NAHB APPLAUDS ANSI APPROVAL OF NATIONAL GREEN BUILDING STANDARD
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 --The National Green Building Standard for all residential construction work including single-family homes, apartments and condos, land development and remodeling and renovation was approved today by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
The approval signals a new era for the nation's builders, remodelers and developers and also provides an extra measure of reassurance for home buyers, said Joe Robson, a home builder in Tulsa, Okla., and Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
"The National Green Building Standard is now the first and only green building rating system approved by ANSI, making it the benchmark for green homes," said Ron Jones, who chaired the consensus committee charged with developing the standard.
"The standard provides home builders and remodelers with a much more expansive third-party rating system that they can use to achieve green certification under NAHBGreen and the National Green Building Certification Program," said Mike Luzier, CEO of the NAHB Research Center.
The Research Center provides certification for NAHBGreen projects, which until now have only included single-family homes. "Consumers are looking for authentic, verifiable green building practices, and now they'll find them with a true industry consensus standard for residential green building," Luzier said.
The standard defines what green practices can be incorporated into residential development and construction and how home owners can operate and maintain their green homes.
But the National Green Building Standard also provides for flexibility - allowing home builders and home buyers to make green choices based on climate and geography as well as style preferences and budget.
As part of the stringent process required by ANSI, NAHB and the International Code Council gathered a fully inclusive and representative consensus committee composed of a broad spectrum of builders, architects, product manufacturers, regulators and environmental experts. The work of the consensus committee was administered by the NAHB Research Center, an ANSI Accredited Standards Developer.
The consensus committee deliberated the content of the standard for more than a year, held four public hearings and evaluated over 3,000 public comments in the development of the standard.
ABOUT NAHB: The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing more than 200,000 members involved in home building, remodeling, multifamily construction, property management, subcontracting, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commercial construction. Known as "the voice of the housing industry," NAHB is affiliated with more than 800 state and local home builders associations around the country. NAHB's builder members will construct about 80 percent of the new housing units projected for 2009.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
New homes get smaller
This piece is from Friday's Marketwatch.
Say goodbye to McMansions, Americans are buying 'right-sized' homes
By Amy Hoak, MarketWatch
Last update: 7:38 p.m. EST Jan. 22, 2009LAS VEGAS (MarketWatch) -- These days, a bigger home isn't always a better one: Recent research suggests that homes being built today are getting smaller.
The average size of homes started in the third quarter of 2008 was 2,438 square feet, down from 2,629 square feet in the second quarter, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Similarly, the median size of homes started in the third quarter was 2,090, down from 2,291. The statistics confirm what the housing industry has suspected for a while.
"We've been hearing for a long time 'Why is the home size not declining?'" said Gopal Ahluwalia, vice president of economic research for the National Association of Home Builders. He spoke about the trend at the International Builders' Show, held in Las Vegas this week. Anecdotally, he had heard smaller homes were being built as housing prices tumbled and the economy began to weaken. Still, "we never had data to back it up," he said.
Gayle Butler, editor-in-chief of Better Homes and Gardens, said for many homeowners, it is not so much a matter of downsizing as "right-sizing," giving up big homes with unused space and buying a home that better fits their needs.
"Either by necessity or choice, they're willing to take a step back from the McMansions," she said at the Builders' Show. In fact, according to a survey conducted by the magazine, 32% of participants said they expected their new home to be either somewhat smaller or much smaller then the one they already live in, she said. The magazine's online study involved 733 potential new-home buyers.
Builders are responding to those consumer desires. According to the National Association of Home Builders, 88% of builders surveyed in January said that they are building or planning to build a larger share of smaller homes. Eighty-nine percent said they're planning on building more lower-priced models.
As homes get smaller, home-owners are looking to economize the space they do have. Butler says she is seeing more interest in "Wii-sized spaces" -- family rooms that are flexible enough to accommodate a variety of activities, from video games to fitness systems. Outdoor spaces aren't being wasted either, and outdoor kitchens and entertaining areas continue to rise in popularity, she said.
According to the Better Homes and Gardens study, top priorities in a new home include an affordable price, natural light and comfortable family gathering places. The era of super-sizing may be ending, Butler said, with buyers looking for a home that is "right-sized, organized and economized."
Other consumer housing trends include:
Fewer luxuries. Consumers say they need fewer luxuries in their next home, Butler said. Twenty percent or more of the participants in the survey viewed upgraded landscaping, upgraded finishes such as granite countertops, and luxurious master suites as less important in their next home, she said. High ceilings in main living areas were less important to 35% of those surveyed. There are also fewer fireplaces in new homes: While 62% of new homes completed in 1991 had at least one fireplace in it, 51% had a fireplace in 2007, according to Census statistics.
Green elements. Ninety percent of those who participated in the Better Homes and Gardens survey said they're planning to have energy-efficient heating and cooling systems in their next home and 31% plan to have geo-thermal heat, Butler said. There has also been increased interest in home gardens, with more people wanting to know where their food is grown, said Robin Avni, senior director and consumer strategist for the firm Iconoculture, a cultural trend research firm. "The green theme touches everything in the home, from the food we look to consume, our health concerns in the home, building -- even our furnishings in the home," Avni said.
Getting organized. With smaller spaces, organization systems are continuing their popularity. More entryways are being outfitted for storage, and homeowners often want more functional use of wall space, Butler said. Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed by the magazine said no-space-wasted design and ample storage will take on more importance in their next home.
Practical appliances. Although sales of appliances have been down, freezer sales have been up. The reason: More people are shopping for bargains and freezing what they won't use right away. "Appliance sales have taken a hit ... except the freezer. Which is really all about going back to basics, a very practical kind of living," Avni said. "If you look at your parents and your grandparents, they used to have a freezer -- they used to buy stuff on sale and put it in the freezer and use it for later. It wasn't just run out and buy something that day."
Say goodbye to McMansions, Americans are buying 'right-sized' homes
By Amy Hoak, MarketWatch
Last update: 7:38 p.m. EST Jan. 22, 2009LAS VEGAS (MarketWatch) -- These days, a bigger home isn't always a better one: Recent research suggests that homes being built today are getting smaller.
The average size of homes started in the third quarter of 2008 was 2,438 square feet, down from 2,629 square feet in the second quarter, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Similarly, the median size of homes started in the third quarter was 2,090, down from 2,291. The statistics confirm what the housing industry has suspected for a while.
"We've been hearing for a long time 'Why is the home size not declining?'" said Gopal Ahluwalia, vice president of economic research for the National Association of Home Builders. He spoke about the trend at the International Builders' Show, held in Las Vegas this week. Anecdotally, he had heard smaller homes were being built as housing prices tumbled and the economy began to weaken. Still, "we never had data to back it up," he said.
Gayle Butler, editor-in-chief of Better Homes and Gardens, said for many homeowners, it is not so much a matter of downsizing as "right-sizing," giving up big homes with unused space and buying a home that better fits their needs.
"Either by necessity or choice, they're willing to take a step back from the McMansions," she said at the Builders' Show. In fact, according to a survey conducted by the magazine, 32% of participants said they expected their new home to be either somewhat smaller or much smaller then the one they already live in, she said. The magazine's online study involved 733 potential new-home buyers.
Builders are responding to those consumer desires. According to the National Association of Home Builders, 88% of builders surveyed in January said that they are building or planning to build a larger share of smaller homes. Eighty-nine percent said they're planning on building more lower-priced models.
As homes get smaller, home-owners are looking to economize the space they do have. Butler says she is seeing more interest in "Wii-sized spaces" -- family rooms that are flexible enough to accommodate a variety of activities, from video games to fitness systems. Outdoor spaces aren't being wasted either, and outdoor kitchens and entertaining areas continue to rise in popularity, she said.
According to the Better Homes and Gardens study, top priorities in a new home include an affordable price, natural light and comfortable family gathering places. The era of super-sizing may be ending, Butler said, with buyers looking for a home that is "right-sized, organized and economized."
Other consumer housing trends include:
Fewer luxuries. Consumers say they need fewer luxuries in their next home, Butler said. Twenty percent or more of the participants in the survey viewed upgraded landscaping, upgraded finishes such as granite countertops, and luxurious master suites as less important in their next home, she said. High ceilings in main living areas were less important to 35% of those surveyed. There are also fewer fireplaces in new homes: While 62% of new homes completed in 1991 had at least one fireplace in it, 51% had a fireplace in 2007, according to Census statistics.
Green elements. Ninety percent of those who participated in the Better Homes and Gardens survey said they're planning to have energy-efficient heating and cooling systems in their next home and 31% plan to have geo-thermal heat, Butler said. There has also been increased interest in home gardens, with more people wanting to know where their food is grown, said Robin Avni, senior director and consumer strategist for the firm Iconoculture, a cultural trend research firm. "The green theme touches everything in the home, from the food we look to consume, our health concerns in the home, building -- even our furnishings in the home," Avni said.
Getting organized. With smaller spaces, organization systems are continuing their popularity. More entryways are being outfitted for storage, and homeowners often want more functional use of wall space, Butler said. Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed by the magazine said no-space-wasted design and ample storage will take on more importance in their next home.
Practical appliances. Although sales of appliances have been down, freezer sales have been up. The reason: More people are shopping for bargains and freezing what they won't use right away. "Appliance sales have taken a hit ... except the freezer. Which is really all about going back to basics, a very practical kind of living," Avni said. "If you look at your parents and your grandparents, they used to have a freezer -- they used to buy stuff on sale and put it in the freezer and use it for later. It wasn't just run out and buy something that day."
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Greetings from Las Vegas
I am back from the International Builders Show in Las Vegas.
The overall tone of the show was somber, at best. There seemed to be plenty of people walking the aisles of the show itself, but the NAHB folks said the expected attendance was only half of the close to 100,000 who participated last year. The common theme among the seminars offered was what you might expect: We all need to hang in there until things get better.
When will they get better? Nobody seems to know, but the conventional wisdom is later this year. There were plenty of whispers about the other banking shoe having yet to drop this year, with more losses coming down the pike. It seems almost inconcievable that the banking industry still has more pain to inflict on the rest of us, but then again so much of what happened in 2008 seemed so inconceivable, doesn't it.
Somebody once said "best way to predict the future is to make it happen." LIBI embraces that philosophy and will do everything it can to make a better future happen for Long Island builders. Stay tuned for new plans to be announced in the near future.
The overall tone of the show was somber, at best. There seemed to be plenty of people walking the aisles of the show itself, but the NAHB folks said the expected attendance was only half of the close to 100,000 who participated last year. The common theme among the seminars offered was what you might expect: We all need to hang in there until things get better.
When will they get better? Nobody seems to know, but the conventional wisdom is later this year. There were plenty of whispers about the other banking shoe having yet to drop this year, with more losses coming down the pike. It seems almost inconcievable that the banking industry still has more pain to inflict on the rest of us, but then again so much of what happened in 2008 seemed so inconceivable, doesn't it.
Somebody once said "best way to predict the future is to make it happen." LIBI embraces that philosophy and will do everything it can to make a better future happen for Long Island builders. Stay tuned for new plans to be announced in the near future.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Suffolk reveals shovel-ready projects
This is from yesterday's LIBN Report. Click here for the story or read below.
by Michael H. Samuels
Published: January 14th, 2009
Suffolk County has released a list of 19 shovel-ready wastewater and public works projects awaiting federal funding.
The projects listed require $743 million in future planning, construction and repairs, would yield more than 36,000 jobs and boost the local economy by as much as $4.6 billion, according to the county’s public works department.
“It all starts with sewers,” said Suffolk County Legis. Wayne Horsley, chairman of the Wastewater Treatment Task Force. “When you’re talking about growing the economy, smart growth, affordable housing, you can’t do any of that without the proper wastewater infrastructure.
He said more than 70 percent of Suffolk County is still without sewers.
“In a county of 1.5 million people, that’s not a good thing,” Horsley said.
The list includes eight “ready to go” projects and 10 in the pre-planning stage.
The last project is the Bergen Point Outfall Pipe Replacement Project, which needs $150 million in funding and could create up to 7,125 jobs.
The “ready to go” projects are:
The Brookhaven Sewer District
Huntington Sewer District
Northport Village
Patchogue Village/East Patchogue
Port Jefferson Village
Sag Harbor
Smithtown/Kings Park
Wyandanch
The pre-planning projects include:
Bellport
Center Moriches
Lake Ronkonkoma Hub
Mastic/Shirley
Centereach/NY 25 Corridor
Rocky Point
Sayville
Southampton
Yaphank
Horsley said the task force started looking at wastewater projects last year and was asked by Reps. Tim Bishop and Steve Israel to give them a list of those ready for go.
“We didn’t know how bad the economy was going to be, but we knew what the problem was,” Horsley said.
“Now, the issues have come together with real force. Congress is going to be putting together these lists and we’ve let them know that there is nothing more important to Suffolk County than the wastewater treatment issue.”
by Michael H. Samuels
Published: January 14th, 2009
Suffolk County has released a list of 19 shovel-ready wastewater and public works projects awaiting federal funding.
The projects listed require $743 million in future planning, construction and repairs, would yield more than 36,000 jobs and boost the local economy by as much as $4.6 billion, according to the county’s public works department.
“It all starts with sewers,” said Suffolk County Legis. Wayne Horsley, chairman of the Wastewater Treatment Task Force. “When you’re talking about growing the economy, smart growth, affordable housing, you can’t do any of that without the proper wastewater infrastructure.
He said more than 70 percent of Suffolk County is still without sewers.
“In a county of 1.5 million people, that’s not a good thing,” Horsley said.
The list includes eight “ready to go” projects and 10 in the pre-planning stage.
The last project is the Bergen Point Outfall Pipe Replacement Project, which needs $150 million in funding and could create up to 7,125 jobs.
The “ready to go” projects are:
The Brookhaven Sewer District
Huntington Sewer District
Northport Village
Patchogue Village/East Patchogue
Port Jefferson Village
Sag Harbor
Smithtown/Kings Park
Wyandanch
The pre-planning projects include:
Bellport
Center Moriches
Lake Ronkonkoma Hub
Mastic/Shirley
Centereach/NY 25 Corridor
Rocky Point
Sayville
Southampton
Yaphank
Horsley said the task force started looking at wastewater projects last year and was asked by Reps. Tim Bishop and Steve Israel to give them a list of those ready for go.
“We didn’t know how bad the economy was going to be, but we knew what the problem was,” Horsley said.
“Now, the issues have come together with real force. Congress is going to be putting together these lists and we’ve let them know that there is nothing more important to Suffolk County than the wastewater treatment issue.”
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Blogs Going Forward
The NAHB's International Builders Show starts Sunday. LIBI will be out there and report back each day and then maintain a daily blog going forward. There is so much going on and so much at stake that it is incumbent on us here at LIBI to keep everyone apprised of the latest developments.
Be sure to check back Monday morning and every day after that. As always, comments and feedback are welcome.
Be sure to check back Monday morning and every day after that. As always, comments and feedback are welcome.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Happy New Year!
Okay - so we're already a week into January. Woo hoo!
One can only hope and expect 2009 to be better than 2008. LIBI certainly expects this to be the case and is working to make sure it is. Stay tuned to this space for more information regarding what's in store for the year and why your LIBI membership will be more valuable than ever.
One can only hope and expect 2009 to be better than 2008. LIBI certainly expects this to be the case and is working to make sure it is. Stay tuned to this space for more information regarding what's in store for the year and why your LIBI membership will be more valuable than ever.
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