DECEMBER 2020 VOLUME 25 • ISSUE 8
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Innovative, Sustainable Housing Ideas Evolve Buying a home is a hallmark of achieving the American dream. And to some that dream looks like a two-bedroom, two-bath suburban home with a yard and, yes, a white picket fence. But if we’ve learned anything in recent years, it’s that the American Dream means different things to different people. Not everyone wants the cookie-cutter house in the ‘burbs. And the market has been very willing to accommodate a variety of housing needs. Innova-
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Fowler compared housing innovations to the electric car. While the technology has been around for a long time, electric autos only really started to gain traction over the past few years, partly because they’re only just becoming more affordable and more accessible to middle class Americans. “It’s the same with housing,” he says. Right now we’re at the point where a small demographic is interested in alternative style homes. That said, innovation is important for the future of the housing market. “It’s all part of research and development of where our housing goes,”
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says Fowler.
tions in homebuilding can be seen in home designs, in building processes and in ways to reduce costs. While it’s always exciting to see innovation in any market — whether it’s technology, transportation, or homebuilding — it takes time for new ideas to evolve from the brainstorming session to widespread accessibility. We’ve found that’s especially true in Central Texas. Joe Fowler, in his final days as president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin (HBA), tells us that it’s the mission of the HBA to promote all kinds of housing and housing options. Regarding innovations in homebuilding and home ownership, he says, “alternative style housing options is something we want to see. And we want to see more of it.” But, Fowler adds, “it doesn’t mean they’ll become mainstream anytime soon.”
During the last 10 to 15 years, building science has become popular in homebuilding. Overall, the way houses are built hasn’t changed that much, but the types of things that go into new houses to make them energy efficient and to make the environment healthier encourages the industry to look at homebuilding with a new outlook. And then there’s the law of diminishing returns, says Fowler. “We can only spend so much on homebuilding innovations because if it costs too much, it defeats the purpose.” If homebuyers are asked to continually pay more than they’ll eventually save, they won’t want to spend their hard-earned money.
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Tiny homes are an example of successful home building innovations around the country. The 250 to 400-square-foot dwellings became popular after the Great Recession, says Fowler. “Around 2008 to 2010, when the world stopped spinning economically, you had people looking for different ways to live. The conversation went toward seeking smaller and more efficient houses and simpler living styles.” Two tiny home communities in Travis County are Village Farm in East Austin and Village Tiny Homes, located in Mustang Ridge, about 24 miles [Innovations continues on page 16]
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