Six Green Building Trends to Watch

By archives on Jan. 2, 2011 | Topics: Lists, News | 6 Comments

An excellent report by New York-based JWT Intelligence — 100 Things to Watch in 2011 — is bouncing around the internet right now. The authors seem to have a pulse on key aspects of the internet, including mobile, advertising, media, and technology trends. But I noticed at least six things to watch that relate directly to building greener homes. Here’s what JWT says to watch in 2010:

1. 3D Printing – 3D printers will become “mainstream.“ With software like Google SketchUp and 3D printers, expect to be able to build lamps, furniture, and even houses.

7. Bamboo – as the “sustainable building material of the future,” bamboo will be everywhere.

11. Biomimicry – architects and designers will continue to take inspiration from nature to create better materials and buildings.

19. Coming Clean with Green – new FTC guidelines will require more transparent, accurate green claims.

42. Home Energy Monitors – easy-to-use monitors and home-chargeable vehicles will create more interest in home energy management.

86. Stricter Green Building Standards – some will move beyond LEED to more stringent standards like the Living Building Challenge or Passive House.

What green building trends do you anticipate in 2011?

Credit: JWT Intelligence.

About archives: This article was contributed by the founder of Jetson Green. With the arrival of new ownership in December 2012, Preston left Jetson Green to pursue other business opportunities. If you have questions or need assistance, contact tips@jetsongreen.com.

gerrr!

Out of coincidence I posted a comment on CNET last week, that I thought 3D printers and the whole DIY production and sale of goods — whether Etsy, CafePress, Ponoko, Shapeways, MakerBot or RepRap — was a huge, disruptive force for 2010.

But perhaps I was ahead of the curve in the timing; instead, I suppose most people are just learning about these things. Still, having MakerBot 3D printers available for under $1000 was an enormous milestone, and you can just see how the whole DIY and localized production of goods is about to take off, taking a chunk of the import market with it.

Or at least that’s what I hope will happen.
- Justin L
  
  I’m liking your line of thought about stripping away the need for imports. It goes hand-in-hand with the local foods movement, and the ‘support your local everything’ mentality.
- http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4477384267_7a60ed1b45.jpg Peter
  
  “Etsy, CafePress, Ponoko, Shapeways, MakerBot or RepRap — was a huge, disruptive force for 2010.’
  
  While significant, it’s hard to see how this huge or disruptive. The type of goods sold or created through these outlets are not mainstream, high volume products so they already have a limited market. The one aspect they will influence in the mainstream, high volume area is for the inventor/developer to more easily create prototypes.
  - gerrr!
    
    I think anytime something is produced JIT, it has the potential to make huge inroads. And a 3D printer makes obsolete objects not so obsolete.
    
    http://www.dipity.com/TeamTeamUSA/2010-The-Year-In-DIY-3D-Printing/
http://twitter.com/ProudGreenHome Proud Green Home

Home energy monitors.smart homes are coming on in a big way — Verizon just announced their new service: http://bit.ly/fGPdP5
LG announced a new line of smart appliances this week too. Wonder if someday I’ll have to say “Open the oven door, Hal.”
http://thesociocapitalist.com Luke Miller Callahan

3D Printing! Yes! This could and should drastically change our industrialized models of producing…junk. Quality over Quantity!

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