The Expert Podcast

Okay, builders and contractors, what have you been doing to adapt your building style to the demands of the market or even regulatory demands that have to do with climate change? Greener homes — is this a thing? Are you finding the regulations or the permits and zoning are requiring more building processes and building features that have to do with the environment or more resilience to climate risk, like hurricanes or floods? Is the demand coming from the client, the builders, the contractor, the developer, or the customer?

Or is it coming from the government? Are you finding, as a builder, it's worth putting this extra investment into the house because you're going to get money back for it? Are you being requested to add these features on remodels or additions? What are we talking about? Well, it says demand grows for energy-efficient homes, we'll talk about that, hurricane-resistant as storms become stronger. Well, hurricane-resistant makes sense, but hurricanes are really only in about 12 states, right? So that's going to be a narrow market.

But the bigger question is, for the rest of the country, is this climate factor something that's being widespread on home construction, remodels, or additions? Obviously, many years ago, there were requirements to have certain R-value insulation put into houses — that makes sense. Certain vapor barriers — that makes sense. Certain types of leak testing for air infiltration — that makes sense. But now we're talking about more hardened, energy-efficient homes. Is this next level up of energy efficiency or climate defense something you're seeing in your side of the business as builders and contractors?

And if so, is it coming from the demand side of the customer or is it coming from the regulatory side from the government? I know you have opinions about this. Let us know in the comments what you think about this developing trend in home construction.