Page 29 - Green Builder May-June 2020 Issue

prospective buyers wanting to protect their but we expect this crisis will accelerate all GB: How do you think coronavirus will
families. these discussions and actions. Now, building impact consumer behavior in the long term
GB: How do you think the coronavirus will scientists will be sitting at the head of (61+ days)?
change the homebuilding sector in the long the table when home builders are creating FC: We expect there to be a heightened
term (61+ days)? the next generation of homes that don’t awareness of indoor air quality and wellness
FC: In general, our understanding is that many compromise between health/indoor air quality topics from both the home buyer and DIYers.
people are only delaying purchase activity, and energy efficiency. We also expect to see more building of Indoor
not giving up on it. So, we expect more of a GB: How do you think coronavirus will airPLUS-certified homes for health-conscious
V-shaped recovery. It may not reach forecasts impact consumer behavior in the short term buyers, and increased requests for higher
of 3-6 months ago this year, but by next year (30-60 days)? quality ventilation systems or new solutions
we don’t expect there to be lingering effects. FC: As expected, there has been a shift to like our SurfaceShield.
Specific to Broan Nu-Tone, we have already online buying. Consumers are looking around GB: Any additional thoughts?
seen a lot of activity as builders turn to us to their homes to see what they can repair, FC: While the events around COVID-19 are
learn more about our fresh air systems and upgrade and remodel themselves in the place unprecedented and the timetable for when
ventilation solutions. As stated above, I think they will be spending most of their time. As things return to normal are a little muddy right
the builder conversations will get more serious such, we expect our series of products that can now, we believe that ultimately the experiences
and start to incorporate more advanced fresh be installed by the homeowner to upgrade their and knowledge gained during this time will
air options. We expect that all builders will now ventilation, their grill or add features without have a positive effect on the green builder
be accelerating their plans to incorporate these having to cut into the plaster/drywall will be community, especially if they leverage the
options into their homes. Previously, if offered, helpful solutions for them. economic benefits of green building and the
this was a premium option. wellness opportunity that comes with a proper
Building codes were starting to change, ventilation strategy to match it.

“Moving Ahead as Planned”

Ryan Moore, CEO GB: Have your customer expectations/ that this will be over in a few months and won’t
Green Insight, Albuquerque, NM demands changed? be a factor when their construction starts in
RM: We are all adapting to social distancing 8-12 months.
GB: Is the coronavirus changing your recommendations, which affects whether we GB: Do you think that the coronavirus will
business? send people into the field at all or how they operate create systemic, long-term change in the
RM: Not very much. We have 52 projects in in the field. A lot of our inspection work can be done building industry?
four different states and the Cayman Islands, via remote video, which works out well, but as far RM: I think remote video inspections will
and we are providing testing and verification as the on-site testing we are taking precautions become more common, but other than that I
work on. We have one market-rate project that to make sure we are working alone in empty don’t see much changing.
is slowing down that is under construction, homes for the hour or so that we are there. We
but our other projects seem to be moving have suspended the on-site testing of occupied GB: Which aspects of building do you
ahead as planned. We have signed $120,000 units. Everyone seems to be understanding, and predict will be most impacted, and why?
worth of projects in the last two months. The we are not getting any pushback. RM: I’m really not sure residential construction
pipeline for future projects remains fairly will be much impacted. I think just about
robust as well, but we are not sure how long GB: Has the coronavirus impacted your everyone is viewing the coronavirus as an
that will last. sales or prospects? unrelated crisis—and once it is defeated, it’s
RM: Not so far. We continue on pace to beat going to be business as usual. If any changes
GB: Are you changing your offerings/ last year, but it’s difficult to discern if this is stick, it will be because somebody figured out
services? If so, what is driving you to do so? really due to of increased sales effort. It could how to do something more efficiently and/
RM: Not really. We have had some discussion be that we would have been doing even better or less expensively. For us, that would be the
regarding offering an online LEED for Homes without the crisis, but business has been solid remote video inspections. On the consumer
Green Rater mentoring program, but have not and it looks like it will continue in the short- side, there might be more demand for better
made any concrete decisions to do that yet.
term. It gets a little murky in the future, but indoor air quality, which was already on an
most developers seem to be taking the attitude upward trajectory.

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