 |
|
|
| |
| 
|
| |
Energy Prices, Environmental Awareness Motivating Homeowners to Go Green
Home improvement activity still healthy, despite housing market woes
|
| |
|
For Immediate Release |
|
|
|
| |
Washington, D.C., September 13,
2007 — A growing share of homeowners are concerned with utility costs,
which has led to an increase in demand for energy efficient
solutions, greater popularity of home offices, along with healthy
business conditions in the home improvement sector. These findings
are from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Home Design
Trend Survey for the second quarter of 2007 that focused on
systems, technologies, and functional rooms in the home.
“As the environment and utility prices become more
scrutinized, homeowners are demanding more energy efficient
products and sustainable designs,” said AIA Chief Economist,
Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. “Structural insulation panels,
geothermal heating / cooling systems, tankless water heaters and
green flooring products such as bamboo and cork are all in high
consumer demand.”
A recent AIA poll revealed that 91% of registered voters said they
would be willing to pay $5,000 more for a house that would use less
energy and protect the Earth.
For the third straight year, home offices are the most popular
special function room. Addressing specific design issues, Louis B.
Smith, AIA, chair of the AIA Small Projects Practitioners committee
said, “Homeowners are looking for more than just a desk in a
bedroom. They are looking for additional acoustic privacy, better
natural lighting and even separate entry for clients. An
architect’s design can help create the proper relationship
between the office and the home, as well as ensure a productive
environment that allows for work to be accomplished comfortably and
efficiently.”
Full report: http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek07/0907/0907n_econres.cfm
AIA Home Design Trends Survey
highlights
2007 2006
• Home
office 61%
51%
• Hobby / game
rooms
23%
28%
• Media / home
theater 22%
18%
• Exercise /
fitness
2%
15%
• Au-pair / in-law
suites
20%
23%
• Kid’s wing / guest
wing
16%
13%
(% respond. report. popularity of room “increasing” minus
% report. “decreasing”; Q2:)
Products 2007 2006
• Tank-less water
heaters
72%
58%
•
Energy-efficient
69%
68%
• Low
maintenance
65%
61%
• “Green”
flooring 62% n/a
• Synthetic /
engineered
61% 54%
• Reclaimed /
salvaged 53% 53%
• Water
saving
47%
45%
• Indoor air
quality
41%
41%
• Thermal moisture
control
38%
44%
(% respond. report. popularity of products “increasing”
minus % report. “decreasing”; Q2:)
Systems / technologies
• Wireless telecom /
data
65%
67%
• Energy
management
56%
54%
• Geothermal heat /
cool
46% n/a
• Central
audio 40%
38%
• Automated
lighting 35%
36%
• Air
purification
32% n/a
(% reporting popularity of system “increasing” minus %
reporting “decreasing”; Q2:)
Special home features
• Extra
insulation 62%
45%
• Alt. insulation (e.g. panels;
foam)
62% n/a
• Ramps /
elevators
54%
41%
• Hurricane resistant
design
36%
34%
• Easy-to-use
features
32% 32%
• Three or more car
garages
30% 23%
(% reporting popularity of system “increasing” minus %
reporting “decreasing”; Q2:2007)
Housing market business conditions
While billings at residential architecture firms are representative
of the slowdown in the overall housing sector, architecture firms
are reporting steady backlogs for projects with an average of 5.3
months of work under contract. The market environment for home
improvement projects, both for additions and alterations as well as
kitchen and bath remodels, is reported as very healthy even though
growth is not as strong as it was a year ago. With overall business
conditions for residential architects generally comparable to a
year-ago, there have been some regional changes.
Regional
Conditions:
2007
2006
•
Northeast 60
53
•
South 49
54
•
West 63
65
•
Midwest
54 61
Diffusion index: 50 = no change from previous quarter; Q2
Specific construction segments
• Additions /
alterations:
44%
52%
• Kitchen and bath
remodeling:
38%
50%
• Custom / luxury home
market:
12%
-1%
• Townhouse / condo
market:
10%
24%
• Second / vacation home
market:
-6%
2%
• Move-up home
market: -2%
-3%
• First-time buyer / affordable home
market:
-40%
-25%
(% of respondents reporting sector “improving” minus %
reporting “weakening”; Q2)
About the AIA Home Design Trends
Survey
The AIA Home Design Trend Survey is conducted quarterly with a
panel of 500 architecture firms that concentrate their practice in
the residential sector. Residential architects are design leaders
in shaping how homes function, look, and integrate into communities
and this survey helps to identify emerging trends in the housing
marketplace. Business conditions are also monitored on a quarterly
basis. Future surveys will focus on community design trends
(December 2007), and kitchen and bath trends (February 2008).
About The American Institute of
Architects
For 150 years, members of The American Institute of Architects have
worked with each other and their communities to create more
valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and
cityscapes. AIA members have access to the right people, knowledge,
and tools to create better design, and through such resources and
access, they help clients and communities make their visions real.
www.aia.org
|
|
|
|
|
