The Top 5 Building Trends of 2010: All Eyes on Efficiency

There is no doubt that the U.S. construction industry bottomed out in 2009—but that means it has nowhere to go but up.  Market projections indicate that single-family home construction will rise more than 30 percent next year, with new multi-family housing starts increasing by as much as 16 percent according to the McGraw-Hill 2010 Construction Outlook.

As new homeowners and multi-unit developers choose the materials, appliances, designs and fixtures that will make up their new homes and buildings, expect consumer focus to remain on one key element: Energy efficiency. Any components or materials in the home that save energy—and therefore reduce costs over the long term—are in greater demand than ever before.  

Builders and remodelers looking to flourish in 2010 should consider these five emergent building trends:

1.    Net Zero Energy Buildings
As opposed to “green” building, which adopts low-impact materials and building techniques, the term  “net zero” refers to a structure that creates as much energy as it consumes. In application, any home or building equipped with wind turbines, solar panels, energy management equipment like GE’s Home Energy Manager or other power-producing and reducing technologies aim for net zero energy use.

Chris Colby, LEED certified architect of Spire Architecture & Design, based in Milbrook, N.Y. says all the technologies needed to create and manage zero energy buildings are available off-the-shelf today and will only increase in popularity. And more homeowners are integrating principles from net zero building that reduce energy waste or even produce enough power to sell back to their electricity providers.

2.    Tight building envelopes
The creation of a tight building envelope through improved insulation and proper window and door installation creates maximum energy efficiency for a marginal cost. Too often customers will demand the “bells and whistles” when the real return on investment is in insulation, says Diane Menke, vice president of production management for Myers Constructs, Inc. in Philadelphia.
 
“Most of our projects break out with about 1 percent for insulation as a line item, and that’s for the standard fiberglass plus a vapor barrier system,” says Menke. “With 2 percent I can get them more than two times the efficiency with closed cell foam. Most folks balk at spending 1 to 2 percent more for insulation, but they really want to spend money on a solar array for their roof, which is silly,” she says.  

Explain to a customer that a tight envelope can save them as much as 40 percent on their heating and cooling costs, says Colby, and it’s a safe bet you’ll have their undivided attention.

3.    “The New Minimalism”
Say goodbye to the McMansion. “Homes in the 2000 to 2500 square foot range will be king in 2010,” Colby says. “A compact size, low maintenance and low energy cost will be the three biggest factors in home builds or purchases.” Colby adds that while compact may be in, homeowners still want efficient floorplans that avoid inconveniences pertaining to space.
 
Builders on the west coast and western states will see an increased demand for smaller homes as well. “Buyers are trending toward smaller homes that serve the core needs of the family,” adds David Sinkey, principal at Boulder Creek Life and Home in Denver, Colo. “They are looking for cost effective technologies that make their home more efficient while paying their own way.”

4.    Energy-Efficient Products and Appliances
Technologically speaking, there is a lot more to creating an energy-efficient home than installing Energy Star appliances. Energy-efficient products are becoming increasingly popular among homeowners, so be prepared when your clients ask you to incorporate passive solar technologies, low flow plumbing fixtures or LED lighting into their build, says Sinkey.  

According to Colby, passive solar technologies convert sunlight into usable heat without the need for (active) mechanical systems, low flow plumbing fixtures reduce up to 40 percent of water usage compared to conventional fixtures and LED lighting is set to replace compact fluorescents as the industry standard.      

With individual products and appliances, your pitch to the client is almost more important than the product itself, says Colby. You must be able to explain, with facts and figures, the benefits of these new—more expensive—technologies and how they will benefit the buyer and his or her home over the long term.

5.    Engineered Wood Products
“Green” building materials like engineered wood are made of scraps, strands, particles and other leftovers materials from mills and manufacturers.  Engineered hardwood floors not only provide a clean look while improving air quality, “they can be finished with natural tung oils instead of harsh polycarbonates and eliminate the need to harvest trees,” states Tommy Sancic, founder & owner of Olde Wood Limited in North Canton, Ohio.
 
In addition, says Sancic, properly installed reclaimed hardwood can last a lifetime and saves on support materials by installing directly to concrete and other below-grade surfaces, as well as areas with extremely dry temperatures.

Building and finishing smaller, energy efficient homes with environmentally friendly materials and appliances is all the buzz for 2010. Stay ahead of your competition by talking the talk and walking the walk when it comes to green building.