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Promoting Innovation 2002 Assessment of the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (2003) / Chapter Skim
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3 PATH's Approach to Advancing Housing Technology
Pages 21-27

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From page 21...
... The NRC committee noted in its 2000 assessment report that the complexity of housing performance issues and the limited role of technology in determining housing cost made housing performance and affordability goals inappropriate measures for PATH (NRC, 2001~. PATH has now refocused its goals on intermediate outcomes (removing barriers to innovation, disseminating information, and fostering research)
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From page 22...
... The application of technology to housing design, construction, and operation offers opportunities for improved affordability, energy efficiency, comfort, safety, and convenience for consumers. New technologies and production processes could help resolve serious issues facing housing producers, including labor shortages, interruptions due to inclement weather, quality control, and theft and vandalism.
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From page 23...
... Earlier attempts by the federal government, including the Civilian Industrial Technology Program initiated in 1962 and Operation Breakthrough initiated in 1968, failed to have the desired effect on the housing industry in part because they emphasized the development of technology without addressing the barriers to diffusion. The characteristics of the existing housing production system were seen as impediments to change, but no apparent attention was paid to diffusion strategies for new technologies.
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From page 24...
... PATH can also facilitate private programs for the evaluation, testing, and certification of housing innovations. Fragmentation: Participants in the system may share an interest in promoting innovations that improve the delivery and performance of housing, but a fragmented system restricts peer interaction.
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From page 25...
... No single approach will effectively diffuse all the information needed to advance technology in housing. Successful technology transfer for innovative R&D often requires cross-disciplinary communications that operate outside normal scientific and technical channels.
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From page 26...
... This study suggests that successful diffusion requires a good understanding of how market segments function and that it is critical to study demographic indicators like location, customer class, and material supplier profiles. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Finding: The basis for PATH was the hypothesis that innovative technologies can improve housing performance and reduce costs and that there is a need for intervention to increase the rate of innovation in the housing industry.
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From page 27...
... Upper Marlboro, Md.: NAHB Research Center. NRC (National Research Council)
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Key Terms

  • removing barriers
  • disseminating information
  • housing performance
  • assessment report
  • eliminating barriers

  • housing production
  • path program
  • market failures
  • extension service
  • housing research

  • market segments
  • fostering research
  • von hipple
  • private investment
  • adopting unproven

  • private programs
  • nahb research
  • progress assessment
  • recycling practices
  • labor shortages

  • programs intended
  • market acceptance
  • peer interaction
  • eric von
  • economic principle

  • help define
  • targeting market
  • choices display
  • wood products
  • previously recommended


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