TXAIRE News

The Texas Allergy, Indoor Environment,and Energy

TXAIRE Houses Showcase Green-Building Technology

July 13, 2012
The IN Magazine Summer 2012 New Home Tour starts today and with it area home builders will show off some of their best work.

But two houses on the tour might stand out more than the others, not necessarily for their architecture or size but because of what they have on the inside.

The houses, at The University of Texas at Tyler campus, are research houses. Although they have brick exterior, shingles and windows with faux shutters just like many others, the products all throughout the houses make these buildings part of a long-term research project rather than someone's future abode.

Solar Photovoltaic Array Installed

Nov. 8, 2011
A 7.8 kW solar photovoltaic array has been recently installed on site. This array will provide electricity to House 2 when the sun shines with any excess capacity being sold back to the electrical utility provider. It is sufficiently large to provide a "Net-Zero Energy" rating to House 2, which means that it would have no annual electrical bill if used as a conventional house with typical occupancy behavior. The system was designed by Rudy Wright of Wright-Way Solar Power of Tyler, who also supervised the installation. Students and staff from the University assisted with the installation.

Final Grading on TXAIRE Homes Complete

Oct. 31, 2011
The final grading is complete on the TXAIRE Houses, which are now ready for landscaping. The interior on both homes are nearing completion, and will soon be ready for the installation of the remaining research equipment.

Houses to Aid Students, Research

Sept. 13, 2011
Dirt and dust blow around Kevin Murray, junior construction management major, as work continues on the two new research homes on the corner of Campus Drive and Patriot Avenue.

The long process of building the two houses is beginning to wrap up while Murray directs the completion of the home's interior design. Students will be able to use the two homes to study the effects energy efficiency methods have on households.

Research Houses Focus On Energy Efficiency, Healthful Environment

Sept. 13, 2011
At first glance, the two houses going up at The University of Texas at Tyler campus appear just like any other. They have brick exterior, glass windows, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen. But appearances can be deceiving. The two houses near the west entrance of the campus are research houses paid for with grant funds from the Governor's Emerging Technology Fund...

Houses to Aid Students, Research

Sept. 13, 2011
Dirt and dust blow around Kevin Murray, junior construction management major, as work continues on the two new research homes on the corner of Campus Drive and Patriot Avenue.

The long process of building the two houses is beginning to wrap up while Murray directs the completion of the home's interior design. Students will be able to use the two homes to study the effects energy efficiency methods have on households.

Research Houses Focus On Energy Efficiency, Healthful Environment

Sept. 13, 2011
At first glance, the two houses going up at The University of Texas at Tyler campus appear just like any other. They have brick exterior, glass windows, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen. But appearances can be deceiving. The two houses near the west entrance of the campus are research houses paid for with grant funds from the Governor's Emerging Technology Fund...

Framing Completed on Both Houses

Aug. 1, 2011
Both houses have been sheet-rocked and are ready for the interior trim, painting, etc.

Progress on TXAIRE House #1 Continues

July 21, 2011
Construction on TXAIRE Home #1 has made great progress over the past month. The post-tension slab has been completed and the framing of the house is near completion. [View Photos]

Breaking Ground on TXAIRE House #1

June 21, 2011
The TXAIRE House #1 has officially started. TXAIRE House #1 will be constructed to provides baseline data and host technology "retrofit" studies. Ultimately this home will be 50% more energy efficient than existing homes. [View Photos]

TXAIRE Research and Demonstration Houses

June 2, 2011
The TXAIRE Research and Demonstration Houses are coming to the UT Tyler campus! TXAIRE will be building two state-o-the-art houses for conducting research and showcasing readily available technologies from Texas companies. You can find more information about the houses on the TXAIRE Houses page.