Describes the Residential Integrated Systems Application project, winner of a 1997 ASHRAE Technology Award. It represents the initial effort of a home building research and development consortium to develop methods to construct affordable homes that are energy efficient, environmentally responsive and offer improved quality. Gives details of two, 3,346 ft² (311 m²) Lab houses constructed for comparison purposes with identical design but using different materials and HVAC systems. Lists the components of the two houses and discusses them. House B has a much more thermally efficient shell, is better insulated, more airtight, and has low U-value, argon-filed double glazed windows. States the houses prove that without changing the appearance of a house or the construction process it is possible to achieve excellent performance.