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24
Texas Association of Builders
March/April 2016
Feature
Well, “there’s an app for that.” We’ll soon
reach the point where some people born
in the mid-1990s will enter the housing
market. These young adults are the first
born of the yet unofficially named group
following the millennial generation, and
they have never known a time without the
Internet, home computers, and cell phones.
The keyword for this generation is “smart.”
Smart phones, cars, and TVs are already
available to them, and when they take that
next step in life, you can bet they’ll also be
looking for the latest model of “smart home.”
Door locks, lighting levels, audio/video setups,
temperature settings, irrigation systems,
alarms and surveillance—these systems and
more can all be interconnected through
the use of wireless sensors and controlled
remotely with a smartphone or other mobile
device. Smart home devices may add whole
new levels of convenience and peace of mind
to home owners, but is the term “smart home”
really all that accurate? The home itself isn’t
actually making any decisions for you, but
soon that may be the case.
The artificially intelligent home might
be just over the horizon. Consider the
Fitbit. It’s a watch-like device known as a
“wearable,” and it’s capable of monitoring
all sorts of biometrics such as heartbeat,
sleep quality, body temperature, and more.
Imagine what your house could do with
this information. Regulation of heating and
cooling could be taken care of for you, even
when you’re asleep. If you get up during the
middle of the night, a dim light could turn
on to ensure you find your way without
tripping over something. Wearables are
likely to be a big part of the future of
syncing up homes with their occupants.
EXPLORATIONS IN EFFICIENCY
Putting the “science fiction” ideas aside,
there are some more practical concerns
facing today’s builders and buyers. Soaring
population and record global temperatures
are just a few reasons why efficiency and
sustainability are crucial elements of
future home building. Many prospective
homeowners are realizing bigger doesn’t
necessarily mean better.
Now, your first thoughts may be that of
claustrophobia and cabin fever, but when you
factor in the savings of lower utilities, taxes,
and mortgage, you might start to see why
the "tiny house" movement has caught on in
recent years. The added benefits of mobility
and a lower carbon footprint are just some
“While today’s average
home size has increased
to over 2,000 square feet,
the tiny house trend
offers a striking contrast
with homes under 500
square feet.”