Welcome to the Silvia & Silvia Newsletter
| July 8, 2010 | Issue 52 |
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Greetings!
The home building landscape has been changing in recent years with the additions of new construction technology and energy-efficiency. Below are ten products and improvements that every home owner can expect from a new home in the next few years.
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What to expect within 10 years: Products & technology for your home
1. Houses will function as a system. For example, proper insulation throughout the whole house will save on HVAC costs.
2. More homes will be built using modular components.
3. Foam and other air-sealing insulation products will become more mainstream.
4. Water costs will be increasing in the coming years. Low flow showerheads will become more common.
5. Solar power will be much more accessible, without the need for large panels on the roof. Roofing companies are developing smaller panels that can be installed at the same time as the roof.
6. High R-value windows will become more affordable.
7. Hybrid water heaters that warm water like a tankless unit but are also composed of a reservoir unit will be Energy Star rated and save consumers money.
8. The byproducts of wheat and sorghum production will find their way into more and more building materials as opposed to landfills.
9. Energy monitors -- digital units that show how much energy a homeowner is using in real time -- will be used more often.
10. Energy modeling software for architects and designers will allow them to predict the energy consumption of a home over one year.
Read more at Builder Online.
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