Archive for January, 2010

Developers downsizing to meet demand

I have always believed that sometimes (maybe even most of the time), more is not better.  In fact in the case of H-O-U-S-E (houses of unususal size era) as I affectionately call it, bigger may have just meant well more maintenance, energy costs, stuff to clean, space that needed more stuff to fill it.  You get my point, McMansions can be a drag and apparantly our  over consuming, over spending culture is starting to see the light.

To that end, RIS media has published an article with national survey data on the Top 10 Must-Have Features in Today’s New Homes .

Highlights for me are the addition of more outdoor space, use of energy efficient appliances, and the sacrifice of some of the formal spaces for more functional spaces such as a study or office.  I don’t neccessarily get the large walk in shower with seating space but it’s refreshing to see the American appetite shifting from simply big and showy to quality lay outs and more access to the outdoors.  Do take a moment and peruse if you are at all looking to do an addition or purchase new construction as having an understanding of where consumer demand is trending could help from a resale standpoint. 

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Check Water Quality by Zip Code

I am always on the prowl for obscure bits of information about neighborhoods that I think are important from an environmental and/or health stand point. The Environmental Working group has a National Drinking Water Database on their website that allows anyone to search by zip code the condition of the water from the servicing utility.

Even with the popularity of bottled water (I’m not a fan but that’s another day), most of us consume quite a bit of water in our homes via cooking, icemakers, coffee, etc.. It’s seems prudent that we take something like water quality as seriously as say school zone or proximity to shopping.

Thoughts? Metro Water in Nashville, seemed to fair ok but it appears they aren’t giving out a whole lot of updated info.

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