Modern home builders are more future-focused than ever before in history. Developers and home owners are employing forward-thinking when designing and building new construction homes.
Some innovative technologists are teaming up with home builders in an effort to create living spaces that cater to the 21st century buyer. Some of these “homes for the future” may include:
* “Smart” homes: What if your house could wake you up in the morning? How would you like to live in a home that could sense that you forgot to turn off your oven? Not only that; what if it could turn it off for you?
These are just a few of the features that tomorrow’s “smart” homes might contain. Such features would be run through a centralized computer system.
They will likely offer more than just wake-up calls and stove turn-offs. These homes might also have thermostats that self-adjust according to weather conditions and self-extinguish house fires, among other things.
A team of engineers and designers from London’s Brunnel University are currently at work on a pilot “smart home”. The concept is about more than providing residents with luxury and convenience. The idea is to create a home that fosters independent living, such as for senior citizens.
“Smart homes” may be able to be programmed according to a user’s own individual needs. A senior citizen might be able to live independently in a smart home for much longer than he or she could in today’s average home.
* Universally accessible homes: Fortunately, people with disabilities have a number of options available when it comes to customizing their own homes. However, disabled people sometimes experience a certain level of discomfort when visiting in the homes of other able-bodied people.
The Georgia-based non-profit organization “Concrete Change” is hoping to change this. Its mission is to raise awareness of the issues that surround living with a disability. Sometimes this includes awkwardness when visiting in someone else’s home.
It may mean that a disabled person must be carried inside or assisted when using the washroom. These things erode the dignity of disabled people. “Concrete Change” hopes to encourage builders and home owners to consider new construction house plans that are universally-inclusive and disability-friendly.
Entire cities are heeding this message. A handful of US towns have drafted or are in the process of drafting legislation that promotes “visitability”. This may include tax breaks and other incentives to home owners and developers who build accessible homes even if none of the intended residents are disabled.
* Self-regulating components: More and more home products and components are being designed to be self-regulating. One such component is the “smart skylight”.
Most home skylights are glass panels in the ceiling and nothing more. A majority cannot even be opened. Smart skylights were created to do more than simply allow more natural light to enter a home.
Smart skylights are equipped with weather sensors. They can be programmed to open when the temperature inside or outside the home exceeds a certain level. They even sense when it rains and close themselves.
These and other products like self-regulating heat cables save money and increase a home’s energy efficiency. They even protect homes from fire and weather-related damage.
* Environmentally-conscious “green” power: If you worry about all the electricity that your “smart” home might be consuming, you can rest easy. Many of today’s new construction homes are being planned with solar power right from the design stage.
Technologies like photovoltaic (PV) roof integrated solar electric power systems allow modern design and “green” power to go hand in hand. These systems are integrated into a home’s roof.
Not only do they supply cheap, efficient and renewable power, they look beautiful too. It’s conceivable that one day solar power will become the standard in new construction homes.
Forward-thinking developers, like Scot Sandstrom of New Pointe Communities in San Diego, CA and others, are pushing the industry toward the future. They hope to encourage private owners as well as policy makers to make environmentally conscious building choices more accessible.
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