Green Home Inside the International Builders Show

I was mighty impressed that someone was going to build an entire house inside the Las Vegas Convention Center for the 4 day long International Builders Show. I was even more impressed that it was a green home.

This 2,426 square foot, two story, 3 bedroom, 2 ½ bath home is a combination of modular and panel construction. It took about 10 weeks to build off site and 3.5 days to assemble on the convention floor. No small feat, I’m sure!

The goal was to create a high performance home with high-end finishes and a zero carbon footprint.

Steve Glenn, CEO of Livinghomes, said that this one of a kind house is for sale for about $600,000. He said they could produce a home with out some of the super high-end finishes in quantity (not sure how many he meant) for about $150 per square foot.

The actual construction took place at the
Profile Structures plant in
Santa Fe Springs California. I don’t know too much about these companies but I do know that our friends at Forma Homes (a BANN member) do similar things right here in northern Nevada. I took a tour of their Fernley plant about a year ago and I was amazed. They take your design, build it in their factory with very low worker’s comp risks, less than 3% waste and no weather worries then ship it off on a truck (or trucks) to your site to be assembled. It’s a pretty cool process.

So, I’m not so sure my 90 minute wait for a tour of this house
was really worth it but, was awesome to see a full house inside
of the convention center!

View all of my IBS photos on Flickr

Missy Hinton

Missy's day at the International Builders Show

I cautiously entered the exhibit hall and was immediately drawn to the Sears Commercial booth. I found Susie, from Dacor kitchen appliances, joyfully preparing grilled chicken salad with what she called “the best dressing ever”. She noted that it can be used as a marinade too. Susie’s amazing kitchen display was surrounded by big screen TVs, exercise equipment, Kenmore appliances and even water filtration systems.

I saw the Pink Panther at the Owens Corning Booth and put my feet up by the fire at the Heatilator booth. Our friends at Fireplace Distributors of Nevada are a local distributor of these super cool fireplaces.

As I wandered on, feeling warm and sleepy from the fire, I thought about hoping into a jetted tub at the front of the Kohler booth. Probably not a good idea!

Sounds of hammering, sawing and power tools I cannot identify, filled the air as thousands of building professionals made their way through the maze of enticing displays.

Windows and doors and flooring...oh my! For those of us that get overwhelmed in the aisles of Home Depot or Lowes, it was building supply overload!

Tomorrow, I plan to take a tour of the 'green' home that is built inside the convention center!

View all of my IBS photos on Flickr.

Missy Hinton