Smart Features to Make Homes Greener and More Affordable
When designing, building and remodeling homes, customers could benefit from advanced technology that is also cost effective. Smart home features such as smart thermostats, smart lighting and smart appliances increase the comfort of the home, while also reducing energy use. Additionally, indoor air quality (IAQ) monitors enhance the health, wellness and safety inside the home.
Have you considered incorporating this technology to help you improve the sales potential of a house or multifamily unit?
Smart thermostats learn the schedule of the occupant to determine when they’re home and calibrate the temperature to improve comfort — and the home owner save on energy costs.
Marla Esser Cloos, principal of Green Home Coach and chair of NAHB’s Healthier Homes and Communities Subcommittee, explains that smart thermostats can help overcome issues with user error in programming thermostats:
“For smart thermostats, one of the key training issues in Chapter 10 of the National Green Building Standard owner and resident training and documentation is programming thermostats,” she said. “Having a smart thermostat helps overcome this hurdle. Since HVAC and related energy use is controlled by the thermostat, having a thermostat that works with users easily is a first, and key, step in managing occupant comfort and energy use.”
IAQ monitors can detect radon, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and humidity in the home. There are solutions to improve the health, wellness and safety of the home if the levels are too high. The EPA has resources about radon to help understand and mitigate potential risk. The risk of radon is often highest for houses that have a basement.
Including smart features in a home takes advantage of the technology, which is widely available, and is often controlled by the smart phone of the home owner or renter. In this digital age, it's a smart choice for both your customer and their home.
Latest from NAHBNow
Apr 21, 2025
Remodelers: Tell Us How Rising Costs Are Impacting Your Bottom LineNAHB’s Economics team is in the process of measuring the impact of increased costs on remodelers’ profitability. And we need your help.
Apr 18, 2025
How Today’s Young Remodelers Are Planning for the FutureIn the March/April 2025 issue of Pro Remodeler, the 14th annual Forty Under 40 awards were published. This list celebrates rising stars in remodeling and home improvement, and three NAHB members were recognized. These individuals show a commitment to innovation, leadership and problem solving, showing up-and-comers are ready to grow and improve the industry.
Latest Economic News
Apr 21, 2025
Who Influences the Purchasing of Building Products?In a previous post, NAHB analyzed where builders and remodelers purchased products, regardless of who ultimately purchases them (themselves or subcontractors). In this post, the question shifts to who is most often responsible for the choice of particular products.
Apr 18, 2025
State-Level Employment Situation: March 2025Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 37 states and the District of Columbia in March compared to the previous month, while it decreased in 12 states. Wyoming reported no change during this time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nationwide total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 228,000 in March following a gain of 117,000 jobs in February.
Apr 17, 2025
Housing Starts Decline Amid Economic UncertaintyConstrained housing affordability conditions due to elevated interest rates, rising construction costs and labor shortages led to a reduction in housing production in March.