Now that we’re at the end of another year, not to mention the end of the decade, I like to take a minute to look back and reflect. Over the past 10 years, we’ve seen some big changes and shifts in the industry, some great – and some not so great.
I’m an old dog in this industry, but I love the new tricks that my connected home has taught me. Through an app on my phone, I can monitor everything in my house, from my lights to my locks to my energy and water usage.My son describes it like a video game. You see your own water consumption in real time, and then compete with yourself to use less of it the next month. Anything that leads to lower energy bills and less reliance on our natural resources is a good thing in my books.
This means we need to build according to the conditions of the area. If you know you’re building in a flood zone, take every precaution against water and wind. Reinforce the walls and roof. Install windows that can tolerate a lot of impact, because when a hurricane hits, your house is going to feel it.