Tag Archives: alternative energy

2024 Trends for New Homes: Embracing Sustainability, Technology, and Nature

In today’s ever-evolving world of home design, staying up-to-date with the latest trends is essential for homeowners looking to create a modern and functional living space. As we embark on the new year, we expect several exciting trends to shape how many homes are designed and constructed in 2024. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the key trends that we believe will dominate the new home market this year, focusing on sustainability, emerging technology, natural materials, and the importance of building your dream home with a dedicated team of professionals. If you plan to build a new home or residential space this year, here are a few implements you may want to consider with your upcoming design as it relates to the future of our industry.

Sustainability and Energy Efficiency: Powering Your Home with the Sun

Sustainability and energy efficiency have become paramount considerations in contemporary home design, with homeowners increasingly looking to reduce their carbon footprint and lower their energy bills. In 2024, solar panels are gaining immense popularity as an eco-friendly energy source, allowing homeowners to utilize direct sunlight to meet their electricity needs. With solar panel installations, you can reduce your home’s environmental impact while saving hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, in energy costs every year. 

Additionally, adding electric car charging stations to home garages is becoming a standard feature, catering to a growing number of electric vehicle owners in the country. With an electric car charging station in your home, you’ll have the convenience of charging your vehicle overnight, ensuring it’s always ready to hit the road while contributing to a cleaner environment.

Prefabrication: Crafting Your Home with Precision and Efficiency

A significant trend in 2024 is the use of prefabrication in home construction. Prefabricated homes offer numerous advantages, including reduced construction time, minimized waste, and improved construction quality. By partnering with a dedicated team of professionals, you can customize your prefabricated home to meet your unique needs and preferences. The precision and efficiency of prefabrication ensure that your dream home is built with the utmost care and attention to detail and that you benefit from significant time and money savings during construction. 

Incorporation of Natural Elements: Building a Home That Connects with Nature

A return to nature is evident in the design of modern homes, with the incorporation of natural elements taking center stage. A naturally warm and inviting material, wood is used extensively in flooring, furniture, and architectural details, creating a cozy and organic atmosphere. When building your home, working closely with a team allows you to select the perfect wood finishes that align with your vision.

Stone accents in interior and exterior design also add a touch of rustic elegance, while indoor greenery and living walls bring the outdoors inside, fostering a deeper connection with nature. Collaborating with your design team to select the perfect natural materials for your space ensures that your home reflects your personality and appreciation for the outside world.

Smart Technology: Building a Home of the Future

The smart technology revolution will continue to reshape homes in 2024, with more homeowners embracing the convenience and efficiency of integrated smart devices and systems. From automated lighting and security systems to thermostats that adapt to your preferences, these technologies enhance daily life and even contribute to energy savings. When working with your team of builders and tech experts, you can customize your home’s technological features to suit your lifestyle, making your home truly “smart” in every aspect. 

Handcrafted Furniture/Accents: Infusing Your Home with Personality

Handcrafted furniture and accents introduce a more personal and unique touch into homes. Artisanal pieces are making a comeback, giving homeowners the opportunity to infuse their spaces with character and individuality. Supporting local artisans and businesses that offer handcrafted home items doesn’t just add charm to your home but supports the craftsmanship of talented individuals. Your team of designers can help you select and integrate these unique pieces seamlessly into your home’s design.

Building Your Dream Home: A Collaborative Journey

Building your dream home is a collaborative journey that involves working closely with a dedicated team of design and construction experts. This team will help you bring your vision to life, ensuring that your new home incorporates the latest trends while embodying your core values and tastes. 

Whether you’re planning for new home construction or considering a renovation project, these trends for 2024 will hopefully inspire you to create a living space that aligns with your personality and adapts to our ever-evolving world. Building your dream home with a trusted team ensures priority is given to your unique vision, resulting in a home that truly feels like you from top to bottom. 

Ready to get started on your 2024 project? See what makes our team the right choice for your project by requesting a digital catalog here or calling us at (888) 975-2057. 

Planning for Solar Panels on Your Barn Home Kit

solar panels

Solar is the fastest growing alternative energy source in the world—a trend most would have dismissed as a fluke 48 years ago. That’s because photovoltaic systems back in 1970 were wildly expensive, costing around $70 per kilowatt an hour. Today, you pay significantly less at just 12 cents an hour per kilowatt. The overall price for kilowatt hours has dropped more than 10 percent since 1980. If these trends continue, analysts believe solar will inevitably contribute 20 percent to total energy consumption in the United States by 2030.

It’s easy to see why solar is one of the best disruptive technologies out there, and why an increasing number of homeowners are opting to make the switch. While we ourselves do not manufacture solar panels, we can definitely help you get set up with some when you go through the process of designing a barn home kit with us.

Here are some things you should consider before retrofitting your barn house building kit.

Infrastructure

Sixty percent of households don’t have sufficient roofing infrastructure to support solar panels.

One standard 60-cell residential solar panel can weigh between 40–50 lbs. Powering a house efficiently will require the majority of your roof’s surface area, in order to properly aggregate enough power to the inverter and into your battery bank.

A good night’s rest comes courtesy of our homegrown Pacific Northwest timber. This wooden material is handcrafted onsite and cured using a process that denotes longevity. If you don’t mind sacrificing a little open space in the vaulted ceilings, the installation of extra support beams can reinforce the weight of the panels. We also recommend tweaking the roof pitch for maximum sun exposure. Check out our Flex Design option to learn more about how to further customize your kit!

How Much Does Solar Cost?

The average gross residential cost for solar panels before factoring in tax credit reductions can hover between $16,800 and $30,000. Sleek solar products like Elon Musk’s powerwall and solar roof can cost $12,000 to $15,000 for a 2,000 sq. ft. home. The powerwall, a highly efficient and discreet battery system, will add another $3,000 to $6,000 depending on your needs. However, sticking with conventional solar panels is still the better option at this point in time.

Simplicity is a universal philosophy amongst our rustic designers. For a 3,000 sq. ft. home with a $200 monthly power bill, a conventional 8.5 kW system would only cost $26,000 to install. At this scale, Tesla’s photovoltaic cells would only be able to produce 6.25 kW at a $60,000 price point, giving you less for more.

Tax Credit Reductions

Federal tax credits for solar last year saved the average individual $5,000. A tax credit is a dollar for dollar reduction of the price you pay for installation. 30 percent is the current reduction rate. Eventually, this rate will drop to 26 percent in 2020. A trend which will continue to fall unless Congress chooses to renew the program’s reduction policy. With only one year left, applying for these reductions before installation would be the most prudent move you could make.

What is Net Metering?

Net metering protects the energy you generate onsite from being abused by utility companies. If a utility company overuses the power you contribute to the grid, then you’re entitled to reparations. Running your meter backwards will result in credit that can be used on your next electrical payment. Each state is different depending on where you are. Be sure you do some research before turning your kit into a self sufficient off-grid mecca.

Ready to take the first step toward designing your dream home today? Request a free quote to get started!