This Week's Sustainable Building News covers major policy decisions, smarter manufactured homes, changing buyer expectations, and why energy performance is becoming impossible to ignore.
The fate of one of America's biggest housing reform packages is now in President Trump's hands. The bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is sitting on his desk, with a Friday deadline looming. Whether he signs it, vetoes it, or simply lets it become law without his signature could have major implications for manufactured housing, home financing, and the nation's effort to build more homes.
That's just one of the stories we unpack in this week's Sustainable Building News podcast, including:
RESNET unveiled the first HERS Rating program for manufactured housing, bringing standardized energy-performance scores to one of America's most important sources of affordable housing.
Those stories become even more interesting when viewed alongside what's happening in Vermont, where policymakers are betting that affordability isn't just about lowering the purchase price. Their latest generation of manufactured homes costs more to buy, but dramatically reduces energy use while improving comfort, indoor air quality, and long-term ownership costs. It's a different way of thinking about housing affordability—and one that could spread well beyond the Green Mountain State.
The definition of value is changing in other ways, too.
The energy story continues to evolve as well. California is working to remove one of the biggest barriers to heat pump adoption—not the technology itself, but the permitting process. At the same time, home battery installations are hitting record levels, even as residential solar slows, suggesting that homeowners increasingly value resilience and energy independence alongside lower utility bills.
Green Builder Media's COGNITION Smart Data also made its way into Forbes this week, where contributor Jamie Gold explored what the research reveals about bathroom wellness trends. The article looks at the gap between what homeowners say they want and what they actually invest in, from heated floors and better lighting to smart controls and comfort-height toilets.
Our Editor's Product Pick highlights Novano Building Products, whose new exterior cladding transforms agricultural rice husks into durable, wood-free siding and trim. The engineered composite resists moisture, UV exposure, and wear while giving builders another low-maintenance, lower-impact material to consider.
This week's COGNITION Hot Take asks a provocative question: What value does a home have if it doesn't perform? The latest consumer research shows homeowners increasingly prioritize lower long-term costs, comfort and wellbeing, and quality of life over curb appeal or even upfront price—a reminder that performance is quickly becoming one of housing's most valuable features.
Finally, don't miss next week's free Green Builder Media webinar, “Understanding the Ventilation Puzzle.” Building science expert Daran Wastchak of Learning Edgewill break down residential ventilation, indoor air quality, filtration, code requirements, and practical strategies for designing healthier, higher-performing homes. Whether you're a builder, designer, or building professional, it's a timely discussion as indoor air quality continues to move to the forefront of home performance.
Watch This Week's Sustainable Building News podcast to hear how these stories connect—and why they matter for builders, manufacturers, architects, developers, and anyone interested in the future of housing. You can also download the complete script here, which includes all links, sources, and additional coverage.
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.
Google Wants to Sell Homes, HERS for Manufactured Homes, and the Home Battery Boom
This Week's Sustainable Building News covers major policy decisions, smarter manufactured homes, changing buyer expectations, and why energy performance is becoming impossible to ignore.
The fate of one of America's biggest housing reform packages is now in President Trump's hands. The bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is sitting on his desk, with a Friday deadline looming. Whether he signs it, vetoes it, or simply lets it become law without his signature could have major implications for manufactured housing, home financing, and the nation's effort to build more homes.
That's just one of the stories we unpack in this week's Sustainable Building News podcast, including:
RESNET unveiled the first HERS Rating program for manufactured housing, bringing standardized energy-performance scores to one of America's most important sources of affordable housing.
Those stories become even more interesting when viewed alongside what's happening in Vermont, where policymakers are betting that affordability isn't just about lowering the purchase price. Their latest generation of manufactured homes costs more to buy, but dramatically reduces energy use while improving comfort, indoor air quality, and long-term ownership costs. It's a different way of thinking about housing affordability—and one that could spread well beyond the Green Mountain State.
The definition of value is changing in other ways, too.
Google is inserting itself into the homebuying process by displaying MLS listings directly in search results, potentially reshaping how buyers discover homes and how builders market new communities. Meanwhile, new appraisal standards could finally begin recognizing the value of energy-efficient features that have historically been invisible during the appraisal process, giving homeowners a better chance of recovering investments in solar, insulation, heat pumps, and other high-performance upgrades.
Home batteries are having a breakout moment, even as residential solar slows. Americans installed a record 673 megawatts of home battery storage in the first quarter of 2026, with California, Hawaii, Texas, and Arizona leading the way. State incentives, higher electricity prices, and new programs that pay homeowners to support the grid are making batteries more valuable on their own—not just as an add-on to rooftop solar. That shift could reshape the residential energy market, giving homeowners more control, more resilience, and potentially new revenue streams.
The energy story continues to evolve as well. California is working to remove one of the biggest barriers to heat pump adoption—not the technology itself, but the permitting process. At the same time, home battery installations are hitting record levels, even as residential solar slows, suggesting that homeowners increasingly value resilience and energy independence alongside lower utility bills.
The episode also explores what tomorrow's homebuyers expect from the homes they purchase. A new McKinsey report reveals that Gen Z approaches buying decisions differently than previous generations, while Green Builder Media's latest COGNITION Smart Data Hot Take reinforces that a house that doesn't perform offers zero value.
Green Builder Media's COGNITION Smart Data also made its way into Forbes this week, where contributor Jamie Gold explored what the research reveals about bathroom wellness trends. The article looks at the gap between what homeowners say they want and what they actually invest in, from heated floors and better lighting to smart controls and comfort-height toilets.
This week's COGNITION Hot Take asks a provocative question: What value does a home have if it doesn't perform? The latest consumer research shows homeowners increasingly prioritize lower long-term costs, comfort and wellbeing, and quality of life over curb appeal or even upfront price—a reminder that performance is quickly becoming one of housing's most valuable features.
Finally, don't miss next week's free Green Builder Media webinar, “Understanding the Ventilation Puzzle.” Building science expert Daran Wastchak of Learning Edge will break down residential ventilation, indoor air quality, filtration, code requirements, and practical strategies for designing healthier, higher-performing homes. Whether you're a builder, designer, or building professional, it's a timely discussion as indoor air quality continues to move to the forefront of home performance.
Watch This Week's Sustainable Building News podcast to hear how these stories connect—and why they matter for builders, manufacturers, architects, developers, and anyone interested in the future of housing. You can also download the complete script here, which includes all links, sources, and additional coverage.
Upcoming Sustainability Events
July 15: Understanding the Ventilation Puzzle (virtual webinar)
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 29-30: Southeast Building Conference (SEBC), Orlando
July 29–August 1: AIBD Annual Conference, Cleveland
August 2-7: 2026 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Pacific Grove, Calif.
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
November 18: 2026 Southwest Utility Energy Efficiency Workshop, Santa Fe
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