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AIA Report: Energy Efficiency Rising Trend in Residential Sector

Consumers are “increasingly aware” of available products and desire more Earth-friendly options.

Meaghan O'Neill -- Interior Design, 9/18/2006 12:00:00 AM

A recent survey by the American Institute of Architects has found that rising gasoline prices and more flexible telecommuting opportunities have led to home offices being the most popular specialty room for the second year in a row. There was also a slight increase in the request for energy-efficient, water-saving, and indoor air-quality products, according to the Home Design Trends Survey, a reaction to escalating home energy costs. The survey is conducted quarterly with a panel of 500 architecture firms with concentrations in the residential sector.

"Our data indicate that consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the energy efficient options that are available in the marketplace, and they are requesting that architects incorporate them into the design and remodeling of their homes," says Kermit Baker, Ph.D. and chief economist for the AIA. In fact, 54 percent of survey respondents indicated that demand for energy management systems has increased over last year, 16 points higher than in 2005. Additionally, another recent AIA poll revealed that 90 percent of registered voters said they would be willing to pay $5,000 more for a house that would use less energy and help protect the Earth.

Other trends found in the Home Design Trends Survey include a three percent increase in fitness rooms and a 5 percent decrease in hobby and game rooms. Media and home theater rooms remain the second most popular specialty rooms in residential architecture. The downward trend in upscale entryways continued.

Furthermore, while billings at residential architecture firms are representative of the overall slowdown in the housing sector, architecture firms are reporting steady backlogs contract work, with a strong demand for remodeling and renovation projects (additions and alterations and kitchen and bath remodeling lead the trend), despite new construction being significantly weaker than a year ago.

The AIA also monitors business conditions on a quarterly basis. Future surveys will focus on community design trends (December 2006), and kitchen and bath trends (February 2007).