Page 31 - Green Builder Nov-Dec 2021 Issue

THE STATE OF

building owners new levels of convenience, efficiency, comfort, SUSTAINABLE
independence, and security. BUILDING 2022
There’s an evolution from the “mindless structure”—dispa-
rate devices with separate functionality—to the “mindful struc-
ture”—those items integrated by voice control—to the “intuitive
structure”—a central hub that con-
nects devices, products, systems
and vehicles.
Smart technologies can now
learn our behaviors, upgrade
themselves seamlessly, and take
human error out of building per-
formance to optimize comfort, cost
effectiveness, and sustainability.
And there are innovation oppor-
tunities. The quickly evolving con-
nected living space provides an
opportunity to be creative and stay
ahead of the pack.

ROOM TO MOVE
Home ownership has slowed due
to COVID-19 and various product
supply shortages. But having a
set of keys of their own is still on
prospective buyers’ minds. Pew
Research notes that 72 percent
of renters want to own a home
someday. Peace offering. COVID-19 kept people home, resulting in a desire to entertain
As buyers flock to less dense outdoors. With little effort, homeowners transformed basic backyards into
outer suburbs and even rural mar- nature-friendly places with gazebos, plants, and lawn ornaments.
kets, some of which have been suf- SOURCE: FLICKR/ERIC SAVAGE
fering from declining home values
for years, they’re seeking reasonably priced homes with lawns, nature while screening out neighbors, and reducing sight lines.
gardens, and elbow room. Homeowners are favoring composites over wood because they
Limited inventory has shifted consumer priorities and expecta- are durable, require low maintenance, and are impervious to
tions. “While most buyers prefer move-in ready homes, they’re no moisture and pests. There’s also an enhanced interest in recycled
longer turning up their noses at listings that need improvements,” materials and zero waste generation.
COGNITION notes. “It’s the veritable return of retro—‘dated’ To meet these design upgrades, contractor projects are becom-
is in, especially when the payoff is more outdoor living space.” ing bigger and more elaborate, featuring multi-level structures,
Consumers are looking to decrease monthly costs and increase and incorporating covered spaces, cabanas and flex spaces.
asset value. It therefore makes more sense to invest in a home Meanwhile, many homeowners are into do-it-yourself (DIY)
rather than rent, especially with record-low mortgage rates. projects: smaller efforts that are personalized and unique, using
colors and patterns to distinguish the item visually.
AL FRESCO LIVING The bottom line with all of the home design and lifestyle changes
There has been a discernable uptick in interest and investment in of the past two years is that they’re here to stay, according to
outdoor living due to an increased interest in a connection with Elizabeth Yuko, Ph.D., an adjunct professor of ethics at Fordham
nature, and a desire to entertain outdoors during the pandemic. University in New York City. “We might not keep our voice-
Trending projects include deck expansions and replacements, controlled appliances solely because they reduce the spread of
transition spaces such as roof covers, pergolas, and gazebos, out- germs—but because they also make it easier to cook dinner while
door kitchens and entertainment systems, and edible gardens. taking a Zoom call,” she notes, in a blog on Real Simple.com.
There’s also a preference for rooftop gardens, balconies, and “And once we’ve experienced cooking a meal using vegetables
terraces; and integrated planters and greenspace transformed from our garden and enjoyed that meal in our beautifully
into decks. landscaped backyard, how can we go back to undervaluing our
There is a move toward “flexible privacy”—the ability to enjoy outdoor space?”

www.greenbuildermedia.com November/December 2021 GREEN BUILDER 29