Part 3 of 4 produced by The Real Story.
In part 3 of 4 with Dan O’Brien, area president for Shea Homes’ Trilogy communities, talks to The Real Story about the Baby Boomers, who are now entering retirement age, if not retirement attitude. These new recruits to active adult living are changing the way communities are designed and how homes are built. They are looking at ways to green up their lives, and reduced energy use at home is a must. As a result, Dan says, Shea is building homes that are about 60 percent more energy efficient than those built just a decade ago—and about 15 percent more than the new energy codes.
The science of building has evolved so much that features like solar-ready options, tankless water heaters and attic fans to evacuate the hottest air in the house, giving the air-conditioning system a more efficient way to run, are now considered to be the next wave of energy efficiency. Lowering one’s carbon footprint while lowering the PG&E bill is a discussion that the Boomers are interested in pursuing while looking at their new home choices.
