From housing shortages to energy infrastructure, this week's headlines reveal why affordability is about building more homes and addressing the systems that support them.
We begin with some exciting news of our own. Green Builder Media officially launched VISION House Asheville, a new demonstration project in partnership with Alair Homes and Alair Asheville | Red Tree. Built in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the project will explore what resilient, healthy, climate-ready housing can look like in a rapidly changing world.
That focus on housing solutions is echoed in Vancouver, where the Squamish Nation is advancing one of North America's most ambitious residential developments. Sen̓áḵw will eventually bring approximately 6,000 homes to just 10 acres of land. The project's scale is remarkable, but the bigger story may be what it reveals about land use, approvals, and the barriers that often prevent communities from building enough housing in the first place.
The infrastructure story extended well beyond housing. One of the largest clean-energy projects in the country officially came online this week as the $11 billion SunZia transmission project began delivering renewable power across the Southwest. The project highlights a challenge that will define the next decade: generating clean electricity is only part of the equation. Moving it where people need it may be just as important.
And increasingly, infrastructure means more than roads, pipes, and power lines.
Consumer expectations are evolving inside the home as well. New COGNITION Smart Data reveals a surprising disconnect between what homeowners say they want in a bathroom and what they actually purchase. The findings suggest that comfort consistently beats luxury when renovation budgets become real-world decisions, creating new opportunities for builders and designers who understand the difference.
Cati O’Keefe is the editorial director of Green Builder Media. She has 25 years of experience reporting and writing on all aspects of residential housing, building and energy codes, green building, and sustainability.
4M Homes Missing, 6K Homes on 10 Acres, and an $11B Power Line
From housing shortages to energy infrastructure, this week's headlines reveal why affordability is about building more homes and addressing the systems that support them.
America is short roughly four million homes. At the same time, the median home price has crossed $400,000 for the first time, starter homes are reaching seven figures in hundreds of cities, and policymakers are increasingly willing to rethink long-standing rules in pursuit of affordability. But if this week's news proved anything, it's that building more homes is only part of the equation.
We begin with some exciting news of our own. Green Builder Media officially launched VISION House Asheville, a new demonstration project in partnership with Alair Homes and Alair Asheville | Red Tree. Built in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the project will explore what resilient, healthy, climate-ready housing can look like in a rapidly changing world.
That focus on housing solutions is echoed in Vancouver, where the Squamish Nation is advancing one of North America's most ambitious residential developments. Sen̓áḵw will eventually bring approximately 6,000 homes to just 10 acres of land. The project's scale is remarkable, but the bigger story may be what it reveals about land use, approvals, and the barriers that often prevent communities from building enough housing in the first place.
The affordability conversation surfaced elsewhere as well. New state rankings suggest the places making the greatest progress on housing affordability are often the places building the most housing. Meanwhile, New York continues adding apartments at a rapid pace while still struggling to overcome decades of underbuilding.The broader market remains under pressure, with home prices reaching new records even as buyers pull back.
As states search for solutions, some are looking directly at building codes, including single-stair egress in multifamily. Colorado, Texas, Idaho, and others are revisiting long-standing requirements in hopes of reducing costs and encouraging more housing development. Supporters see an opportunity to unlock supply. Critics see potential safety tradeoffs. The debate raises one of the most important questions facing housing today: Where should affordability end and safety begin?
The infrastructure story extended well beyond housing. One of the largest clean-energy projects in the country officially came online this week as the $11 billion SunZia transmission project began delivering renewable power across the Southwest. The project highlights a challenge that will define the next decade: generating clean electricity is only part of the equation. Moving it where people need it may be just as important.
And increasingly, infrastructure means more than roads, pipes, and power lines.
New multifamily research suggests renters now view internet connectivity much the same way previous generations viewed electricity or water. High-speed internet, seamless move-in experiences, and connected building technologies are quickly becoming baseline expectations rather than premium amenities.
Consumer expectations are evolving inside the home as well. New COGNITION Smart Data reveals a surprising disconnect between what homeowners say they want in a bathroom and what they actually purchase. The findings suggest that comfort consistently beats luxury when renovation budgets become real-world decisions, creating new opportunities for builders and designers who understand the difference.
Finally, some encouraging news for advocates of high-performance housing. New research suggests buyers may place more value on energy-efficient homes than the real estate industry has traditionally recognized.
Features like solar and heat pumps appear to command measurable premiums—but only when they're properly communicated to buyers.
Don’t forget to check out our events calendar below and access the recorded Day 1 and Day 2 sessions from our recent Sustainability Symposium. Watch the full news podcast here, and download the complete script for all links, sources, and additional coverage here.
July 15–16: The Flooring Sustainability Summit, Arlington, Va
July 22–23: Sunbelt Builders Show, San Antonio
July 23–24 Industrialized Housing Summit, Austin
July 29–August 1: AIBD Annual Conference, Cleveland
September 9–10: Building Fire Safety Symposium, Chicago
September 15-16: U.S. Heat Pump Summit, Worcester, Mass.
September 16–18: EEBA Summit 2026, St. Paul, Minn.
October 18–21: International Code Council’s 2026 Annual Conference and Expo, Nashville, Tenn.
October 20–23: Greenbuild 2026, New York
November 4–5: The Building Products Customer Workshop, Nashville
By Cati O'Keefe
Cati O’Keefe is the editorial director of Green Builder Media. She has 25 years of experience reporting and writing on all aspects of residential housing, building and energy codes, green building, and sustainability.Also Read