Become A Prototype Partner 
Let’s face it, the US is behind many industrialized countries in the products available for creating truly high performance, sustainable buildings. There are many products available in Europe that we really need, but either can’t get or are simply too expensive. Examples include vapor permeable tape, sheathing, and insulation systems; air tight electrical boxes, plumbing gaskets, and window flashing / trim stops; integrated heat pump, water heater, ERV, and dehumidification units. The list goes on. It can be difficult for US manufacturers to bridge this gap because demand for these important components is still low here. For example, high performance windows are being manufactured in the US, but due partly to a lower market share they cost four or more times as much as their standard counterparts.
We can do our part to change this paradigm from the design and construction end by helping to create demand. We decided the best way to do that would be to create a prototype project that showcases the state of the art for high performance, low embodied energy, healthy built, sustainable residential construction. To learn more about the project and all its features, visit the Nauhaus prototype page.
Stopping with construction, though, would be missing the point. We are planning a national publicity campaign about our prototype project aimed at raising professional and public awareness of what is presently possible in the world of residential construction. In addition to the typical press releases and advertising, we plan the following acts of publicity:
- Publishing: Clarke Snell, author of “The Good House Book” and “Building Green” will write several articles for national publication and will document the project in a book. Clarke and engineer Jeff Buscher will also publish a building systems performance analysis based on occupied building performance monitoring.
- Video: We’ll professionally produce both an educational project video and a stop-frame photo montage of the construction process.
- Talks: Our members regularly give public lectures and interviews. The focus of these for at least the next year will be this prototype project.
- Web: We’ll maintain a project blog that will include an events calendar and regular progress posts, including videos and photos.
The point of this project is to create a model, not a novelty. Therefore one of our central project goals is to develop a network of industry partners who produce components that we’ll need for our work. In the unique case of our prototype project, we are soliciting sponsors to donate or give us discounts on materials, components, systems, and services. Though we are confident that the Nauhaus approach will be price competitive, we are front loading this project with so many innovations, firsts, enhancements, and tweaks, that a little bit of breathing room in our budget will be a big help. We feel it’s very important that this project be a full-fledged model that realizes the full integrated design we’ve created. To see if there’s something you make that we can use in the prototype, visit the Systems and Components page or contact us.
In exchange for your support, we are offering:
- inclusion of your logo in all project advertising and publicity
- a spot on our website “Sales” page for one year
- discussion of product strengths in our project video
- physical product labeling in the prototype building
Just as importantly, your sponsorship will give us an opportunity to get to know your product. For us, this work isn’t only business, but part of a movement to change how buildings are built in the US. If we like what you make or do, we’ll not only continue to specify it, but promote it in our talks and publications because we want this movement to grow. If your organization or company has similar goals, let’s work together.
To discuss sponsorship, contact:
Clarke Snell at 828-230-9857; clarke@thenauhaus.com
