WASHINGTON, D.C. — (RealEstateRama) — The Hillside Software Inc. Augmented Reality Home Planner, Invent Dev Inc. Virtual Model Homes, Mbrico Tile Decks and Roofs and the Mitsubishi Electric MLZ One-Way Ceiling Cassette are the four winners of the 2018 National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Global Innovation Award. Representatives for all four products were honored yesterday at the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.
“The products recognized by this year’s Global Innovation Awards offer home builders new options for building more sustainable, more efficient and more comfortable homes, as well as unique ways to plan and sell them to buyers,” said S. Robert August, chair of the NAHB Global Opportunities Board. “We’re really excited to welcome these winners to our family of innovators who have been honored with this award.”
The Augmented Reality Home Planner, made by Hillside Software Inc. of Englewood, Colo., brings augmented reality technology to home builders and product showrooms in a simple and affordable way. The app lets potential customers use a smart phone or tablet camera to create a view of a home’s interior and then drop 3-D virtual furniture piece or builder package right into the room to see how it will look.
Virtual Model Homes made by Invent Dev Inc. of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, lets potential buyers put on virtual reality goggles and tour a virtual model home—all without a physical model home having been built. As customers look around using the headset, they can see what the home would look like with any available floor plan and with various finishes and furnishings. Customers can even see the views out the windows of various units.
Mbrico Tile Decks made by Mbrico Decks & Roofs of Bettendorf, Iowa, feature a premium porcelain tile system that is easy to install and requires little maintenance. The durable anti-slip tiles resist mold, thermal shock, wind lift, chemical damage and stain, and are available in many chromatically stable colors.
MLZ One-Way Ceiling Cassette made by Mitsubishi Electric of Tokyo, Japan, installs into a ceiling to provide energy-efficient heating and cooling to a single room. With streamlined design, easy installation and remote control, the unit uses specially engineered moving slats to deliver heat and cooling evenly to a room.
Global Awards finalists were TraXtar made by Anthony Innovations of Thomastown, Victoria, Australia, and WhisperFresh Select made by Panasonic PENSA of Osaka, Japan.
NAHB Global Membership connects each participant to thousands of the world’s top builders, manufacturers and suppliers. Members enjoy exclusive access to a wide range of opportunities and home building industry resources, including programs such as the Global Innovation Award.
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Stephanie Pagan
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