Let’s reimagine housing and what type of engineering, finance, design, and distribution will create the future of the business of creating housing. And, not just more profitable housing, but housing that is comfortable and healthy.
Maura McCarthy, co-founder and vice president of market development at Blu Homes, did just that at the HIVE conference in December. She presented historical examples that have built the current foundation of housing and offered the following challenges to change the paradigms. McCarthy asked how housing can:
- Invent a better product that changes the language.
- Create a dramatically different customer experience.
- Drive revolutionary versus evolutionary change.
Her presentation at HIVE can be viewed here.
After her presentation, she invited an expert panel with Steve Glenn, the CEO of Plant Prefab and founder, managing director, Living Homes; Mark LaLiberte, principal partner at Construction Instruction; Zephan McMinn, CEO at Blu Homes; and Pat Hammil, CEO of Oakwood Homes, to engage in discussion on the topic, which can be viewed here.
The panel members discuss various aspects of the costs that go into housing, from permitting to design. A new process would expedite processes and may decrease fees from municipalities in order to create a stronger building environment.
“I am totally for being regulated, and having to build beautiful, high-quality, safe, and compliant homes, but I think the old way of doing permitting does not make sense any more,” says McCarthy. “I would be for allowing third-party institutions, like PFS and RADCO, that are state-approved to do the work of checking the permit building sets for code compliance.”
And what about technology? McCarthy admits that it is difficult to offer the latest technologies and smart home advances.
“Our solution at Blu is to let the great innovators in this space—Nest, EERO, Sonos, and the many other home controls companies—continue to do what they do best, and just make sure that Blu Homes can ‘accept’ these technologies easily,” she says. “The one exception to this reactive approach is solar. We are working hard to always preplan for solar, and ultimately would like to make it such that we are building 100% net zero homes.”
McCarthy doesn't view a smart home as a differentiator anymore, noting that "most smart home technology to me is an add-on that is provided by a third-party company. If ‘smart’ is to mean super green, comfortable, and energy efficient, then I do think it’s a differentiator. And my simplified view of this would be 100% net zero.”
And, although she points out all these benefits, the most important for Blu Homes is the sustainability.
McCarthy admits many reasons for embracing prefab solutions, pointing out that it takes half the time, costs about one-quarter less at the same value, and is more sustainable, with HERS tests ranging at 60 or lower and about 30% the waste of conventional construction. The HERS ratings are achieved with rigid foam insulation, low water fixtures, and integrated solar options.
The discussion will continue at HIVE this year. Save the date—Nov. 28 and 29—and stay tuned for more details.
This story appears as it was originally published on our sister site, www.hiveforhousing.com.