Americans do not have decent, affordable housing.

Management

Claes Fornell: Customer Science

Swedish-bred Claes Fornell, director of the National Quality Research Center at the University of Michigan, exhibits little of the reserve often attributed to his countrymen.

Management

William McDonough: Eco-Effectiveness

Architect William McDonough is a radical. He also is lauded as a pioneer in sustainability, representing ideals admired by green builders.

New-Construction Projects

The Lowdown on Lots

A phone call, a fax and a drive out to the site are the usual ways builders commonly track the progression of land development.

Management

Paco Underhill: Shopping Behavior

Relentless focus on buyer behavior has been a 20-year devotion for New York-based consultant and author Paco Underhill. Like a naturalist observing the wild, Underhill and a staff of correspondents follow shoppers through stores and capture their movem..

features

the time is right to build offsite

Off-site construction has long been a great untapped opportunity for the smaller home builder who starts 25 or fewer units annually. But while the majority of independent operators have been slow to part ways with their traditional on-site practices,...

features

Install: Vacuum Sewer Systems

Vacuum sanitary sewer systems offer many advantages over traditional gravity systems and pressure systems, including low installation and maintenance costs.

Management

Brand Building

There are two ways to achieve brand recognition, says Pulte Homes vice president/marketing Jim Lesinski. The fast — and expensive — option is to buy a brand. Throw lots of money at lots of different media and buy consumer awareness.

Sales

By Appointment Only

Sales traffic data suggest that high-end home buyers are taking a wait-and-see approach during these days of economic uncertainty.

Home Builders Institute's Schools to Skills Grant Application Open Through December

As Mortgage Rates Rise, Buyers Lose Purchasing Power

Renters Are Choosing Single-Family Homes for These Features