Newsletter Stories

• USGBC heads to COP31 with focus on efficiency, electrification and zero waste
  The U.S. Green Building Council and Green Business Certification Inc. will attend COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, from Nov. 9 through 18, aiming to partner with governments and businesses to scale climate solutions through efficiency, electrification and zero waste. USGBC says it will engage the global green building community to scale climate action and contribute to […]
• New NAHB research reveals which stages of home construction take the longest
  Building the average single-family detached home takes 25.3 weeks, or about 5.8 months, according to the National Association of Home Builders. The figure comes from the October 2026 NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index survey, which asked builders how long each of seven major construction stages takes. It covers the steps a builder typically takes after […]
• AIA updates how architecture billings track construction spending
  The American Institute of Architects has published a white paper, “Clarifying the Construction Outlook by Integrating Architecture Billings with Broader Economic Indicators,” examining the performance of the AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index. Amid economic uncertainty, the paper looks at how architecture firms and the broader architecture, engineering and construction industry use the index and related indicators […]
• New appraisal reporting system aims to capture energy-efficient home features
  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac introduced a new appraisal reporting standard on Nov. 2 that the National Association of Home Builders says advances its long-running effort to make appraisals reflect new construction more fully. NAHB calls the Uniform Appraisal Dataset 3.6 one of the biggest changes to residential appraisal reporting in more than a decade, […]
• One-third of new U.S. single-family homes receive HERS ratings
  About one-third of new single-family homes built in the U.S. in 2025 were rated for energy efficiency, according to the Residential Energy Services Network’s 2026 Trends in HERS Rated Homes Report. RESNET says 34% of those homes received a score on its HERS Index, which works like a miles-per-gallon rating for houses: the lower the […]
• Kitchen design shifts toward defined spaces and greater functionality
  Fully open floor plans are losing ground to kitchens with defined zones, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s 2027 Kitchen Trends Report. The survey of 830 designers, manufacturers, remodelers, architects and other industry professionals in the U.S. and Canada identifies ten top kitchen design trends, including emerging, enduring and fading styles. It also […]
• Architecture firms generate $121.7 billion as AI adoption accelerates
  U.S. architecture is a $121.7 billion business. That’s how much firms generated in gross billings in 2025, according to “The Business of Architecture 2026,” a new report from the American Institute of Architects. New construction accounted for 54% of firm revenue, and the findings draw on data from nearly 900 firms. Artificial intelligence has become […]
• Phius awards spotlight the next generation of passive homes
  The 2026 Phius Passive Projects Design Competition is highlighting advancements in high-performance residential construction, recognizing projects that demonstrate energy efficiency, sustainability and climate resilience. This year’s honorees include the New Hope Passive House in Pennsylvania, a source-zero energy home in Michigan and a residence designed for a wildfire-prone region in Santa Rosa, California. The projects […]
• NKBA sees wellness and resilience reshaping kitchen design
  Wellness, sustainability and resilience are emerging as key priorities in residential kitchen design, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s (NKBA) 2027 Kitchen Trends Report. The findings point to growing interest in features that support healthier indoor environments, improved safety and greater household efficiency. Ventilation systems, water filtration, leak detection, automatic shutoff valves, backup […]
• Toll Brothers opens new luxury model in Alpharetta
  Toll Brothers is adding another point of visibility in metro Atlanta with a new model home at Kennemore in Alpharetta. The community targets the upper end of the market with estate-sized homesites and luxury residences beginning at approximately $1.15 million. For the builder, the model opening is part of a broader effort to keep its […]