Sensors can be placed in doors, windows and at mailboxes. A small camera in the barn could let you watch a mare foal. Keys, he said, may become a thing of the past as more and more homeowners are putting keypad locks on homes. Hogue also that more and more components going into our homes that will be pre-built in the factory. He is taking a step toward this in his business with a contract with Whelan's for various home components.
New windows help control heat and cold along the house's south side by use of passive solar energy.
Whelan's used to build home components and wall panels, but its factory was destroyed by a fire and wasn't rebuilt. Whelan sees better space usage in homes with more emphasis on creating a sense of space even when space may be limited. Vertical or cathedral ceilings and taller walls also add to that sense of space in a smaller room. Tall windows in the foyer, right, creates the aspect of larger rooms. The studs are at 8 inches, so R30 insulation can be placed in the walls of the home.