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Catalyst Nexus

SINGLE FAMILY UNIT

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Team:

Xin Bai

University of Utah

Electrical Computer Engineering

Linh Do

University of Utah

Master of Science in

Business Analytics

Nabanita Majumder

University of Miami

MPS in Urban Sustainability

& Resilience

SMARTies

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Housing Crisis and Market Decline in Real Estate

Housing Crisis

Environmental changes, social pressure, and policy shifts are driving a housing crisis.

==> Innovative and creative thinking is essential to finding sustainable development solutions and propelling the real estate industry to new heights for sustainable advancement.

Market Decline in Real Estate

The real estate and investment sectors find it challenging to sustain growth by adhering to conventional approaches and traditional mindsets.

Decline in purchasing power due to social pressures and future expense concerns

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Our solution:

    • Maintain housing quality and size.
    • Ensure buyers don’t compromise on their ideal home due to financial constraints.

We use Building Information Modeling (BIM) for virtual construction to enhance efficiency and streamline the building process. Sustainable materials like straw bale panels and bamboo-timber composites ensure seamless assembly. Advanced machinery, such as sandblasting, expedites construction, reduces costs, and minimizes delays for a more efficient and cost-effective process.

Affordable, quality homes

Sustainable and Disaster Resilient Housing Model

    • Solar panel system
    • Water drain system
    • Eco-friendly material

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Proposed Design

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Proposed Design

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Water system (Infiltration System)

    • The core concept of the Water System (Infiltration System) is to introduce rainwater into the groundwater filtration system mainly through natural infiltration, reduce rainwater runoff and surface water accumulation, and improve the ecological environment. At the same time, it is reused by separating house wastewater and recyclable water. All water resources will penetrate into the gravel filtration system on the next layer through the permeable bricks of the underground Permeable Pavement, and finally be filtered again through the Infiltration Facilities, and finally build a sponge city.
    • The solar energy system achieves the maximum utilization of solar energy through high-efficiency photovoltaic modules and inverters, and optimizes energy scheduling and improves efficiency through intelligent management systems. The ideal zero-energy building is achieved. Due to the development of science and technology, the invention of new photovoltaic materials such as glass and other new technologies, combined with intelligent energy management systems, has greatly improved the problem of energy shortage.

Solar Panel

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Straw Panel

    • The use of materials such as Straw Bale Panels (low-cost and biodegradable materials with excellent thermal insulation properties, used for wall construction), Bamboo and Timber Composite Structures (rapidly renewable and beautiful and durable, providing high-strength lightweight tensile properties, used for structural frames), Cross Laminated Timber, CLT (renewable and high-strength, the choice for load-bearing walls) provides the basis for high-quality housing. The addition of new materials to replace traditional materials not only shortens the construction cycle and saves labor costs, but also greatly improves the durability, beauty and practicality of the house. From the perspective of sustainable development goals, this is a big move to reduce carbon emissions.

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Location

State of Utah, USA

Unemployment Rate

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Category

Sustainable Housing (USD)

Traditional Housing (USD)

Materials (Main Structure)

$18,000 (Straw, Bamboo, Timber)

$28,000 (Concrete, Brick, Timber)

Energy System

$6,000 (Solar)

$7,500 (Traditional HVAC)

Efficiency Tools (BIM, Sandblasting)

$5,500 (BIM, Sandblasting)

N/A

Interior & Finishing

$9,000

$12,000

Foundation

$8,000

$16,000

Labor Costs

$7,500

$10,000

Miscellaneous

$3,000

$4,500

Total Initial Construction Cost

$57,000

$78,000

15-Year Energy Cost

$4,500

$15,000

Percentage of Total Money Saved

34%

Cost Comparision for a 1200sqft single family model in Utah

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Cost Comparision for a 1200sqft single family model in Utah

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The sustainable housing model costs $57,000 for construction compared to $78,000 for traditional housing. As solar energy further reduces ongoing expenses, homeowners can save around 35% in total costs.

For real estate developers, this lowers construction costs and increases profit margins.

Homeowners also benefit from potential mortgage reductions through Utah's First-Time Home Buyer Assistance Program. Considering a 20% down payment, households with incomes below $60,000 can comfortably afford this option.

35%

More affordable than traditional housing in Utah

Cost Savings

< $60k

Annual household income to comfortably afford this housing

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Thank You!