Uncovering Opportunities for Reducing Cost and Cycle Time in New Home Construction

File Under: Building Practices

Builders across the country are facing mounting pressure from both increased construction costs and extended project cycle times. To better understand what drives these challenges, Home Innovation Research Labs conducted an online survey in March 2026 with nearly 300 homebuilders across regions, company sizes, and home types. Their responses, shared without prompts or predefined options, offer a candid view of where builders are facing their biggest challenges and where meaningful progress is possible.

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TechSpec: HVAC Ducts Buried within Ceiling Insulation in a Vented Attic (Buried Ducts)

File Under: Air Sealing & Building Envelope, Energy Efficiency & High-Performance Building, Ventilation & Indoor Air Quality

A buried duct system is a practical and cost-effective alternative to installing ducts inside conditioned space or constructing unvented (semi-conditioned) attics for housing the HVAC system. If constructed in accordance with the recently-approved provisions of the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), buried ducts provide an effective and energy-efficient air distribution system that ensures comfort and savings for the homeowner.

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2024 IECC Cost Analysis for Single Family Homes

File Under: Building Codes & Standards, Energy Efficiency & High-Performance Building

The 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) includes several changes which impact the cost of residential construction. The objective of this analysis was to estimate the added cost of compliance to build single-family homes in accordance with 2024 IECC relative to the 2018 IECC and 2021 IECC.

Home Innovation Research Labs estimated the incremental construction costs of key code changes using a single-family reference house with multiple configurations and in multiple locations.

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Accelerating the Adoption of the Solid Panel Structural System

File Under: Air Sealing & Building Envelope, Moisture Management, Structural Performance, Building Practices

This report explores the structural properties, capabilities, and applications for an innovative “studless” building system that uses a plate-like approach and exemplifies “Perfect Wall” principles.

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Advanced HVAC Humidity Control for Hot-Humid Climates

File Under: Ventilation & Indoor Air Quality

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building America Program has spurred innovations in building efficiency, durability, and affordability for more than 25 years. Elevating a clean energy economy and skilled workforce, this world-class research program partners with industry to leverage cutting-edge science and deployment opportunities to reduce home energy use and help mitigate climate change. In cooperation with the Building America Program, Home Innovation Research Labs is one of many Building America teams working to drive innovations that address the challenges identified in the Program’s Research-to-Market Plan.

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3D Concrete Printed Construction Systems

File Under: Structural Performance, Building Practices, Product Development

Three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) technology is an innovative method of construction, using robotics and specially formulated concrete material to achieve greater design flexibility, faster material hardening times, and a wide range of mechanical properties without the need for conventional formwork. The technology has been in development for years in various universities, but adoption has been slow in the United States.

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Durable Solutions for Balconies & Decks

File Under: Structural Performance

Durable Solutions for Balconies and Decks is an illustrated guide that identifies design principles and construction practices to improve the moisture performance of wood-framed balconies and decks in low- and mid-rise multifamily buildings.

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Performance of Windows in Walls With Continuous Insulation

File Under: Air Sealing & Building Envelope

A strong push was made by many advocacy groups, including the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), to increase the stringency of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) to achieve a 30 percent energy savings relative to the 2006 IECC. This effort resulted in a number of major changes which impact both energy savings and construction costs for residential construction. The objective of this analysis is to quantify the incremental construction cost, energy savings, and percent energy savings associated with constructing a house compliant with the 2012 IECC relative to the 2006 IECC baseline. 

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Designing for Natural Hazards

File Under: Resilience

Home Innovation Research Labs (Home Innovation) was tasked by HUD to develop a set of practical, actionable guidelines to assist builders and developers in designing and constructing residential buildings, neighborhoods, and accessory structures in a manner that could improve residential resilience to natural hazards and integrate resiliency throughout the community. 

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Retrofits & Adaptations: Improving Mobility in the Home

File Under: Universal Design & Accessibility

Researchers sought to review and test home modifications that could improve accessibility for people with disabilities of semi-detached and non-detached residential buildings (townhomes and row houses), which often have elevated entrances, narrow floorplans, and functionality (kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms) spread among several levels. Focus groups of users, caregivers, and professionals identified several areas of the home, such as bathrooms, stairs, laundry room, and entryway or entrances, as presenting some of the greatest challenges for accomplishing daily activities and ease of use. 

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