New Home Technology, Green Designs Still Going Strong

Despite news that new home sales rose in February, home builders are generally suffering along with the rest of the U.S. public and homeowners in the current climate. There are, however, encouraging signs that new home technologies and green designs are not being dismissed by homebuilders and, in fact, that such initiatives and new home “features” are driving builders’ profits.

A State of the Builder Technology Market Study was recently released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and found that most builders are moving strongly to continue offering home technology and green building options. 70% of builders, in fact, noted that technology was helping them maintain revenue that may have otherwise evaporated due to the economy, representing a 10% increase from last year.

Said Steve Koenig, the director of CEA:

Home technology is poised to take off as the economy and housing market improves. Builders are aware of the value of home technology and have increased their marketing efforts – suggesting builders are leaving no stone unturned to help move inventories while recognizing the importance of home technology for consumers.

Among the popular options being added by builders are multi-room audio and home theaters. At the same time, builders are increasingly paying more attention to green building, as over 60,000 buildres, remodelers and architects attended the New American Home 2009 at the recent International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas. The “New American Home” is one that features an array of energy efficiency initiatives including natural gas-powered heating and cooling, photovoltaic cells and solar water heating, Low E windows, advanced insulation and host of other additions that makes the homes consume almost zero electrical energy from “the grid.”

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