On the House
James & Morris Carey, Special to the Gazette
Thursday, February 26, 2009
At the recent International Builders Show in Las Vegas, more than 60,000 building professionals gathered to view what is new and exciting for today’s housing industry — and the 1,600 exhibitors on hand at this year’s 65th Annual “look-see” once again came through with flying colors.
With attendance noticeably down, due to economic conditions, one might expect the mood to have been somber and subdued. But, surprisingly, this was not the case. Exciting new products, new techniques and energy-saving innovations were on display and being introduced at every turn setting a very upbeat (and encouraging) tone overall.
It is estimated that about 10,000 components go into building a new home — from roofing and windows to lumber and fasteners — and this year, it seems almost all categories received some sort of dramatic innovation, make-sense improvement and/or exciting new introduction.
Going, going, gone (green)
The No. 1 focus at this year’s show was “Going Green.” And it was, in fact, greener than ever, with attention being paid to nearly every aspect of construction and every individual component of the home.
Numerous solar hot water systems and a vast array of photovoltaic collectors were featured and on display — all powered by the free energy of the sun and being further fueled by enticing tax credits and utility company incentives. Simply put, they are now truly a hot item and a serious consideration for all homes — especially those throughout the Sun Belt.
Overall, this year’s Home Builders Show and housing industry focus can be summed up in five simple words: lean, green and not routine.