Internet-connected energy management solutions such as smart electrical panels and thermostats are part of a growing category of building products aimed at optimizing home energy efficiency. As the number of tech-savvy, sustainability-conscious home buyers grows, builders are seeing a rise in demand for these solutions. The increased frequency of severe weather events is also contributing to a growing interest in features that make a home more resilient.

In this BUILDER Session, BUILDER associate editor Symone Strong discusses different types of energy management solutions, along with insights into what buyers are willing to pay for, with Dennis Webb, vice president of operations for Fulton Homes, and JD Gill, home builder national account manager for Schneider Electric.

“Homeowners are reading online and listening to podcasts and hearing about all of these technologies—whether it’s with water, electricity, HVAC—in the residential space,” Gill says. “They want a home that’s geared toward that or they’re looking for those features in their home.” A recent Schneider Electric survey of nearly 400 home buyers confirms that interest, with the latest technology ranking high—especially in the West—among desired home features.

Price remains a factor, Webb notes. “As [technology] gets more readily available and easier to come by, I think the price will go down and it will be affordable,” he says. “I think we have to say, ‘OK, this is going to be a four-year payback or a six-year or a two-year … and be honest and tell them, ‘This will save you money, but it’s going to take a little while.’”

The discussion also covers how extreme weather events are playing into buyers’ decisions, too. “Folks without power is becoming a more and more common thing … and resilience is the next level of what the homeowner is thinking about,” Gill notes. “‘How can I outlast this power outage and be more resilient and provide electricity needed for my family?’” is becoming a more common question, he says.

Dennis Webb is the vice president of operations for Fulton Homes in Tempe, Arizona, where he oversees sales, marketing, operations, and the Fulton Homes Design Center. In his 28 years at Fulton, he has led the charge of using technology, combined with past retail experience, to help transform the company into one of the most advanced home builders in the country in the areas of customer experience, operations, and marketing. Webb has also led Fulton Homes to become one of the highest profile builders of energy-efficient and healthy homes in the country, with Fulton becoming the first builder in the country to build all of its homes to Energy Star version 3.0. Before joining Fulton Homes, Webb was VP of Stores for Eagleson’s, a men’s clothing retailer owned by Ira Fulton, who sold the business to concentrate on home building. Before Eagleson’s, he had a 20-year retail career with Hart, Schaffner and Marx. He graduated from Chapman University in Orange, California.

JD Gill, an engineering professional with a lifelong passion for electricity, is the home builder national account manager for Schneider Electric. With a B.S. in electrical engineering from Cal Poly and an MBA from the Fox School of Business, he has held diverse roles in the electrical distribution and power systems industry. In his current role, Gill is dedicated to driving the adoption of smart and connected residential power products in the new home landscape and integrating innovative solutions for resilient, sustainable, and energy-efficient homes.

This BUILDER Session is underwritten by Schneider Electric.