October 2, 2009
  Even With General Housing Downsizing, Energy Efficiency Options Remain Popular
With pressure on home sizes and prices, households are scaling back on special features in their homes. Special-function rooms like home theaters, exercise rooms, and guest wings are declining in popularity, as are upscale home features like three-car garages. However, households continue to add options for energy efficiency and management, other sustainability features, and low-maintenance products.

kiplinger connection
The Economy • Energy Prices • Green Regs
The Economy: With recovery slow, don’t expect hot commercial construction again till 2015.
Energy Prices: Even with abundant U.S. supply, natural gas prices will rise through 2011.
Green Regs: Coal ash—soon to be classified as a hazardous material—is no longer green.

 

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Welcome to the Business Zone
This is the place for our monthly Work-on-the-Boards survey report, quarterly Housing Trends survey report, and biannual Consensus Forecast, all by AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. You’ll also find tips for managing the business side of your practice, as well as the weekly Kiplinger Connection.