USDA Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory

Research Demonstration House and Carriage House

USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory

Research Demonstration House and Carriage House

A Walkthrough Tour
USDA Forest Service

Forest Products Laboratory

One Gifford Pinchot Drive

Madison, Wisconsin

53726-2398

Phone: (608) 231-9200

Internet: www.fpl.fs.fed.us

June 2010

The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, 

sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, 

religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, 

political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of 

an individual’s income is derived from any public 

assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who 

require alternative means for communication of 

program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center 

at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, 

Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, 

S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250–9410, or call (800) 

795–3272 (voice) or (202) 720–6382 (TDD). USDA 

is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Research on wood-frame housing has been an important part of the 100-year research program at 

the USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory (FPL). To further these efforts, FPL established 

the Advanced Housing Research Center (AHRC) in 

2000. Originally organized to further cooperation 

between federal agencies as part of the Presidential Initiative, Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing, the AHRC has grown to include a 

wide range of partners from both the public and 

private sectors.

Under the auspices of the AHRC, FPL has constructed two full-scale structures for research and 

educational activities: the Research Demonstration House and the Carriage House. Both of these 

structures allow researchers to conduct housingrelated studies in a “real world” setting, which can 

significantly extend knowledge obtained in a laboratory environment. The Research Demonstration 

House and the Carriage House have also helped 

to further FPL collaboration and partnerships with 

industry, academia, and other government entities. 

This is not the first time housing structures have 

been built at FPL. The first full-scale structure was 

built in the late 1930s to evaluate moisture distribution and temperature gradients in woodframed walls. It is also interesting to note that 

the Research Demonstration House and Carriage 

House are located on the same site as the original farm house and outbuildings for the farmland 

where the current FPL campus was built in 1930 

(see next page).

This publication is intended to provide a brief 

overview of the products, technologies, and research activities that are included in the Research 

Demonstration House and the Carriage House. For 

convenience, each item includes one or more photographs and follows a designated path covering 

the outside and inside of both structures. Please 

keep in mind that these structures were designed 

and built to represent a “typical” structure for 

research purposes, not a “perfect” structure. Also 

remember that the FPL housing research program 

is dynamic, and changes may occur periodically 

that affect the nature of the research and the appearance of the structures.

On behalf of all the partners and many FPL employees who developed and continue to work on 

the Research Demonstration House and the Carriage House, we hope your visit will be informative 

and interesting, and we invite your questions and 

comments. For additional information on both research and educational topics, please visit the FPL 

website at www.fpl.fs.fed.us.

Thomas G. Williamson

Vice President of Quality and Technical (Retired)

APA – The Engineered Wood Association

Catherine Marx Kaake

Senior Director, Engineered & Framing Markets

Southern Pine Council

Michael A. Ritter

Assistant Director

USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory

Martin R. Yoklic

Research Scientist

Environmental Research Laboratory, 

University of Arizona

Susan LeVan-Green

Program Manager, Technology Marketing Unit

U.S. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory

Welcome

Research Demonstration House—Welcome 1

 The first 

FPL test house 

was built in the 

1930s to evaluate moisture 

distribution 

and temperature gradient in 

walls. 
2 Research Demonstration House

Then and Now

1930

2010
Site Map

Carriage House

Research Demonstration House and Carriage House—Site Map 3

Research Demonstration House

Parking Lot

͢North
Research Demonstration House

The Research Demonstration House is a 

2,300-square-foot, two-story structure that is 

based on a standard architectural design and 

was built to represent a “typical” Midwestern 

house. Constructed in 2001, the house was 

originally conceived to conduct full-scale 

research studies on moisture management 

practices in a cold climate region. At the time 

of construction and continuing now, moisture 

and mold are significant national issues, and 

research was needed to educate builders and 

consumers on the best recommended practices to minimize adverse moisture effects on 

the structure and indoor living environment. 

Under the leadership of APA – The Engineered 

Wood Association (APA), a partnership to 

construct the house was formed involving APA, 

the Southern Pine Council, Windsor Homes, 

the USDA Forest Service, Forest Products 

Laboratory, and numerous product manufacturers and suppliers. During the late project 

planning stages, the partners determined that 

the house interior would be finished and that 

materials and technologies would be included 

to demonstrate energy efficiency, sustainability, and water efficiency. Although research is 

the primary purpose for the house, it is also 

intended to be an educational experience for 

all who visit.

4 Research Demonstration House
Ramp

The ramp from the sidewalk and parking area to 

the front porch not only provides accessibility to 

the house but also is an ongoing research project 

to evaluate long-term durability of decking and 

ramp support materials. Constructed of naturally 

decay-resistant wood species, preservative-treated 

wood, and wood–plastic composite lumber, the 

structure is being monitored to determine how 

well the materials stand up to the elements. The 

different materials that are being evaluated are 

labeled along the length of the ramp:

• Nine different formulations of woodpreservative treatments

• Four types of wood–plastic composite lumber 

using both polyethylene and polypropylene 

plastics

• Untreated black locust and ipe (naturally decayresistant wood species)

The ramp railing is finished with a penetrating oil 

stain that was developed at FPL.

Siding

The type of exterior siding can influence moisture 

behavior inside the wall. Because moisture research 

is a key objective for this house, four different 

materials cover the exterior: brick veneer, stucco, 

plywood panel siding, and lap siding. The various 

materials were installed using consistent flashing 

and sealant techniques and now are being monitored to determine how much moisture penetrates 

the surfaces. Brief descriptions of the different siding materials follow.

• The nominal 8-inch-wide oriented strandboard 

lap siding is an engineered wood product that is 

shipped pre-primed and treated with borate to 

inhibit decay and insect attack. It is nailed to the 

wood frame, edge sealed, and painted (a siding 

sample is on display in the basement).

SmartSide® lap siding provided by LP Corporation, Huntersville, NC.

• Brick veneer siding is constructed by building a 

wall of clay bricks with cement-based mortar in 

front of the wood framing. Although attached to 

the wood framing with connector straps, there is 

a ventilation gap and a moisture barrier between 

the brick and the wood framing to reduce the 

potential for moisture accumulation.

• The wood panel siding is specially manufactured 

plywood and is commonly referred to as APA 

T1-11. The siding panels are available in various 

designs and textures and are typically 4 feet wide 

and 8 to 10 feet long.

Plywood siding provided by McKenzie Forest 

Products, Springfield, OR.

• The stucco siding is made using a cement mixture 

combined with water and sand or lime. It is typically installed over a wire mesh (similar to chicken 

wire) that is placed over building paper on the 

wood frame. 

Outside

Research Demonstration House—Outside 5

Lap Brick Panel Stucco
6 Research Demonstration House—Outside

Outside

Roof Shingles

The roof shingles appear to be hand-split cedar 

shakes but are actually a wood–plastic composite material made from waste wood and recycled 

plastic milk containers. They are molded in 

lightweight panels that can be cut and nailed in 

place, without the use of special tools. Construction scrap is easily recycled to manufacture more 

shingles. The finished roof is both fire and hail resistant and carries a Class A fire rating and a Class 

C hail rating. Researchers are studying long-term 

shingle durability and expect the product to last 

for many years. At this time, the shingles are in a 

development phase and are not available for sale 

to the public. A shingle panel is available for viewing in a second floor bedroom of the house.

Roof shingles supplied by Teel Global Resource 

Technologies, Baraboo, WI.

Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater collection has been practiced for thousands of years, although it is generally not widespread where safe and abundant water is supplied 

by public and private utilities. However, diminishing water supplies due to drought, increased 

demand, pollution, and inefficient use are elevating 

water conservation as a topic of great interest. In 

residential applications, harvested rainwater can be 

used for many purposes, including toilets, laundry, 

and lawn and garden irrigation. At this house, researchers are evaluating a number of water harvesting systems that can significantly reduce the 

residential water demand on the public water utility. Evaluating the performance of these harvesting 

systems for cold climate applications will aid in the 

development, design, and construction techniques 

employed for future systems.

Two different rainwater harvesting systems can be 

seen outside the house. The first is a simple drain 

field where water from the roof is directed underground via a long perforated plastic pipe to a 

gravel leach field under the grass in the side yard. 

This type of system can provide irrigation for a 

long hedge or other landscaping features. The 

second system involves two rainwater collection barrels that store water collected from the 

roof, which can then be tapped with a hose to 

provide landscape irrigation. 

Rainwater harvesting research conducted in 

cooperation with the University of Arizona.

Collection 

Barrels

Drain Field
Research Demonstration House—Outside 7

Outside

Front Porch

The front porch flooring is nominal 1- by 4-inch 

tongue-and-groove Southern Pine that is nailed in 

place and finished with an oil-based wood stain. 

The ceiling is the same material, but the boards 

are reversed to show a beaded pattern on the 

side opposite the smooth finish side (material 

samples are on display in the basement). Note that 

a problem has developed and water vapor from 

the house interior is venting above the ceiling and 

condensing on the cold ceiling surface. This is 

causing the ceiling boards to swell and buckle.

Flooring and ceiling planks provided by the Southern Pine Council, Kenner, LA.

Lift Station

The round concrete cylinder at the southeast 

corner of the house covers a sewage lift station. 

Because of the relatively low elevation of the basement, and the fact that the house is not located in 

a conventional housing area, the lift station was 

required to raise sewage to the city sewer pipe 

elevation. 

Rear Porch and Stairs

The back deck, framing, and stairs are made from 

pressure-treated Southern Pine lumber. This material has been widely used as a decking material for 

over 60 years, and industry analysts report that 

more than 70% of all decks in the United States 

are pressure-treated Southern Pine. The treated 

material is strong, durable, and can be stained to 

any color. The reasonable life expectancy of the exposed boards with regular maintenance is approximately 20 years, depending on climatic conditions. 

Sealing the boards regularly with water protective 

coatings or stains can extend the life expectancy to 

up to 30 years.

Decking and framing material provided by the 

Southern Pine Council, Kenner, LA.
8 Research Demonstration House—First Floor

First Floor

Garage

Porch

UP

DN

W

R

D

Breakfast Kitchen

Great

Room

Rear

Porch

Dining
Research Demonstration House—First Floor 9

First Floor

House Design and Plans

The “Hazelton” house design was selected by our 

industry partners because it is popular and a “typical” design that uses a wide range of sustainable 

engineered wood products. The two-story design 

includes approximately 1,132 square feet of living 

space on the main floor, 1,087 square feet of living 

space on the second floor, a full basement, and a 

two-car garage. Because most of the materials and 

a portion of the labor were donated, the actual 

cost of the house is impossible to determine; 

however, a 2001 cost estimated by the builder was 

approximately $250,000.

House design and plans supplied by Design Basics, 

Omaha, NE.

Douglas-fir Desk

This desk was built using wood from small-diameter, suppressed-growth trees that were removed 

from the forest during thinning operations. Public 

and private forests are in critical need of restoration. Thinning small-diameter trees improves 

forest health and reduces the risk of catastrophic 

wildfire. Most of the trees obtained from thinning 

are between 3 and 9 inches in diameter and are 

too small for commercial manufacturing. However, 

products such as this desk demonstrate the use of 

a low-value material to create a high-value product. These products can provide economic benefits 

to local communities, help offset thinning costs, 

and improve forest health. 

Desk supplied by Jefferson State Forest Products, 

Hayfork, CA.

Wisconsin ENERGY STAR® 

Certification

This house is certified by Wisconsin ENERGY 

STAR® Homes, which means it is 

• built to proven standards that ensure superior 

insulation, ventilation, combustion safety, and 

moisture control,

• estimated to be 25% more efficient than homes 

built to the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, 

and

• performance tested and certified by third-party 

consultants.

The Wisconsin ENERGY STAR® Homes program 

helps to preserve Wisconsin’s environment because less energy use means fewer environmental 

effects on our air, water, and land. To date, more 

than 350 builders have partnered with Wisconsin 

ENERGY STAR® Homes to build more than 

8,000 new high-performance homes across 

the state.
10 Research Demonstration House—First Floor

First Floor

Southern Pine Flooring

Flooring in the great room and dining room (serving as our reception area) is plantation-grown 

Southern Pine. The flooring consists of nominal 

1- by 4-inch tongue-and-groove boards that are 

nailed in place. After installation, the flooring was 

sanded and finished with several coats of clear 

polyurethane finish. 

Flooring provided by the Southern Pine Council, 

Kenner, LA.

Lighting

Lighting accounts for about 20% of the electric 

bill for an average home. Wherever possible, the 

lighting fixtures in this house meet or exceed 

ENERGY STAR® requirements. ENERGY STAR® 

qualified lighting provides bright, warm light but 

uses approximately 75% less energy than standard 

lighting, produces 75% less heat, and lasts up to 

10 times longer. By replacing the five most frequently used light fixtures in a home with ENERGY 

STAR® qualified models, you can save more than 

$65 each year in energy costs. 

Lighting provided by Progress Lighting, 

Spartanburg, SC, and Wisconsin ENERGY 

STAR®.

Low-VOC Paint 

Most paints contain chemicals known as volatile 

organic compounds, or VOCs. These are carboncontaining compounds that readily vaporize 

into the air as paint dries. VOCs react with other 

elements to produce ground-level ozone, which 

can cause air pollution and can potentially cause 

health-related concerns, especially breathingrelated disorders such as asthma. To reduce the 

release of these compounds into the air, low-VOC 

paints have been developed. To qualify as a VOCcompliant paint, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires a VOC level of less than 250 

grams per liter for latex and flat finish paints and 

less than 380 grams per liter for oil-based and all 

other paints. The paint used for the interior of this 

house is a very low VOC latex formulation, containing less than 50 grams per liter. 

Paint provided by Sherwin-Williams, Strongsville, 

OH.
Research Demonstration House—First Floor 11

Digital Programmable Thermostat 

and Zone Control 

Digital programmable thermostats allow the homeowner to turn on the heating or air conditioning according to a pre-set schedule. As a result, 

the temperature can be automatically adjusted 

during sleeping periods or when the house is not 

occupied. Programmable thermostats can store 

and repeat a number of daily settings that can be 

manually overridden without affecting the automatic daily or weekly program schedule. Turning 

back the thermostat 10% to 15% for 8 hours daily 

can save as much as 10% on annual heating and 

cooling costs.

In addition to the thermostat on the first floor, 

a similar unit is located upstairs in the master 

bedroom to control air temperature on the second 

floor. This effectively divides the house into two 

heating and cooling zones and allows the homeowner to set each zone temperature depending on 

room occupancy and time of day. Combined with 

programmable thermostats, zoning can reduce 

energy costs by up to 20%.

Aprilaire® digital thermostat and zone control 

system provided by Research Products Corporation, 

Madison, WI.

First Floor

Automatic Humidifier Control

This wall-mounted control unit is connected to 

a centralized, computer-controlled humidifier 

attached to the forced-air heating system in the 

basement. The humidifier continuously measures, 

controls, and delivers optimum levels of moisture 

to indoor air based on the dial setting selected 

by the homeowner. A centralized unit such as this 

delivers humidified air to the entire house through 

the forced-air system, providing greater uniformity, accuracy, and reliability compared to individual 

room humidifiers. 

Aprilaire® computer-equipped automatic humidifier and control unit provided by Research Products 

Corporation, Madison, WI.

Smoke Alarms

One of the most important safety devices for 

the home is a smoke alarm. In the event of a fire, 

properly installed and maintained smoke alarms 

will provide an early warning to facilitate a safe 

evacuation. Smoke alarms are of two basic types: 

ionization alarms and photoelectric alarms. Ionization alarms sound more quickly when a flaming, 

fast-moving fire occurs. Photoelectric alarms are 

quicker at sensing smoldering, smoky fires. Combination smoke alarms combine ionization and photoelectric capabilities into one unit. Because both 

ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are 

better at detecting distinctly different yet potentially fatal fires, the installation of both ionization 

and photoelectric or dual sensor smoke alarms is 

recommended. Residential smoke alarms should 

be placed on all floors in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and may be battery 

operated or wired directly into the house electrical system. Direct-wired alarms should also have a 

battery backup. Batteries must be checked often 

and replaced annually.
12 Research Demonstration House

—First Floor

First Floor

Moisture 

Research

Moisture movement 

and accumulation 

is a main research 

focus of the Research 

Demonstration House. 

The purpose of this 

research is to better 

understand moisture 

in order to minimize 

the potential for 

moisture damage to 

wood-frame housing 

and improve energy 

efficiency and indoor 

air quality. As part of this effort, researchers are 

looking at how moisture content in exterior walls 

varies with season, weather, and type of wall con-

struction. A key factor that influences moisture in ex-

terior walls, especially in cold climates during winter 

months, is the level of indoor humidity. Because this 

house is unoccupied, humidifiers are used to simu-

late the humidity level that results in an occupied 

home from activities such as showering, cooking, 

and cleaning. Moisture management guidelines 

generally recommend that indoor relative humidity 

not exceed 40% during winter in cold climates. For 

research purposes, this house is humidified during 

the winter to approximately 45% relative humidity 

at 70°F. This level is much higher than average and 

would be exceeded by only one out of 10 houses 

in the Madison, Wisconsin, area. Moisture research 

instrumentation, including pressure-measurement 

tubes and sensor wires, is plainly visible along the 

living room walls. 

Windows

The ENERGY STAR® qualified windows in this 

house allow the occupants to enjoy the light and 

outside view while saving money on utility bills 

and protecting valuable furnishings and finishes 

from sun damage. Products labeled with the 

ENERGY STAR® logo must meet strict energyefficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmen

-

tal Protection Agency and the U.S. Department 

of Energy. They save energy and money for the 

homeowner and help the environment because 

lowering energy use helps reduce greenhouse gas 

emissions and air pollutants at the source. 

ENERGY STAR® windows feature advanced tech-

nologies such as invisible glass coatings, vacuumsealed spaces filled with inert gas between the two 

panes, improved framing materials, better weather 

stripping, and warm edge spacers, all of which 

reduce undesirable heat gain and loss. Compared 

to less efficient windows, ENERGY STAR® qualified 

windows help keep homes warmer in the winter 

and cooler in the summer because they can block 

70% or more of the solar heat gain in the summer 

and reflect radiant heat indoors during winter. As 

is the case with the windows in this house, an 

ENERGY STAR® qualified window with special 

(Low-E) coatings can reduce fading and discolor-

ation from direct sunlight exposure by up to 75%.

Windows provided by Andersen Windows, Bayport, 

MN.
Research Demonstration House—First Floor 13

Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are installed in the living room and 

several other rooms in the house. The fans do not 

actually change the temperature in a room, but 

they circulate the air for a beneficial effect in both 

summer and winter. In the summer, ceiling fans 

create a wind chill effect that pulls perspiration 

away from your body, allowing your body’s own 

cooling system to work more effectively. When 

used with central air conditioning, ceiling fans can 

compensate for an increased thermostat setting 

of as much as 10 degrees without a noticeable decrease in the comfort level. Ceiling fans cost about 

3 cents per hour to operate, and an air conditioner can cost more than $1.00 per hour to operate 

(depending on efficiency)—considerable savings 

in air conditioning costs can be realized by using 

a ceiling fan. During winter, ceiling fans pull cooler 

air from the floor upwards toward the ceiling 

where it mixes with warmer air and circulates 

with the least direct air movement and wind chill 

effect. Ceiling fan/light combination units that 

are ENERGY STAR® certified are about 50% more 

efficient than conventional fan/light units and can 

save more than $15 per year on utility bills.

Ceiling fans provided by Craftmade Company, 

Coppell, TX, through Isthmus Lighting, 

Madison, WI.

First Floor

Fireplace

The fireplace is a direct-vent, high-efficiency gas 

unit equipped with a fan to distribute heat into 

the room. Direct-vent units eliminate the need for 

a chimney and chase, allowing for less expensive 

installation and positioning virtually anywhere 

in the house. The air-tight construction provides 

an authentic flame while maintaining indoor air 

quality, because the combustion air comes from 

outside the house and exhaust is expelled through 

an outside vent. Fireplaces such as this add to the 

comfort of your home by providing warmth and 

ambience at the touch of a button.

Vermont Castings fireplace provided by United Brick 

and Tile, Madison, WI.

Maple Flooring

The kitchen flooring is nominal 1- by 4-inch 

tongue-and-groove maple that is nailed to the 

subfloor. This flooring is different from other wood 

flooring in the house because it is factory sanded 

and finished for quick and easy installation. 

Maple flooring provided by Somerset Wood Products, 

Somerset, KY.
14 Research Demonstration House—First Floor

First Floor

Kitchen Cabinets

The kitchen cabinets are made from maple, which 

is a strong, heavy hardwood that is commonly 

used for cabinets and furniture. They are “stock” 

cabinets that were manufactured in an industrial 

facility and are available in standard designs, 

rather than “custom” cabinets that are specifically 

designed and built for a single, specific location. Stock cabinets are typically less expensive 

than custom cabinets and are readily available 

in a wide variety of standard designs for timely 

installation. These cabinets were certified by the 

Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association Certification Program, which evaluates cabinets for 

structural, construction, and finish requirements 

that simulate years of household use. 

Cabinets provided by Quality Cabinets, 

Duncanville, TX.

Kitchen Countertops

The kitchen countertops are made 

of medium-density fiberboard 

(MDF) covered with a decorative plastic laminate. MDF is an 

engineered wood product that is 

formed by breaking down softwood into fibers that are combined with wax and a resin binder 

and are formed into panels by 

applying high temperature and 

pressure. MDF does not respond 

significantly to changes in moisture or temperature and provides 

a dimensionally stable platform for 

the plastic laminate. This type of 

countertop is very common and is 

factory produced with a single thin 

sheet of plastic laminate curved 

and glued over the MDF base 

material, which is shaped to provide an integrated 

front edge, work surface, and backsplash. This type 

of countertop is economical, durable, and does not 

require maintenance, such as resealing or heavy 

polishing. 

Countertops provided by VT Industries, Holstein, IA.

Kitchen Appliances 

The kitchen appliances were all state-of-the-art when 

the house was built in 2001. However, at that time 

the dishwasher was the only appliance available with 

an ENERGY STAR® certification. ENERGY STAR® 

dishwashers, such as the one in the kitchen, use at 

least 41% less energy than the federal minimum 

standard for energy consumption and use much less 

water than conventional models. Since the house was 

built, ENERGY STAR® certification has also been developed for refrigerators. Today, ENERGY STAR® refrigerators use at least 20% less energy than required 

by federal standards and about 40% less energy than 

the conventional models sold in 2001.

There is no ENERGY STAR® label for the other 

kitchen appliances in this house, but the comparative 

energy efficiency between models can be determined 

by the EnergyGuide labels that are placed on all new 

appliances. This label gives the estimated energy 

use per year and the annual energy use range of all 

similar models of that appliance type.

Kitchen appliances provided by Whirlpool Corporation, 

Benton Harbor, MI .
Research Demonstration House—First Floor 15

First Floor

Washing Machine and Dryer

As with the kitchen appliances, the washing machine and dryer were state-of-the-art when the 

house was built in 2001. The washing machine is 

ENERGY STAR® compliant and operates without 

an agitator. Instead, the wash plate at the bottom 

of the basket lifts, rolls, and bounces the clothes, 

which reduces the amount of hot water required 

and the energy used to heat it. ENERGY STAR® 

qualified washing machines typically use 50% less 

energy than standard washers and only 18 to 25 

gallons of water per load, compared with 40 gallons used by a typical standard machine. They also 

extract more water from clothes during the spin 

cycle to reduce drying time and save energy.

There is no ENERGY STAR® label for clothes dryers because there is little difference in the energy 

use between models. The relative energy efficiency 

Washer Safety 

Valve

The safety valve behind 

the washing machine 

automatically shuts off 

the hot and cold water supply when the 

machine is not in use. 

When the washer is on, 

the device senses the 

electric current flow to 

the washer and opens 

the water valves. When 

the washer shuts off, the 

device senses the stop in current flow and closes 

the water valves. This simple device can prevent 

thousands of dollars in damage due to a broken 

or split washer hose—and the resulting flooding—

while the machine is unattended.

Washer Safety Valve provided by CasMont Industries, Inc., Louisville, KY.

of different models can be determined by comparing EnergyGuide labels that are placed on all new 

appliances. The label gives the estimated energy 

use per year and the annual energy use range of all 

similar models.

Washing machine and dryer provided by Whirlpool 

Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI.
16 Research Demonstration House—Garage

Garage

Rainwater Holding and 

Distribution System

The 300-gallon storage tank located in the garage 

is part of a rainwater collection system that supplies water to the washing machine and first-floor 

bathroom toilet. The system could also be modified to supply rainwater for other non-potable 

water uses in the house. Rainwater is collected 

from the southwestern roof of the Research Demonstration House and is channeled by gutters and 

an overhead inflow pipe to a 25-gallon filter box 

above the tank. During periods of rainfall, the filter 

box fills first to remove debris that may enter the 

system during the initial flow. After the filter box 

fills, water flows into the storage tank.

The remainder of the distribution system includes 

a pump, pressure tank, relay circuits, water level 

sensors, and solenoid valves. When the water level 

in the tank is low, the system automatically shifts 

to the municipal water supply. When the rainwater 

inflow exceeds tank capacity, the overflow is directed to an overflow pipe and is drained into the 

subsurface irrigation field on the north side of the 

house. Backflow preventers control the direction of 

rainwater flow to prevent rainwater from moving 

into the municipal supply. 

Rainwater harvesting research is in cooperation 

with the University of Arizona.

Moisture Research Data Collection

Hundreds of sensors are positioned throughout 

the house to obtain temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, and moisture levels in the walls. 

Readings from instrumentation are automatically 

obtained and recorded by a computerized data 

acquisition system. Long-range seasonal trends, 

weather changes, and daily patterns are collected 

by data loggers in the garage and basement and 

are archived to a computer. Pressure measurements in wall cavities and wind speed and direction are collected every 30 seconds. Moisture and 

temperature change much more slowly and are 

recorded every hour. A full weather station and 

display of outside weather conditions on a basement computer are also part of the data collection 

system.
Research Demonstration House—Second Floor 17

Second Floor

Bedroom 3

Bedroom 4

Bedroom 2

DN

Master

Bedroom
18 Research Demonstration House—Second Floor

Second Floor

Carpet and Padding

Carpeting in the upstairs hallway is made from 

100% continuous filament polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polyester. It is manufactured from 

recycled plastic beverage containers, which are required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

to use only the highest quality PET resins. Carpet 

manufactured from this recycled material is inherently stain and moisture resistant. The padding 

under the carpet is manufactured from recycled 

foam that is chopped, shredded, and bonded into 

one solid piece, approximately 1/2 inch thick. In 

both cases, the materials are typically considered 

waste and would otherwise be discarded in 

landfills.

Carpet provided by Shaw Floor Alliance and padding provided by Future Foam, Middleton, WI, 

through ProSource Wholesale Floor Coverings, 

Madison, WI. Carpet installation provided by Coyle 

Carpet One, Madison, WI.

Interior Doors

The interior doors are made from loblolly pine 

that is sustainably managed and grown in plantations. The wood is known for both strength and 

beauty. Loblolly pine lumber has been produced 

in the mountain region of Arkansas since the 

early 1900s. Drying is a critical process in producing this quality lumber. Specifically designed kilns 

allow lumber to be dried on a computer-controlled extended cycle, with a steam conditioning 

cycle to ensure stability and good surface characteristics. After drying, the lumber is specially 

packaged in protective material and shipped to 

the manufacturing facility where it is milled and 

manufactured into doors.

Lumber provided by Weyerhaeuser, Hot Springs, 

AR.
Research Demonstration House—Second Floor 19

Douglas-fir Flooring 

The floor in the master bedroom (bedroom 1) is 

nominal 1- by 3-inch tongue-and-groove Douglasfir that was nailed to the subfloor and sanded 

after placement. It was finished with a linseed oil 

sealer followed by several coats of a water-based 

catalyzed urethane acrylic finish. The flooring was 

manufactured from suppressed-growth, small-diameter Douglas-fir trees that were obtained from 

forest thinning. As is the case for the Douglas-fir 

desk on the first floor, using low-value material 

from forest thinning to create products such as this 

flooring provides economic benefits to local communities, helps offset thinning costs, and improves 

forest health. 

Flooring provided by Jefferson State Forest Products, 

Hayfork, CA.

Second Floor

Moisture Research 

Instrumentation

Air movement is an important factor that affects the 

moisture levels in wood frame 

walls. FPL researchers have 

collaborated with researchers 

at Syracuse University to gain 

insight to how airflow contributes to wetting and drying. 

The research at Syracuse involves laboratory experiments 

and computer modeling to 

complement the ongoing 

studies in the Research Demonstration House at 

FPL. In this study, researchers removed the cellulose insulation from one wall cavity and then 

measured airflow through the various connections 

around the perimeter of the cavity (for example, 

between a 2 by 6 stud and the exterior sheathing). 

Air moves in response to pressures that can be 

induced by wind, temperature differences, or fans 

inside the house. Researchers then placed dozens 

of sensors in the wall cavity and installed fiberglass 

batt insulation to replace the removed cellulose 

insulation. The sensors in the wall monitor temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, and moisture 

content. Additionally, an anemometer on the roof 

measures the wind speed and direction. Researchers have found that the dominant airflow pathway 

is between the wall cavity and the attic. Ongoing 

analysis of the data will show how the airflows 

relate to moisture levels.

Moisture research is in cooperation with Syracuse 

University.

Window Treatments

Window treatments, such as blinds and shades, 

are commonly used to provide privacy and to 

protect interior furnishings such as furniture and 

carpet from the damaging effects of solar ultraviolet radiation. To some degree, most window treatments also block solar heating in the summer and 

reduce heat loss in the winter. The cellular shades 

in bedroom 1 are made with air cells or pockets 

that provide a buffer between the house interior 

and the outdoors. This air buffer creates an insulating effect that reduces energy consumption by 

reducing solar heat gain in the summer and heat 

loss in the winter. Additionally, the cellular design 

helps to absorb sound and control unwanted 

outside noise.

Window treatments provided by Graber through 

Springs Window Fashions, Middleton, WI.
20 Research Demonstration House—Second Floor

Second Floor

Wood–Plastic Composite Shims

Shims are commonly used in the installation of 

windows, doors, and cabinets. The shims around 

this closet door are manufactured by molding 

polypropylene plastic and waste wood fiber into a 

consistent shape and size. The shims can be nailed 

and cut with conventional woodworking tools and 

offer advantages over conventional wood shims 

because they resist splitting, splintering, warping, 

and twisting. They are also resistant to fungal attack and swelling due to moisture exposure. 

Shims manufactured by Teton West Lumber Company, Cheyenne, WY, using materials provided by 

Teel-Global Resource Technologies, LLC, Baraboo, 

WI.

Skylight

Skylights provide up to 30% more luminescence 

than vertical windows, allowing homeowners to 

maximize the benefits of natural lighting and save 

on electric lighting costs. The Low-E insulating 

tempered glass used here promotes energy efficiency and is approximately 35% more efficient 

than ordinary dual-pane glass in the heating 

months and approximately 41% more efficient in 

the cooling months.

Skylight supplied by Andersen Windows, Bayport, 

MN.

Carbon 

Monoxide 

Detectors

Carbon monoxide (CO) 

is a gas that cannot be 

seen, tasted, or smelled, 

but it can be lethal at 

high concentrations. The 

most frequent causes of 

excessive CO in a residential environment are 

faulty or misused fuelburning devices that 

are commonly used for 

heating or cooking (such as portable fuel-burning 

heaters, blocked chimneys or flues, and gas grills), 

electric generators, and vehicle engines. A CO detector is a device that senses high concentrations 

of CO and sounds an alarm to warn of impending danger so the area can be evacuated and 

ventilated. CO alarms may be battery powered, 

installed in a plug-in receptacle, or wired directly 

into the electrical system. Units that are receptacle-mounted or are wired directly into the electrical system should also have a battery backup. CO 

detectors should always be installed in accordance 

with manufacturer’s instructions. It is generally 

recommended that detectors be installed in the 

hallway outside bedrooms in each separate sleeping area. Locations to be avoided include kitchens, 

near heating vents or fuel burning appliances, and 

where the detector can be covered by furniture or 

draperies.
Research Demonstration House—Second Floor 21

Second Floor

Deconstructed Wood Flooring

The flooring in bedroom 2 is made of old-growth 

Douglas-fir salvaged from deconstructed military 

barracks originally built in the 1940s. Through 

a research program at FPL, deconstruction and 

reuse of materials from existing buildings is being 

developed as an alternative to conventional demolition and landfill disposal. An estimated billion 

board feet of lumber is landfilled in the United 

States each year. Deconstruction offers a means 

of reusing this material for valuable products and 

can provide opportunities for local employment.

Flooring material provided by Ft. Ord Reuse Authority, Marina, CA.

Wood Trusses 

The house roof system is supported by wood 

trusses constructed of nominal 2-inch-thick Southern Pine lumber. The trusses are structural frames 

consisting of a triangular arrangement of lumber 

members that transfer loads to the supports. The 

lumber is joined with toothed connector plates 

stamped from galvanized steel sheet metal of 

different grades and thicknesses to provide the 

required load transfer. Virtually any roof shape or 

area can be achieved using the unique flexibility of 

wood trusses. Approximately 90% of the residential roofs constructed in the United States use 

wood trusses of this type.

Truss lumber provided by Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Atlanta, GA. Plates and design provided by 

Alpine Engineered Products, Pompano Beach, FL. 

Fabrication by Windsor Homes, Madison, WI.

Air Chutes

The blue polystyrene panels placed between the 

lower sections of the trusses are air chutes. These 

chutes allow air movement between the attic and 

the soffit vents under the roof overhang. Without 

the chutes, attic insulation could block soffit vent 

openings and prevent outside air flow from circulating in the attic, which could lead to moisture 

accumulation and eventual damage. Air chutes 

also protect attic insulation from wind washing or 

uncontrolled movement of outside air through the 

insulation, which can compromise the ability of the 

insulation to resist heat flow.
22 Research Demonstration House—Second Floor

Second Floor

Finger-Jointed Studs

All studs in this house are finger-jointed Southern Pine lumber, designed and manufactured for 

vertical-use structural applications. Finger-joints 

are interlocking grooves cut into the ends of 

lumber pieces that may be joined together with 

adhesives to form long pieces (see wall cutout). 

Finger-jointed lumber creates a use for shortlength lumber pieces that may be by-products of 

other manufacturing processes and would otherwise be considered waste. When compared to 

conventional sawn lumber studs, finger-jointed 

studs are more dimensionally stable and are less 

likely to warp or twist because they are manufactured from dry lumber. Exterior walls use nominal 

2- by 6-inch studs placed at 24 inches on-center. 

Interior walls are nominal 2- by 4-inch studs at 16 

inches on-center.

Finger-jointed studs provided by Georgia-Pacific 

Corporation, Atlanta, GA, and New South Companies, Inc., Myrtle Beach, SC, through the Southern 

Pine Council, Kenner, LA. Rough carpentry by Voyager Builders, Sun Prairie, WI. 

Plumbing Fixtures

Many American families use hundreds of gallons of water each day. However, there are many 

opportunities to conserve our water resource 

through reduced use and the use of water-efficient fixtures. All plumbing fixtures in this house 

were state-of-the-art for water conservation when 

the house was built in 2001. Since that time, there 

have been further technological advances, and 

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has 

implemented the WaterSense® program to label 

high-quality, water-efficient products that make it 

easier to save water and protect the environment. 

Following are a few examples of fixtures that have 

the highest water saving potential:

• Toilets—Older, inefficient toilets use between 

3 and 7 gallons of water per flush and are 

the source of most wasted water in American 

homes. The average person will flush the toilet 

more than 100,000 times over a lifetime. Replacing older toilets with WaterSense® labeled 

high-efficiency toilets could save nearly 2 billion 

gallons per day across the country. 

• Faucets—Faucets account for more than 15% of 

indoor household water use—more than 1 trillion gallons of water in the United States each 

year. Faucets typically flow at approximately 2.2 

gallons per minute. WaterSense® labeled bathroom sink faucets can reduce water flow by 30% 

or more without sacrificing performance.

• Shower heads—Showering represents approximately 17% of residential indoor water use in 

the United States, more than 1.2 trillion gallons 

each year. The average 8-minute shower with a 

2.5-gallon-per-minute showerhead will use 20 

gallons of water. By simply installing a 1.75-gallon-per-minute showerhead, water consumption 

for an 8-minute shower can be reduced to 14 

gallons. 

 Plumbing fixtures provided by Kohler Company, 

Kohler, WI.
Research Demonstration House—Second Floor 23

Larch Flooring 

The flooring in bedroom 3 is nominal 1- by 4-inch 

and 1- by 3-inch tongue-and-groove larch that 

was nailed to the subfloor using conventional 

wood floor installation practices. This flooring is 

another example of a useful product that can be 

manufactured from small-diameter, suppressedgrowth trees that must be removed from the forest to improve forest health and reduce the risk of 

catastrophic wildfire. 

Flooring provided by Tricon Timber, St. Regis, MT.

Maple Flooring

The flooring in bedroom 4 is tongue-and-groove 

birds-eye maple. Individual planks measure approximately 2-1/4 inches wide and 3/4 inches thick 

and were installed by nailing the planks to the 

subfloor. The flooring was finished in place using 

a water-based sealer followed by two coats of a 

water-based, semi-gloss finish. This hard maple 

flooring is extremely durable because it is a residential version of the flooring this manufacturer 

installs in athletic facilities such as gymnasiums. 

Flooring provided by Action Floor Systems LLC, 

Mercer, WI.

Second Floor
24 Research Demonstration House—Basement

Basement
Research Demonstration House—Basement 25

Basement

Permanent Wood Foundation 

The basement walls and floor are constructed 

of pressure-treated Southern Pine lumber and 

plywood to create a permanent wood foundation 

(PWF). The PWF is designed to resist and distribute earth, wind, and seismic forces and resist 

decay, mold, and termite attack. The walls consist 

of nominal 2- by 10-inch treated lumber supports 

and nominal 3/4-inch-thick plywood sheathing 

with a plastic sheeting vapor barrier between the 

plywood and the earth. The space between the 

supports is insulated to provide a comfortable, 

energy-efficient living space (see wall cutout). The 

floor is nominal 1-1/4-inch tongue-and-groove 

treated plywood that is supported on nominal 

2- by 4-inch treated lumber that rests on a bed 

of crushed gravel covered with a layer of plastic 

sheeting (see floor cutout). This basement foundation was built in freezing temperatures during the 

middle of winter when construction of a masonry 

or poured concrete foundation would have been 

very difficult. 

Materials supplied by Arch Wood Preserving, 

Smyrna, GA; Biewer Lumber, St. Clair, MI; Hoover 

Treated Wood Products, Thomson, GA; Midwest 

Timber, Edwardsburg, MI; Osmose Wood Preserving Division, Griffin, GA; Permanent Wood 

Foundations, Inc., Flint, MI; Quality Wood Treating Company, Prairie du Chien, WI; and Wickes 

Lumber Company, Vernon Hills, IL. Prefabrication 

by Windsor Homes, Madison, WI. Installation carpentry by Elliott Construction, Inc., Middleton, WI.

Engineered Wood Products

This house was constructed using a wide range of 

engineered wood products, most of which are visible in the basement. Engineered wood products 

are manufactured by bonding together lumber, 

veneers, wood strands, or other forms of wood 

fiber to produce a larger composite material. The 

results are products that are more consistently 

reliable than sawn lumber and are stronger and 

stiffer. Additionally, engineered wood products 

can be designed to meet application-specific 

performance requirements and are engineered 

to precise design specifications that are tested 

to meet national or international standards. They 

are also very resource efficient because they can 

be manufactured using small-diameter trees from 

plantations or forest thinning and a wide range of 

tree species.

“Engineered wood products have set new performance standards by minimizing both resource and 

manufacturing defects while enhancing structural 

integrity.”—Thomas Williamson, Vice President of 

Quality and Technical (Retired), Engineered Wood 

Systems, APA – The Engineered Wood Association.

The engineered wood products used in this house 

are described next and are on display in the basement.
26 Research Demonstration House—Basement

Basement

Glued-laminated timber (glulam) consists of 

nominal 2-inch-thick and thinner lumber laminations that are bonded together with waterproof 

structural adhesive. Glulam is commonly used for 

beams or columns and is engineered so that the 

strength and quality of the lumber laminations can 

be varied depending on the specific engineering 

properties required for the structural application. 

Glulam can be manufactured in shapes ranging 

from straight beams for residential and nonresidential building applications to complex curved 

members for arched roofs and domes. The size 

of glulam members is generally limited only by 

transportation and erection restrictions. Typical 

sizes range from 3-1/8 to 12-1/4 inches wide, 9 to 

72 inches deep, and over 120 feet long.

Glulam provided by Willamette Industries, Ruston, 

LA.

Plywood is a structural panel material made by 

bonding together multiple layers of wood veneer, 

oriented 90° to one another. The veneer crossbanding provides strength and dimensional stability characteristics that make plywood an excellent 

construction material. Plywood was invented more 

than 100 years ago and is most commonly used as 

floor, wall, or roof sheathing. It is typically available in nominal thicknesses of 1/4 to 1-1/4 inches, 

panel widths of 4 feet, and panel lengths of 8, 10, 

and 12 feet.

Plywood provided by Boise Cascade Corporation, 

Boise, ID.

Oriented strandboard (OSB) is a structural 

panel product made by compressing and bonding together rectangular-shaped wood strands 

(flakes) to form a sheet. Like the veneer in plywood, the strands are placed in layers that are 

oriented perpendicular to each other for maximum 

strength, stiffness, and stability. OSB evolved from 

wafer board in the late 1970s but differs from 

wafer board in that OSB is a structural material 

and the wood strands are oriented, not randomly 

placed. OSB is commonly used as sheathing or as 

a component of wood I-joists (see next page). It is 

typically available in nominal thicknesses of 7/16 

to 1-1/4 inches, panel widths of 4 feet, and panel 

lengths of 8, 10, and 12 feet.

OSB provided by Tolko Industries LTD, Vernon, BC, 

Canada.
Research Demonstration House—Basement 27

Basement

Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is made by 

bonding together sheets of wood veneer that are 

approximately 0.10 inch thick. Unlike plywood, 

the veneer grain for LVL is all oriented in the same 

direction and the material is used for beams or as 

the flanges of I-joists, rather than a panel product. 

LVL is manufactured in large panels or “billets” that 

are sawn to the dimensions needed for specific 

construction applications. It is typically available in 

thicknesses of 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches, widths up to 

24 inches, and lengths up to 60 feet.

Laminated veneer lumber provided by Willamette 

Industries, Ruston, LA.

I-joists are structural components 

that are also referred to as I-beams 

because the flanges and web resemble the shape of the letter I. This shape is very 

efficient structurally and provides the high bending 

strength and stiffness characteristics needed for 

beams in floor and roof framing applications. The 

top and bottom flanges are typically dimension 

lumber or LVL; the web is usually OSB or plywood. 

I-joists use 36% less wood fiber than solid lumber 

joists installed at the same spacing, are very lightweight, and can be easily handled at the jobsite 

without the need for costly handling equipment. 

They are generally available in flange widths of 

1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches, depths of 9-1/2 to 16 inches, 

and lengths up to 60 feet.

I-joists supplied by Willamette Industries, Ruston, LA. 

Rim board connects the I-joists together around 

the floor perimeter and fills the space between the 

sill plate and the bottom wall plate at the basement–first floor interface, and between the top 

plate and bottom plate at the first floor–second 

floor interface. In addition to filling the void, rim 

board is an integral structural component that 

transfers both lateral and vertical forces. To function properly, the rim board must match the depth 

of I-joists used for floor framing. Rim boards are 

manufactured from plywood, OSB, glulam, or LVL 

and are available in widths to match I-joist sizes 

and lengths up to 24 feet.

Rim Board supplied by Willamette Industries, 

Ruston, LA.
28 Research Demonstration House—Basement

Basement

Lumber Connectors

Lumber connectors are formed metal components 

that are designed to transmit forces between 

wood members. They are attached to the connected members with fasteners, such as nails or screws, 

and provide significantly more strength than a 

connection consisting of fasteners alone. Lumber 

connectors are also much more suitable for transferring dynamic loads resulting from earthquakes 

or high winds and are required by code in many 

locations where this type of loading may occur. 

They are made in many different configurations for 

various applications, including connections between wood and concrete or masonry. 

Lumber connectors provided by USP Structural 

Connectors, Montgomery, MN.

Cellulose Insulation

Proper insulation is a critical component of a comfortable and energy-efficient home. It is important to have a continuous boundary of insulation 

between the conditioned indoor space and the 

unconditioned outdoor space. This boundary is referred to as the “building envelope” and consists of 

the walls, floor, and ceiling or roof. Low insulation 

levels and gaps or voids in the insulation materials 

can provide paths through which heat and air can 

easily flow into or out of the house. Materials used 

for insulation are rated according to their ability 

to resist heat flow. This thermal resistance rating is 

commonly known as an “R-value.” The higher the 

R-value of a material, the better it will resist heat 

flow. 

As shown in the basement wall cutout and at other 

locations on the first and second floors, cellulose 

insulation made from recycled newsprint is used 

throughout the house. It is blown in place during 

construction, fills all voids in the wall and ceiling 

cavities, and includes a light water-based adhesive 

to prevent settlement over time. It is also treated 

with borate to inhibit insect infestation and mold 

growth and to serve as a fire retardant. Cellulose 

insulation of this type provides an R-value of 20 in 

the nominal 6-inch-thick walls and 38 in the ceilings, 

which is approximately the same as an equivalent 

thickness of conventional fiberglass batt insulation.

Cellulose insulation provided by U.S. Green Fiber, LLC, 

Charlotte, NC.
Research Demonstration House—Basement 29

Duct Sealers: Tape and Mastic

This house has forced-air heating and cooling systems, and ducts are used to distribute conditioned 

air throughout the house. In a typical house with 

ducts, approximately 20% of the air that moves 

through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes, 

and poorly connected fittings. The result is higher 

utility bills and difficulty keeping the house comfortable, no matter how the thermostat is set.

Duct tape, which is commonly gray in color, is a 

fabric-based tape with rubber adhesive. Despite its 

name, this type of tape should never be used for 

duct sealing because it becomes brittle and commonly fails (it is also prohibited by several building 

codes). The best long-term seal is obtained by using professional grade metalized or aluminum tape 

(shiny tape in the photo) or mastic duct sealing 

compound that is applied around the duct joint 

with a brush or trowel (tan material in the photo).

Duct sealer provided by McGill AirSeal LLC, Columbus, OH.

Tracer Gas Research Station

Equipment is set up in the basement for measuring the rate at which air is exchanged between the 

inside of the house and the outdoors. Some of this 

air exchange occurs naturally, through small leaks 

in the walls and ceiling, and is driven by pressure 

differences caused by the wind and by differences 

between indoor and outdoor temperature. Air 

leakage through walls can be problematic because 

it can make a house feel draughty and use more 

energy for heating in the winter. Uncontrolled air 

leakage may also lead to moisture accumulation 

inside walls. This house was constructed to be 

very air-tight with minimal natural air exchange 

between the indoor and outside air. To provide 

sufficient fresh air for a healthy living environment, 

the house has an energy recovery ventilator. For 

research purposes, the exchange rate between indoor and outside air is measured in different areas 

of the house using an inert tracer gas. To accomplish this, the inert tracer gas is initially dispersed 

through the house at parts-per-billion levels. The 

gas concentration is then measured using the 

equipment in the basement through small tubes 

that are located in multiple rooms on the first 

Basement

and second floors. As outdoor air exchanges with 

indoor air, the tracer gas concentration decreases. 

Researchers are using these measurements to 

verify the performance of the energy recovery 

ventilator and to investigate basement humidity. 

In houses with damp basements, indoor humidity levels can be very high, and recent estimates 

suggest that evaporation from a damp basement 

can contribute over 40 pounds of moisture per 

day. Researchers are developing a method, using 

the tracer gas measurements, to indirectly measure 

how much moisture enters this house through the 

basement.
30 Research Demonstration House—Basement

Basement

Hot Water Heater (Conventional)

Storage hot water heaters typically heat water with 

natural gas or electricity and keep it ready for use 

in an insulated tank. They are the most common 

type of water heater in the United States and can 

store from 20 to 120 gallons, depending on tank 

size. A measure of how well a storage hot water 

heater converts fuel to heat is the energy factor 

(EF), which is typically displayed on a label placed 

on the heater exterior. The higher the EF number, 

the more efficiently the water heater uses energy. 

Electric water heaters have EF numbers between 

0.75 and 0.95, and gas units are rated between 

0.50 and 0.70. The unit in this house is a high-efficiency gas model with an EF of 0.60. Compared to 

older models, it has better insulation, better heat 

traps, more efficient burners, and a power vent to 

accelerate the venting of combustion gases. Improvements of this type can have a modest impact 

on price but increase efficiency by about 7.5%. 

Water heater provided by Bradford White Corporation, Ambler, PA.

Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier removes water from the air and 

lowers the relative humidity during the humid 

summer season. Lowering the humidity makes the 

air feel cooler and more comfortable, hence the 

adage “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” Using a 

dehumidifier also reduces the incidence of mold 

and fungus growth, expansion and warping of 

wood furniture, sticking doors and windows, dripping pipes, and musty odors. By using a dehumidifier, you can significantly reduce the use of air conditioning equipment during the summer season, 

which saves energy. The dehumidifier in this house 

is ENERGY STAR® qualified. ENERGY STAR® models have more efficient refrigeration coils, compressors, and fans than conventional models, which 

means they use 10% to 20% less energy to remove 

the same amount of moisture. In fact, the energy 

saved by an ENERGY STAR® qualified dehumidifier over the life of the unit could power a home 

refrigerator for up to 6 months.

Dehumidifier provided by Therma-Stor Products, 

Madison, WI.

Reverse Osmosis Water Filter

Reverse osmosis systems (which include filtration) 

remove most heavy metals and contaminants, use 

no electricity, and provide fresh, clean water. In 

this house, the system is located in the basement, 

next to the water softener. Water is passed through 

an initial particle filter that removes silt and large 

particles, and then passes through an activated 

carbon filter that traps other contaminants. Water 

then enters the reverse osmosis module under pressure, allowing only clean water to pass; 

minerals and other impurities that are too big to 

pass through the membrane are left behind and 

are flushed away. Treated water is finally passed 

through an activated carbon filter and is ready for 

use through a small faucet located on the kitchen 

sink. Treated water will not produce a mineral 

build-up in kettles and coffee makers. A downside 

for some users is that reverse osmosis removes 

fluoride. 

Reverse osmosis water filter provided by Culligan International Company, Northbrook, IL, through Total 

Water Treatment Systems, Inc., Madison, WI.
Research Demonstration House—Basement 31

Water Softener

The term “hard water” 

refers to water with 

high levels of dissolved 

calcium and/or magnesium. Hard water 

can be a problem for 

homeowners for the 

following reasons:

• Can cause “scale” to 

form on the inside 

of pipes and water 

heaters, which can 

significantly reduce flow and heat transfer

• Reacts with soap to form a sticky scum and reduces the ability of soap to lather, making washing people, dishes, and laundry less productive

• Can lead to galvanic corrosion in the plumbing 

system, where one type of metal will preferentially corrode when in contact with another type 

of metal

• Requires more energy to heat

A water softener can prevent or substantially reduce 

these problems. In a typical water softener, incoming water is passed through a resin bed that reduces the levels of calcium and magnesium to make it 

“soft.” To remain effective in this process, the resin 

bed must be periodically flushed with a saltwater brine solution to remove the trapped calcium 

and magnesium. This water softener automatically 

monitors water quality to maximize efficiency and 

use the least amount of salt and water necessary to 

operate the system. 

Water softener provided by Culligan International 

Company, Northbrook, IL, through Total Water Treatment Systems, Inc., Madison, WI.

Basement

GFX 

Drainwater 

Heat Recovery 

System

The GFX (gravity film 

exchange) drainwater 

heat recovery system 

reclaims heat from 

waste water that is 

normally lost down 

the drain. The GFX 

replaces a vertical 

section of standard 

drain pipe and can be 

used in new construction as well as 

a retrofit in existing 

homes. As hot water 

falls down through 

the GFX, it clings to 

the inner surface in a thin film. The heat from this 

film is transferred to the cold water circulating in 

the copper tubing wrapped around the outside of 

the drain pipe. Preheated water can then be supplied to the inlet of the hot water heater, which 

can potentially save between 20% and 60% of 

water heating costs. 

GFX Drainwater Heat Recovery System provided 

and installed by Madison Gas and Electric, Madison, WI.

Tankless Water Heating System

This tankless water heating system is an electric 

unit designed to continuously provide water at 

120°F. Because water is heated only when needed, 

and there is no high-temperature water storage, 

the system is very energy efficient. When hot 

water is stored in a large tank and not being used, 

conventional water heaters still expend energy to 

keep that water warm. Water reheated in a tank 

accounts for 10% to 20% of a household’s annual 

heating costs. Tankless water heating systems can 

be used for new construction or as replacements 

for conventional hot water heaters.

Tankless water heating system provided by Microtherm, Inc., Houston, TX, through Marlin Sales, St. 

Robert, MO.
32 Research Demonstration House—Basement

Basement

Energy Recovery Ventilator

Most houses built in the past 20 years are tightly 

sealed to maximize energy efficiency. However, this 

tight seal also limits fresh air ventilation, which can 

lead to a build-up of moisture vapor and indoor 

air pollutants. According to the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, concentrations of toxic pollutants can be up to 100 times greater inside a home 

than outside, even in our smoggiest cities. Poor 

ventilation can also lead to stuffy air and a buildup of unpleasant odors, irritating pollutants, and 

potentially harmful gases such as radon or carbon 

monoxide. As houses are built tighter with better windows, more insulation, and high efficiency 

heating and cooling systems, the need for adequate ventilation becomes even more important.

A tightly constructed home can benefit greatly 

from a mechanical ventilation system, such as this 

energy recovery ventilator. The system brings in 

fresh outdoor air and expels stale indoor air while 

transferring energy between the two. In the summer, warm fresh air is cooled as it circulates in the 

unit near the outgoing conditioned air. The two air 

streams do not mix, but pass each other separated 

by thin walls that allow energy transfer between 

the air flows. In winter, the heat transfer from the 

warm indoor air to the incoming cold fresh air can 

recover as much as 77% of the heat energy. Thus, 

an energy recovery ventilator helps provide a comfortable, energy-efficient, and noise-free means of 

exchanging stale, indoor air with fresh outdoor air.

Energy recovery ventilator provided by RenewAire 

LLC, Madison, WI.

Furnace and Air Conditioner

As much as half of the energy used in a typical 

home goes to heating and cooling, so making 

smart decisions about this system can have a big 

effect on utility bills and comfort. In this house, the 

central heating and cooling system meets ENERGY 

STAR® energy-efficiency guidelines set by the 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. 

Department of Energy. Using ENERGY STAR® appliances reduces energy use, which helps prevent 

global climate change and promotes cleaner air 

while enhancing the comfort of your home. The 

furnace unit is a gas-fired condensing unit that 

employs two heat exchangers to obtain the maximum heat from the consumed fuel. The furnace 

is approximately 33% more efficient than conventional furnaces that are not ENERGY STAR® qualified, and over 90% of the heat generated during 

combustion is captured and delivered inside the 

home. The air conditioning unit is also high efficiency (compressor is located outside the rear of 

the house). ENERGY STAR® qualified central air 

conditioners such as this have a higher seasonal 

efficiency rating (SEER) than standard models, 

which makes them about 14% more efficient than 

standard models, and they can cut cooling costs 

by 30%.

Furnace and air conditioner provided by Bryant, 

Syracuse, NY.
Research Demonstration House—Basement 33

Automatic Humidifier

The humidifier is attached to the furnace and 

humidifies air throughout the entire house. It uses 

the speed and precision of a computer to continuously measure, control, and deliver optimum 

levels of moisture to indoor air during dry, winter months. The advanced computer technology 

measures the outdoor temperature and indoor 

humidity over 86,000 times a day and continually 

adjusts indoor humidity to its optimum level. This 

eliminates parched, dry air throughout the house 

and reduces dry throat, dry skin, and static shocks 

and keeps furniture and other household items 

from drying out. It also increases energy efficiency 

because a home with moisture feels warmer than a 

dry home, even at lower temperature settings. This 

unit requires no manual adjustment other than 

setting the desired humidification level using the 

control on the first floor.

Automatic humidifier provided by Research Products Corporation, Madison, WI.

Basement

Air Cleaner

Three important methods of improving indoor air 

quality are source removal, increased ventilation, 

and air cleaning. Installed as part of your central 

heating and cooling system, a high-efficiency 

electronic air cleaner can help provide the cleanest, healthiest air in every room. The unit captures pollutants from conditioned air, before it is 

distributed to the home, by trapping allergens 

such as pollen and spores, airborne dust, dirt, 

and pet dander, as well as illness-causing bacteria 

and viruses. Particles entering the air cleaner pass 

through a control electrode, which focuses and 

intensifies an electrical field generated by ionizing 

wires. The particles are charged in the electrical field and are then collected on a grounded 

micro-fiber filter. Maintenance for this type of unit 

is minimal and involves annual media replacement 

and wiping down of ionizing wires.

Electronic air cleaner provided by Research Products Corporation, Madison, WI
34 Carriage House

Carriage House

The Carriage House is a 560-square-foot structure 

that was designed to approximate a large detached 

garage. It was constructed in 2008 as part of a research project in partnership with the Environmental 

Research Laboratory, University of Arizona, to evaluate the potential for potable rainwater harvesting in a 

cold climate region. Originally, the rainwater harvesting storage and filtration system was to be placed in a 

small outbuilding designed with passive solar heating. 

As with the Research Demonstration House, it was determined during planning that the structure would be 

expanded to include a platform for additional research 

and a showcase for sustainable building technologies 

and energy efficiency. As a result, the Carriage House 

includes technologies that are capable of providing all 

energy and water requirements for the Research Demonstration House, the Carriage House, and more.
Carriage House—Site Map 35

Site Floor Plan
36 Carriage House—Outside

Outside

Roof

The Carriage House roof provides approximately 

800 square feet of projected area for rainwater 

harvesting. It consists of standing seam metal panels that are placed on top of nominal 2- by 4-inch 

tongue-and-groove decking, rigid foam insulation 

and oriented strandboard roof sheathing. The selection of a proper roof type is an important consideration when developing a rainwater harvesting 

system for potable use. Composite, asphalt, and 

tar roofing materials are not advisable when water 

harvesting for potable uses because undesirable 

volatile organic components can leach from the 

shingles into the rainwater.

Roofing by McElroy Metal, Inc., Bossier City, LA, and 

installed by Madison Sheet Metal LLC, Madison, WI.

Rainwater Harvesting System

The water harvesting system for the Carriage 

House begins with rainwater collection from the 

roof. Rainwater is initially collected in gutters and 

is directed to downspouts located at the northeast 

and southwest corners of the building. The downspouts are provided with angled screens to divert 

leaves and other large debris before it enters the 

rainwater collection system. Rainwater from the 

southwest corner downspout is currently not contributing to the rainwater collection as it is being 

evaluated for cold weather performance.

Rainwater harvesting research in cooperation with 

the Environmental Research Laboratory of the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.

West End Siding

The painted lap siding on the west end of the Carriage House is a wood–plastic composite and is the 

same formulation as the unpainted salmon colored 

siding on the east end (see following description of 

East End Siding). This siding has been painted with 

an exterior water-based acrylic primer and paint and 

is part of a research study to evaluate paint performance on the wood–plastic composite. Although 

wood–plastic composite siding is a uniform color 

throughout and typically does not require painting, 

this research is being conducted to develop recommendations when painting is necessary for color or 

other reasons. 

Siding supplied by Teel Global Resource Technologies, 

Baraboo, WI.
Carriage House—Outside 37

Outside

Passive Solar

The passive solar sunspace on the south side of 

the Carriage House collects solar radiation on 

sunny winter days to maximize solar heating. Unlike the windows in the Research Demonstration 

House, which are specially coated to reflect infrared and ultraviolet radiation, the 168 square feet 

of clear glass double-pane sliding doors allows 

infrared, visible, and ultraviolet solar radiation to 

pass through. The wall behind the glass is painted 

black to improve heat collection in the sunspace. 

A wall painted a light color would reflect the solar 

radiation back through the glass and minimize 

the heating effect. Windows in the black wall allow daylight in and provide some winter heating 

due to the lower angle of the sun. When the air 

in the narrow (10-inch-deep) sunspace is warmed 

above the air temperature in the Carriage House, 

an electronic control circuit activates a fan and 

the warmed air is blown into the Carriage House. 

Cool air is drawn into the sunspace through vents 

near the floor on each end. When the sunspace is 

cooler than the Carriage House, interior backdraft 

dampers on the fan opening and vents remain 

Photovoltaic Panels

Eighteen polysilicon photovoltaic panels mounted 

on the south-facing roof generate electricity from 

sunlight. Each panel provides 208 watts of direct 

current (DC), for a total of 3,744 watts. The panels 

will generate approximately 3,500 watts of alternating current (AC) power when operating at full 

capacity. Annually, this equates to 5,500 kilowatt 

hours (kWh) of electricity, which is sold back to 

Madison Gas and Electric (MG&E), the local power 

company. At a typical winter consumer use rate 

of approximately 25¢ per kWh, this amounts to 

$1,375 per year of electric power.

Photovoltaic panel system supplied and installed 

by Wisconsin Power Control with support from 

Wisconsin Focus on Energy and Madison Gas and 

Electric Company, all of Madison, WI.

closed. Whenever the air near the ceiling is warmer 

than near the floor, a ceiling paddle fan automatically turns on to mix the air.

Windows provided by Andersen Windows, Bayport, 

MN.

East End Siding

Siding on the east side of the Carriage House is 

part of a research project to evaluate the performance of unpainted wood–plastic composite 

lap siding. Two different formulations are being 

evaluated as denoted by the two siding colors. 

Instrumentation includes strain gages and thermocouples to monitor dimensional changes in the 

siding due to temperature and moisture variations. 

Change in the siding color due to solar ultraviolet 

light is also being evaluated.

Siding supplied by Teel Global Resource Technologies, Baraboo, WI, and Strandex Company, Madison, 

WI.
38 Carriage House—Inside

Inside

Structure Framework

The structural framework of the Carriage House 

consists of 6-inch-diameter round wood posts and 

trusses that are built from small-diameter logs obtained from forest thinnings in the U.S. Southwest. 

The individual members are interconnected with 

1/4-inch-thick bolted steel plates. Although round 

wood structural members are economical and 

are very efficient structurally, they are not commonly used for construction, where sawn lumber 

has historically been the material of choice. One 

reason for this has been a lack of efficient structural connections to transfer loads between the 

members. This has been a research focus at FPL, 

and the bolted plate connectors are a result of this 

research. Additional structural members include 

glued-laminated timber beams that run the length 

of the building and laminated tongue-and-groove 

decking for structural roof members. Both of these 

products are made from Arizona ponderosa pine 

obtained from forest thinnings. The walls between 

the posts are conventional framing with fiberglass 

batt and rigid foam insulation and oriented strandboard exterior wall sheathing.

Timber framing and decking provided by American 

West Structures, Show Low, AZ, with construction 

by Richter Construction, Arena, WI, and Four Bears 

Construction, Madison, WI.

Rainwater First Flush Tank

Incoming rainwater from the downspout enters 

the blue barrel in the corner of the Carriage 

House, which is called a first flush device. The 

purpose of the first flush device is to remove 

debris and contaminates from the initial water 

flow before it enters the storage tank, which is 

called a cistern. This is important in rainwater 

harvesting to prevent clogging, reduce maintenance of the storage and filter systems, and 

reduce health hazards from mosquitoes, bird 

droppings, and other sources. When water 

flows from the downspout, it is initially diverted 

to the first flush tank. When the specified level 

of water in the tank is reached, the remaining 

water is diverted to the cistern for storage. The 

water and debris in the first flush tank is then 

drained slowly in preparation for the next rainfall. Both the volume and rate of drainage can 

be adjusted for different site conditions. 

Rainwater Storage and Filtration

Incoming water from the first flush tank flows into a 

2,400-gallon cistern, which is located below the Carriage House floor and is accessible through an iron 

access hole cover. If the cistern becomes full, excess 

water flows through an overflow tube and into a drain 

field located on the south side of the building. In 

preparation for use, water from the cistern is drawn 

and pressurized using a standard water pump and 

pressurization system and passes through a series 

of filters. The first two filters remove small particles, 

and then a charcoal filter removes residual minerals 

and metals such as lead. The filtered rainwater finally 

passes through an ultraviolet purifier that disinfects 

the water and kills any remaining microorganisms. 

The purified water is then piped to the Research 

Demonstration House where it is connected with back 

flow prevention to the water supply. Valves are also 

provided so that either disinfected rainwater or water 

from the municipal supply can be used.

It is interesting to note that during excavation for the 

Carriage House cistern, a cistern from the original 

farmhouse on the site was uncovered. Two bricks 

from the original cistern are on display.

Rainwater harvesting research in cooperation with the 

Environmental Research Laboratory of the University of 

Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
Carriage House—Inside 39

Inside

Inverter 

The photovoltaic panels on the roof are connected 

to an inverter that converts the DC electricity 

generated by the panels to AC electricity typically 

used for household applications. This electricity 

is then routed to MG&E, the local electric utility 

company. MG&E provides a separate buy-back 

meter for this “grid tied” photovoltaic system. The 

meter runs backward when the photovoltaic array is generating and supplying electricity to the 

utility, where the buy-back credit is double the 

residential consumer electricity purchase rate.

Inverter supplied and installed by Wisconsin Power 

Control with support from Wisconsin Focus on 

Energy and Madison Gas and Electric Company, all 

of Madison, WI.

BioMax® 5

The BioMax® 5 generates heat and electricity 

using forest biomass. The unit on display in the 

Carriage House is a research and demonstration 

project involving FPL, the U.S Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and 

Community Power Corporation. BioMax® units are 

currently available in sizes ranging from 5 to 100 

kW. This 5-kW BioMax® 5 unit provides power to 

the Research Demonstration House and Carriage 

House and is one of only three units of this size 

that were developed to demonstrate the technology for small-scale applications.

Operationally, the BioMax® 5 uses wood pellets 

that are automatically fed into the unit, where they 

combust in a gasification cylinder at approximately 

1700°F. This produces heat and combustible gases. 

The heat is used for heating indoor spaces and/or 

water and can also be used to dry fuel pellets. The 

combustible gases are cooled in a heat exchanger 

and are used to power an electric generator. In this 

unit, approximately 20% of the available energy 

from the wood fuel is used to produce electricity, 

and 80% goes to heat. This unit is actually more 

complex than the larger units because it stores 

electric power in batteries. The larger BioMax® 

units do not have batteries and operate on a demand basis.

Due to the experimental nature of this system, an 

exhaust fan has been installed in the cupola of the 

Carriage House in the event of smoke discharge 

into the space.

BioMax® 5 provided by U.S Department of Energy, 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Community Power Corporation.
40 Participating Organizations

Participating Organizations

Action Floor Systems LLC, Mercer, WI, 

www.actionfloors.com

Alpine Engineered Products, Pompano Beach, 

FL, www.alpeng.com

American TV, Appliance & Furniture, Madison, 

WI, www.americantv.com

American West Structures, Show Low, AZ 

(no website available)

Andersen Windows, Bayport, MN, 

www.andersenwindows.com

APA – The Engineered Wood Association, 

www.apawood.org

Arch Chemicals, Inc., Smyrna, GA, 

www.archchemicals.com

Barnett Millworks, Inc., Theodore, AL, 

www.barnettmillworks.com

Biewer Lumber, Lansing, MI, 

www.biewerlumber.com

Boise Cascade Corporation, Boise, ID, 

www.bc.com

Bradford White Corporation, Ambler, PA, 

www.bradfordwhite.com

Bryant, Syracuse, NY, 

www.bryant.com

Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., 

Sun Prairie, WI, 

www.cardinalhvac.com

CasMont Industries, Inc., Louisville, KY 

(no website available)

Community Power Corporation, Littleton, CO, 

www.gocpc.com

Composite Panel Association, Leesburg, VA, 

www.pbmdf.com

Coyle Carpet One, Madison, WI, 

www.coylecarpetonemadison.com

Craftmade Company, Coppell, TX, 

www.craftmade.com

Culligan International Company, Northbrook, IL, 

www.culligan.com

Design Basics, Omaha, NE, 

www.designbasics.com

DuPont Nonwovens – Tyvek, 

www.dupont.com

Florida Tile Industries, Lakeland, FL, 

www.floridatile.com

Fort Ord Reuse Authority, Marina, CA, 

www.fora.org

Four Bears Construction, Burlington, WI 

(no website available)

Future Foam, Middleton, WI, 

www.futurefoam.com

Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Atlanta, GA, 

www.gp.com

Graber, Middleton, WI

www.graberblinds.com

Hoover Treated Wood Products, Thomson, GA, 

www.frtw.com

Isthmus Lighting, Madison, WI 

(no website available)

Jefferson State Forest Products, Hayfork, CA, 

www.jeffersonstateproducts.com

Kohler Company, Kohler, WI, 

www.kohler.com

Leviton Mfg. Company Inc., St. Charles, IL, 

www.leviton.com

LP Corporation, Huntersville, NC, 

www.lpcorp.com/smartside

Madison Gas and Electric, Madison, WI, 

www.mge.com

Madison Sheet Metal LLC, Madison, WI 

(no website available)

Mannington, Salem, NJ, 

www.mannington.com

McElroy Metal, Inc., Bossier City, LA, 

www.mcelroy.com

McGill AirSeal LLC., Columbus, OH, 

www.mcgillairseal.com

McKenzie Forest Products, Springfield, OR 

(now Swanson Group), 

www.swansongroupinc.com

Microtherm, Inc., Houston, TX, 

www.seisco.com

Midwest Timber, Edwardsburg, MI, 

www.midwesttimber.com

Mitsubishi Electrical, 

www.mitsubishielectric.com

New South Companies, Inc., Myrtle Beach, SC, 

www.canfor.com/products/wood/newsouth/

Osmose Wood Preserving Division, Griffin, GA, 

www.osmosewood.com

Overhead Door Corporation, Madison, WI, 

www.overheaddoor.com

Pacific Wood Laminates, Inc., Brookings, OR, 

www.pacificwoodlaminates.com
Participating Organizations 41

Participating Organizations

Permanent Wood Foundations, Inc., Flint, MI 

(no website available)

Prest-On Company, Hot Springs, AR, 

www.prest-on.com

Progress Lighting, Spartanburg, SC, 

www.progresslighting.com

ProSource Wholesale Floorcovering, Madison, 

WI, www.prosourcefloors.com

Quality Cabinets, Duncanville, TX, 

www.qualitycabinets.com

Quality Wood Treating Company, 

Prairie du Chien, WI, 

(no website available)

RenewAire LLC, Madison, WI

www.renewaire.com

Research Products Corporation, Madison, WI, 

www.aprilaire.com

Richardson Wood Preserving, DePere, WI, 

www.richardsonbrothers.com

Richter Construction, Arena, WI 

(no website available)

Seisco, Houston, TX, 

www.seisco.com

Shaw Floor Alliance, Madison, WI 

(no website available)

Sherwin-Williams, Strongsville, OH, 

www.sherwin-williams.com

Somerset Wood Products, Somerset, KY, 

www.somersetwood.com

Southern Pine Council, Kenner, LA, 

www.southernpine.com

Springs Window Fashions, Middleton, WI, 

www.springswindowfashions.com

Square D, Palatine, IL, 

www.schneider-electric.us

Stephenson Tree Care, Inc., Madison, WI, 

www.stephensontree.com

Strandex Company, Madison, WI,

www.strandex.com

Teel-Global Resource Technologies, Baraboo, WI, 

www.teel-grt.com

Temperature Systems, Inc., Madison, WI, 

www.tsihvac.com

Teton West Lumber Company, 

www.tetonwest.com

Therma-Stor Products, Madison, WI, 

www.thermastor.com

Tolko Industries LTD, Vernon, BC, Canada, 

www.tolko.com

Total Water Treatment Systems, Inc., Madison, 

WI, www.total-water.com

Tricon Timber, St. Regis, MT 

(no website available) 

U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 

www.nrel.gov

U.S. Green Fiber, LLC, Charlotte, NC, 

www.greenfiber.com

United Brick and Tile, Madison, WI, 

www.unitedbrickandtile.net

University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 

www.arizona.edu

USG Corporation, Chicago, IL, 

www.usg.com

USP Structural Connectors, Montgomery, MN, 

www.uspconnectors.com

Vermont Castings, Bethel, VT

www.vermontcastings.com

Voyager Builders, Sun Prairie, WI 

(no website available)

VT Industries, Holstein, IA, 

www.vtindustries.com

Watershed Research & Training Center, Hayfork, 

CA, www.thewatershedcenter.com

Weekes Forest Products, Inc., St. Paul, MN, 

www.weekesforest.com

Weyerhaeuser, Hot Springs, AR, 

www.weyerhaeuser.com

Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI, 

www.whirlpoolcorp.com

Wickes Lumber Company, Vernon Hills, IL 

(no website available)

Willamette Industries (now Weyerhaeuser), 

Ruston, LA, 

www.weyerhaeuser.com

Windsor Homes, Madison, WI 

(no website available)

Wisconsin Energy Star Certification, Madison, WI

www.focusonenergy.com

Wisconsin Flooring Center, Fitchburg, WI, 

www.floor360.com

Wisconsin Green Building Alliance, Milwaukee, WI

www.wgba.org 

Wisconsin Power Control, Madison, WI, 

www.wipowercontrol.com