Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

ALL-STAR RENOVATION DUOS BATTLE IT OUT IN SEASON TWO OF HGTV'S MEGA-HIT COMPETITION SERIES 'ROCK THE BLOCK'

Sophomore Season Premieres Monday, March 8, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV and Available to Stream on discovery+

New York [Feb. 11, 2021] HGTV's fiercest home renovation duos will faceoff when the hit competition series Rock the Block returns to HGTV on Monday, March 8, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. It will also be available to stream on discovery+. Host Ty Pennington will referee the action as the experts battle to maximize the value of identical suburban properties with $225,000 and only six weeks to complete their projects. In the end, just one pair will score bragging rights and a street named in their honor. In addition to a rotating panel of guest judges, the new season's star roster of dueling duos includes legendary home renovator and contractor Mike Holmes (Holmes On Homes) paired with Chicago's fearless home reno and design expert Alison Victoria (Windy City Rehab); designing dads Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent (Nate and Jeremiah: Save My House); two HGTV Design Star winners, David Bromstad (My Lottery Dream Home) and Tiffany Brooks ($50K Three Ways), who join forces; and the couple who can build and design an entire home in 100 days, Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt (100 Day Dream Home.)

"This season of Rock the Block brought together some of the best designers and renovators in the business, and each unleashed their unique skills, experience and creativity," said Betsy Ayala, senior vice president, programming and development, HGTV. "Everyone was determined to deliver the best ideas and most innovative designs. Each competitor left it all on the floor and that created the perfect milieu for an inspiring, fun, yet no-holds-barred competition."

In the premiere episode, house-flipping phenom Tarek El Moussa and his real estate agent fiance, Heather Rae Young, will decide which competitors created the ideal kitchen for a potential buyer. Throughout the series, more HGTV stars will assess the spaces in each home, including real estate broker extraordinaire Page Turner, who will judge the living room and foyer transformations. Powerhouse real estate broker Egypt Sherrod and her husband, contractor Mike Jackson, will deliberate the main bedroom suites. Designer and restoration specialist Tamara Day will judge the basement renovations, and two fresh faces, interior designer Carmine Sabatella and landscape designer Mike Pyle, stars of the upcoming HGTV series Inside Out, will evaluate the outdoor spaces. Finally, Ken and Anita Corsini will join incumbent Rock the Block champion, Jasmine Roth, for a final home walk-through before announcing the winning team.

Superfans also can rock out with Rock the Block: The Confessionals, which will be available to stream as "Extras" on discovery+ beginning March 8. The six-episode tell-all will feature exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and sit-down interviews with each team as they share intimate details about their experience on the Rock the Block set.

Access to additional content from the new season of Rock the Block is available on HGTV.com/RocktheBlock, including before and after photos and videos, and behind-the-scenes extras. Viewers also can interact via social media using #RocktheBlock and will be able to follow along on the @HGTV stars' reno journeys on Instagram at @nateberkus, @jeremiahbrent, @make_it_right, @thealisonvictoria, @tiffanybrooksinteriors, @bromco, @mikamakesmoves, and @mrbreakinground.

ABOUT HGTV

HGTV delivers families with relatable stories, superstar real estate and renovation experts and amazing home transformations that inspire a passionate audience. For anyone seeking entertaining and aspirational home and lifestyle content, HGTV is the place to be. HGTV offers: a top 10 cable network that is distributed to more than 86 million U.S. households; a website, HGTV.com, that attracts an average of 10.2 million people each month; a social footprint of 21.2 million; HGTV Magazine, a monthly publication that reaches more than one million readers and exclusive collections of home-oriented products through the HGTV HOME(TM) consumer products line. Viewers can become fans of HGTV and interact with other home improvement enthusiasts through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. HGTV is owned by Discovery, Inc., a global leader in real life entertainment spanning 220 countries and territories, whose portfolio also includes Discovery Channel, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and the forthcoming multi-platform JV with Chip and Joanna Gaines, Magnolia, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

ABOUT discovery+

discovery+ is the definitive non-fiction, real life subscription streaming service. discovery+ features a landmark partnership with Verizon that gives their customers with select plans up to 12 months of discovery+ on Verizon. discovery+ has the largest-ever content offering of any new streaming service at launch, featuring a wide range of exclusive, original series across popular, passion verticals in which Discovery brands have a strong leadership position, including lifestyle and relationships; home and food; true crime; paranormal; adventure and natural history; as well as science, tech and the environment, and a slate of high-quality documentaries. For more, visit discoveryplus.com or find it on a variety of platforms and devices, including ones from Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Roku and Samsung.

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Breaking News - All-Star Renovation Duos Battle It Out in Season Two of HGTV's Mega-Hit Competition Series "Rock the Block" - The Futon...

A Farmington Hills mother says shes struggling to manage the aftermath of a February 1 house fire that has her family of five still living in a local hotel.

Lesha Johnson said shes grateful everyone got out alive. The fire started in the basement, after a lamp tipped over and ignited some clothing.

We had a lot of things in the basement, she said. I havent even been able to go in. Were just trying to figure out what to do.

Johnsons four children attend Farmington Public Schools, and someone there helped her set up a crowdfunding campaign. She said she has been very grateful for the kindness people have shown over the past two weeks.

While the house wasnt destroyed, Johnson has learned theres a very high cost to fire restoration. Living in a hotel is also an expensive proposition.

In addition to caring for her own family, Johnson helps out four younger siblings and an elderly aunt and uncle. Shes used to being the one people rely on, so asking for help isnt easy.

We hope to eventually be able to go back, she said. I put everything I had into that house. Its just about trying to rebuild.

To help the family, visit gofundme.com/f/help-restore-the-johnson-family-home.

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Farmington Hills family hopes to rebuild after house fire - Farmington Voice

Mind you, the video is old by internet standards, having been posted in August 2019. However, it racked up over seven million views since, and its all due to the sheer dedication that drove its transformation from a junkyard-condemned car to perfectly working condition.

Just to make an idea of how every detail was taken into consideration, the guy who accepted the challenge of saving the Range Rover says he welded some parts then cut them and welded them again once he gained more experience, as the first attempt did not satisfy him in terms of quality.

What is even more amazing has to do with how the DIY project was funded. As in, only from Patreon donations. So, yeah, it looks like determination and passion are contagious, or at least appreciated in the car-loving community.

Soup Classic Motoring, whoever you are, well done. You have earned our standing ovation.

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And showcasing it required a ridiculously long yet worth-watching video - Top Speed

The award was particularly controversial because Dr. Chazov, a member of the Soviet Communist Partys Central Committee, was the personal physician to Kremlin leaders and had, a decade earlier, spoken out against the only other Soviet recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Andrei D. Sakharov, the human rights activist who as a physicist had been instrumental in developing the Soviet Unions hydrogen bomb.

In a 2008 memoir, Prescription for Survival: A Doctors Journey to End Nuclear Madness, Dr. Lown recounted the story of his antinuclear group and noted that the end of the Cold War had not resolved the threat of annihilation. Eliminating the nuclear menace, he wrote, is a historic challenge questioning whether we humans have a future on planet earth.

Bernard Lown was born in Utena, Lithuania, on June 7, 1921, to Nisson and Bella (Grossbard) Lown. A grandfather of his had been a rabbi in Lithuania.

The family emigrated to Maine in 1935, and his father ran a shoe factory there, in Pittsfield. Bernard graduated from Lewiston High School in 1938. He earned a bachelors degree in zoology at the University of Maine in 1942 and his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1945.

In 1946, he married Louise Lown, a cousin. She died in 2019. The couple had previously lived in Newton, Mass. In addition to his granddaughter Ariel, he is survived by three children, Anne, Fredric and Naomi Lown; four other grandchildren; and one great-grandchild

After an internship and residency in New York City, Dr. Lown settled in Boston in 1950 and over the next decade taught and conducted cardiovascular research at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and the Harvard Medical School.

In 1952, he and Dr. Samuel A. Levine recommended in The Journal of the American Medical Association that patients with congestive heart disease recuperate in an armchair, not a bed, because fluids pool in the chest cavity when lying down, forcing the heart to work harder. The advice is widely accepted now.

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Bernard Lown, Inventive Heart Doctor and Antiwar Activist, Dies at 99 - The New York Times

DAVENPORT, IA / ACCESSWIRE / February 16, 2021 / Northwest Plumbing, Heating & AC is pleased to announced that they are providing heating and furnace installation and repair services in the Quad Cities of Bettendorf and Davenport in Iowa, and Rock Island and Moline in Illinois, and neighboring areas. Since it has been a long and very cold winter, heating is vital to ensure a warm and comfortable home. Visitors to their website may also want to check out their "Deal of the Month," which is available for the month of February. And for those who are planning to replace their heating equipment, they offer free estimates for furnace replacement. More information about their heating services can be gleaned from https://www.callnw.com/heating.

Bill Durand, General Manager for Northwest Plumbing, Heating & AC, says, "Our knowledgeable technicians have experience with all makes, models, and types of heaters and furnaces, including oil, gas, propane, electric, geothermal and more. And our White Glove Guarantee provides you with assurance our technicians will leave your home as clean as it was before their arrival."

They offer a 24-hour service to ensure that those who encounter unexpected problems with their furnace or heating equipment can contact Northwest Plumbing, Heating & AC at any time of the day. They offer all kinds of heating services, such as: furnace repair & installation; humidifier installation; boiler repair & installation; annual heating system check; geothermal systems; steam heat; humidification; mini-splits (ductless); high-efficiency heating and cooling systems; geothermal systems; high-efficiency heating and cooling systems; steam heat; hot water heat; and zoning maintenance agreement that includes annual system check.

Meanwhile, they recommend that homeowners and other property owners use their furnace preventative maintenance plans. This is because preventative maintenance offers different kinds of benefits, including prolonging the life of the furnace and heating equipment. They offer service partner agreements include a yearly furnace check and service partners are not charged after hours or weekend fees. There is also an option where all heating, plumbing, and cooling maintenance programs can be combined. They also offer affordable financing deals to ensure that the cost of their services can fit people's budgets.

Northwest Plumbing, Heating & AC also provides plumbing services, offering solutions to various issues, such as leaky pipes, misbehaving toilets, clogged drains, and backed up showers. They provide a 24-hour service for plumbing problems and they offer their White Glove Guarantee that assures customers that the technicians will leave the home as clean as it was before they arrived. More about their plumbing services can be learned from https://www.callnw.com/plumbing. Plumbing services for residential homes include: drain cleaning; waste piping; water heater repair & installation; toilets; fixture replacements; showers and bathtubs; sump pumps and battery backup systems; camera inspection; sinks; remote monitoring and flood alarms; leaks; on demand (tankless) water heaters; backflow preventers; remote monitoring and alarms for flooding; camera inspection; garbage disposals; water service and water mains; sump pump and battery backup systems; waste piping; and maintenance agreement that includes annual plumbing inspection.

They also offer air conditioning installation or repair, including 24-hour emergency services. They have experienced and qualified air conditioning technicians who are not just skilled in replacing old broken AC equipment but also in repairing those AC units that can still be repaired. Their cooling services include: air conditioner repair & installation; air purification & air quality systems; mini-split ductless cooling; annual AC system check; mini-splits (ductless cooling); zoning; thermostat installation; thermostat repair and maintenance; whole house humidification; and service partner agreements.

Northwest Plumbing, Heating & AC was established in 1923, which means that it has several decades of experience. It has grown into one of the most trusted residential heating, cooling, and plumbing services provider for the Quad Cities and surrounding areas. The company is an honored member of the Nexstar Network, which is a group of HVAC industry leaders.

Homeowners and other property owners who are looking for heating & furnace installation and repair may want to check out the Northwest Plumbing, Heating & AC website at https://www.callnw.com, or contact them on the phone or through email.

###

For more information about Northwest Plumbing, Heating & AC, contact the company here:

Northwest Plumbing, Heating & ACBill Durand(563) 391-1344bdurand@northwestmech.com5885 Tremont AveDavenport, IA 52807

SOURCE: Northwest Plumbing, Heating & AC

View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/630055/Northwest-Plumbing-Heating-AC-Offers-Heating-Furnace-Installation-and-Repair-in-the-Quad-Cities

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Northwest Plumbing, Heating & AC Offers Heating & Furnace Installation and Repair in the Quad Cities - Press Release - Digital Journal

Global Modular Homes Market 2021-2026 Key Challenges. Industry Risks and Worldwide Opportunities during Covid-19.

Lexis Market Research published latest Research Report on Global Modular Homes Market 2020. The research study explores economical impact of pandemic on Modular Homes industry Segment as follows:

By Important Manufacturers Bouygues Construction, Lendlease Corporation, Laing Orourke, Seikisui House, Clayton Homes, Champion, Modular Space Corporation, Daiwa House, Cavco Industries, Inc., Algeco Scotsman, Red Sea Housing, Redman Homes, Fleetwood Australia, Kwikspace Modular Buildings, Horizon North Logistics, Kleusberg GmbH & Co. Kg, KEE Katerra, Pleasant Valley Homes, Alta-Fab Structures, Arts Way Manufacturing, NRB Inc., Wernick Group, Westchester Modular Homes, Modscape, Pratt Construction Incorporated, Koma Modular, New Era Homes, Guerdon Enterprises LLC, Hickory Group, Lebanon Valley Homes

The report has segmented market 20212025 into different components on the basis of products, Application, geography and end users wherever needed. With thorough analysis and detailed study of past, present and future market 20172022 conditions, the report is able to deliver factual and reliable information to the users.

Check Global Modular Homes Market Research Report in Details: https://www.lexisbusinessinsights.com/reports/global-modular-homes-market-status-and-forecast-analysis-2016-2025-698Modular Homes

By Region / Countries

Our Research Experts have made this insightful report on Modular Homes market, which is available for user on the site of Market Research Vision. The report carries various factors and elements of the industry in picture, all around the globe, be it its potential or probable threat to its growth or simply the way and method of its functioning during covid-19.

Click here to Get customization & check discount for the report @ https://www.lexisbusinessinsights.com/check-discount-69855

About Lexis Market Research

Lexis Business insight is a leading market research company, which helps to understand the market potential of the products which is available in the market.

We help companies getting a breakthrough by understanding the market, business needs, objectives and targets to grow the focus of the products. We aim to provide research for the clients to make sales better functions by introducing modern insights sales techniques.

We deliver premium market research services that cover all industries verticals, including aerospace and defense, agriculture and food, automotive, basic material, consumer goods, energy, life science, manufacturing, services, telecommunication, education, security, and technology. We keep our clients satisfy with our unconquered talent, authentic data, and methodologies. We ensure our clients that our strategy, statistical forecast, recommendations, and competitive landscape your company will outshine its toughest competitor.

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Comprehensive Analysis of Modular Homes Market Profitable Key Business Trends Growth Rate and Top Key Players - NeighborWebSJ

EAST PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --WeHOPE and United Hope Builders (UHB) today announced they are in the final stretch of securing capital investment to build a new factory dedicated to manufacturing affordable housing specifically to address the Bay Area housing crisis. With 75 percent of its capital investment already achieved, UHB/indie Dwell's new modular-home manufacturing plant is on track to open later this year in East Palo Alto. The new factory will provide more than 100 jobs and enable local community members to earn a living wage and benefits while supplying modular homes to local unhoused families.

Kicking off the public capital raising campaign, WeHOPE and UHB will host an event on Sunday, February 14, to open the doors to two new affordable dignified housing units, handing over the keys to unhoused neighbors while showcasing new home designs the factory intends to build. The event will demonstrate how these unique modular units can stand as single-family homes or be stacked into multifamily housing and subdivided into smaller studio apartments for rapid government rehousing deployment.

"For more than 21 years, WeHOPE has been getting people healthy, employed and housed, and now UHB is joining that fight by providing housing and jobs to our homeless and marginalized brothers and sisters. Together, WeHOPE and UHB are bringing hope home," said Pastor Paul Bains, founder of WeHOPE and UHB.

The new factory capital investment funds received to date mainly stem from individuals and private companies in the Bay Area looking to invest in the future of their communities by contributing to an effort intended to help solve the local housing crisis, offer new employment opportunities to those in need, and truly make a difference in the lives of others.

Special guest speakers at the February 14 event will include: Priscilla Chan, co-founder of Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI); Warren Slocum, county board of supervisors for San Mateo; and East Palo Alto Mayor Carlos Romero.

As WeHOPE and UHB are committed to keeping all local community members safe, COVID-19 safety measures have been put in place to protect in-person attendees. If you are interested in attending the event on February 14, 2021, please RSVP to Dina Bartello at [emailprotected] or 650-779-4637. Those who prefer to attend virtually will receive a link following receipt of their RSVP.

About WeHOPEThe mission of WeHOPE is to help people become healthy, employed, and housed using innovative solutions. WeHOPE's Mobile Homeless Services meets the needs of the homeless where they are through initiatives that include access to free showers, laundry, safe parking for vehicle dwellers, virtual medical assessments, and comprehensive case management to assist in securing permanent housing. WeHOPE currently serves 4 counties and 17 cities throughout the Bay Area, including: Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, and San Francisco. To learn more about WeHOPE and how you can get involved, visit http://www.weHOPE.org

About United Hope Builders (UHB): United Hope Builders is the Bay Area factory partner for indieDwell, the national leader in steel modular housing. Led by a strong and diverse team, UHB was founded to bring affordable housing modules and planning to Bay Area developers, especially mission-aligned land holders like the faith-based community, school districts and other community-based organizations. UHB's flagship factory will be in East Palo Alto with opening targeted for Q3 2021. To learn more about United Hope Builders, visit http://www.unitedhopebuilders.org

SOURCE WeHOPE

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WeHOPE And United Hope Builders Announce Capital Campaign To Build Factory For Manufacturing Affordable Modular Homes Designed To Address Bay Area...

Modular Homes Market describes an in-depth evaluation and professional study on the present and future state of the Modular Homes market across the globe, including valuable facts and figures. Modular Homes Market provides information regarding the emerging opportunities in the market & the market drivers, trends & upcoming technologies that will boost these growth trends. The report provides a comprehensive overview including Definitions, Scope, Application, Production and CAGR (%) Comparison, Segmentation by Type, Share, Revenue Status and Outlook, Capacity, Consumption, Market Drivers, Production Status and Outlook and Opportunities, Export, Import, Emerging Markets/Countries Growth Rate. The report presents a 360-degree overview of the competitive landscape of the industries. The Modular Homes market report assesses the key regions (countries) promising a huge market share for the forecast period.

Top Key players of Modular Homes Market Covered In The Report:Daiwa HouseLaing OrourkeKwikspace Modular BuildingsLendlease CorporationWestchester Modular HomesFleetwood AustraliaHorizon North LogisticsPratt Construction IncorporatedKEE KaterraModscapeLebanon Valley HomesKLEUSBERG GmbH & Co. KGAlta-Fab StructuresRed Sea HousingModular Space CorporationGuerdon Enterprises LLCBouygues ConstructionSeikisui HouseAlgeco ScotsmanNRB Inc.Wernick GroupPleasant Valley HomesHickory GroupKoma ModularClayton HomesRedman HomesNew Era HomesCavco Industries, Inc.

Key Market Segmentation of Modular Homes:

on the basis of types, the Modular Homes market from 2015 to 2025 is primarily split into:

RanchCape CodTwo-story HomesCabin/Chalet

on the basis of applications, the Modular Homes market from 2015 to 2025 covers:

999 sq ft Floor1000 sq ft 1499 sq ft Floor1500 sq ft 1999 sq ft Floor2000 sq ft 2499 sq ft FloorMore than 2500 sq ft Floor

The Modular Homes report gives detail complete examination to territorial sections that covered The USA, Europe, Japan, China, India, Southeast Asia, South America, South Africa, and Rest of World in Global Outlook Report with Modular Homes Market definitions, characterizations, delivering reports, cost structures, advancement strategies, and plans. The results and information are top notches in the Modular Homes report utilizing outlines, diagrams, pie graphs, and other pictorial portrayals concerning its Current Trends, Dynamics, and Modular Homes Business Scope, Key Statistics and CAGR Analysis of top key players.

Buy Latest Copy of Report Now! @ https://www.qurateresearch.com/report/buy/MCM/2020-2025-global-modular-homes-market/QBI-MR-MCM-944682/

Key Highlights from Modular Homes Market Study:

Income and Sales Estimation Historical Revenue and deals volume is displayed and supports information is triangulated with best down and base up ways to deal with figure finish market measure and to estimate conjecture numbers for key areas shrouded in the Modular Homes report alongside arranged and very much perceived Types and end-utilize industry. Moreover, macroeconomic factor and administrative procedures are discovered explanation in Modular Homes industry advancement and perceptive examination.

Assembling Analysis The Modular Homes report is presently broke down concerning different types and applications. The Modular Homes market gives a section featuring the assembling procedure examination approved by means of essential data gathered through Industry specialists and Key authorities of profiled organizations.

Competition Analysis Modular Homes Leading players have been considered relying upon their organization profile, item portfolio, limit, item/benefit value, deals, and cost/benefit.

Demand and Supply and Effectiveness Modular Homes report moreover gives support, Production, Consumption and (Export and Import).

Which prime data figures are included in the report? -Market size (Last few years, current and expected)-Market share analysis as per different companies)-Market forecast)-Demand)-Price Analysis)-Market Contributions (Size, Share as per regional boundaries)

Who all can be benefitted out of this report? -Market Investigators-Teams, departments, and companies-Competitive organizations-Individual professionals-Vendors, Buyers, Suppliers-Others

What are the crucial aspects incorporated in the report? -Industry Value Chain-Consumption Data-Market Size Expansion-Key Economic Indicators

Strategic Points Covered in TOC:

Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product scope, market risk, market overview, and market opportunities of the global Modular Homes market.

Chapter 2: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the global Modular Homes market which consists of its revenue, sales, and price of the products.

Chapter 3: Displaying the competitive nature among key manufacturers, with market share, revenue, and sales.

Chapter 4: Presenting global Modular Homes market by regions, market share and with revenue and sales for the projected period.

Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions.

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Note: In order to provide more accurate market forecast, all our reports will be updated before delivery by considering the impact of COVID-19.

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Modular Homes Market 2020 | Covid19 Impact Analysis | Industry Overview, Growth, Revenue, Trends and Forecasts 2026 | Daiwa House, Laing O'rourke,...

Modular constructionis increasingly popping up in the Bay Area and elsewhere as a sustainable, lower-cost, quicker way to deliver affordable housing, butunfamiliarity andmisconceptionsare curtailing its use.

Although somearen't ready to thinkoutside the stick-built box, certain commercial real estate companies, tech companies and those fighting for affordable housing creation are pushing for a modular approach to at least be considered across the board.

Courtesy of Emily Hagopian

The Mayfair modular multifamily project under construction in El Cerrito.

The image issues stem in part from confusion around the definition of modular construction. Prefabrication is an umbrella term covering a range of building types from modular to panel construction to manufactured structures. The lumping together of these different types can leave the impression that it is all akin to mobile homes.

While mobile or manufactured home construction has advanced in quality and sophistication from prior decades, the moveable nature does not lend itself to standing the test of time compared to conventional construction. Conversely, other prefab construction types such as modular are slowly earning a reputation as high-quality, durable, aesthetically pleasing and greener.

Modular, which utilizes factory-assembled prefab units or modules that can be stacked together in flexible ways, is particularly growing in popularity as a means to deliver multifamily product to the housing-starved Northern California region where groups seeking to block new development in general often prevail in at least stalling projects.

The downside of being in the Bay Area is we've got all these problems, but on the upside, this is sort of the Paris of the 1920s as far as being at the center of the world of innovation, Lowney Architecture President Ken Lowney said. Most people think of that in technical terms of software and computers and interconnectivity. There are people moving to the Bay Area specifically for entrepreneurial culture and sophistication that's here to help solve this problem.

Lowney, who said his firm leads the western U.S. in modular design, has been working on prefab construction for the past decade, resulting in over 60 projects at various development stages, and he has worked with factories in multiple countries. He said that although several factors like high construction costs and the housing and homelessness crises have driven modular construction to the forefront, what he called psychological barriers persist against making it more ubiquitous in the world of construction.

The first barrier Lowney cited is thenot-in-my-backyard, or NIMBY, attitude typical in many Bay Area communities. People say more housing should be built, just not near them. The second, he said, is the risk profile associated with modular, as considerable sums have to be paid to a factory upfront for the work to begin, while the factory itself could end up going out of business, a situation that happened to Lowney on a couple of occasions.

Another psychological barrier is the lack of similarities and complexity of the process, Lowney said. It's not like building and thinking as you would with a site build. So all the decisions have to be made upfront, and there's a steep penalty if you change your mind later in the process. There are multiple permits that have to happen. There are a lot of moving parts to that. There's a lot of grayness. Even if you're familiar with it it's one thing to talk about it over a beer, and it's another thing to invest millions of dollars in it.

Courtesy of KTGY Architecture + Planning

An affordable housing project at 4300 San Pablo Ave. in Emeryville, California.

Still, the burgeoning building type is steadily being championed by groupsthat work with those on the economic margins. Alicia Garcia, associate director of WeHOPE, first delved into modular construction when she joined the board of directors of a startup called United Hope Builders based in East Palo Alto, which works to build steel modular dwellings for disadvantaged communities. In her work with WeHOPE, Garcia is part of a team of service providers for those experiencing homelessness and realized that only through the building of affordable housing for those with extremely low incomes can the homelessness crisis be solved.

After touring the country, speaking with experts and searching for solutions, modular construction emerged for Garcia as an effective and lower-cost way to build housing.

Our model is to partner with cities, counties, churches and other landowners to place these units on their land and to buy some of our own land in the future so that we can provide energy-efficient, stable, nice homes so that homeless people can become formerly homeless people and live with dignity, Garcia said.

Working with Idaho-based modular home factory indieDwell, Garcia said that her group has just placed two modular housing units on a city-owned property in East Palo Alto that will soon become home to two homeless families. Habitat for Humanity also just finished a 32-unit modular building in San Jose on city-owned land. Garcia said she sees modular as having far-reaching potential, such as being used to supply more student housing.

For Lowney, modular construction shows promise far beyond enabling projects to be built faster and with lower price tags. Growth in conventional construction productivity lags behind other industries and costs the global economy $1.6 trillion per year, according to a report by McKinsey & Co. Lowney said he thinks change is afoot with technologies like automation and 3D printing entering the field.

Another Idaho factory, Autovol, is harnessing robotics and automation to help build Virginia Steel Studios, an apartment complex that is nearing completion in San Jose, according to a press release. CEO Rick Murdock said in the release that automated modular construction would "take the back-breaking work off of people, and use new techniques that weren't humanly possible."

Meanwhile, Mighty Buildings, based in Oakland, just received $40M in Series B funding to build affordable housing using a combination of 3D printing, robotics and automation, TechCrunch reports. The company claims it can 3D print a 350 SF apartment unit in a single day.

Such industry changes have sparked opposition from S.F.s building trades unions concerned about slipping work quality standards and lower wages on modular projects not made by union hands. Factory_OS, based on Mare Island in Vallejo, stands out as a union shop that has partnered with the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council employing hundreds of union workers. Factory_OS, which just received $55M in Series B financing from Autodesk, Citi, Facebook, Google, Morgan Stanley and Lafayette Square,said in a press release that it can drive down production costs by 20% to 40% and can build 40% faster than conventional construction.

Factory_OS fabricated the modular components for a supportive housing project in Mission Bay developed by BRIDGE Housing and Community Housing Partnership. The project will deliver 140 housing units with a groundbreaking late last year and is part of Mayor London Breeds Homelessness Recovery Plan.

Courtesy of Lowney Architecture

Rendering of The Mayfair multifamily modular project in El Cerrito.

Lowneysaid a number of factorsdetermine whether a modular approach is viable for a given project. One is that prefab factories are scarce and may or may not have work schedules that mesh with development teams' timelines. He also said current limitations result in modular projects, in reality, being hybrids. For instance, custom site-built foundations and roofs are common. Utility connections still have to be made on-site.

An intentional hybrid approach can serve a purpose, as is the case with an intergenerational affordable housing project at 4300 San Pablo Ave. in Emeryville. Developed by EAH Housing and designed by KTGY Architecture + Planning, the project will supply 68 housing units for seniors and youths transitioning out of foster care under a flexible construction approach. One option under consideration is to use a mass timber ground level for a reduced carbon footprint and then either proceed with stick-built or modular for the units above.

Using mass timber on the base just opens up a whole other toolkit for us, KTGY principal Jessica Musick said. Just the natural warmththat is associated with mass timber our hope is that it gets expressed on the exterior of the building, so as a pedestrian walking down the street, you see the inherent warmth of the material. That's a big difference than with concrete. Concrete can be beautiful, but this has inherent design qualities to it where you don't have to try so hard as with other building materials or other potentially costly design moves.

Musick said she expects that with continued high construction costs, modular flex options will increasingly be considered for projects where designs will be laid out in a modular-ready fashion. Some firms are also researching whether a mass timber/modular hybrid approach may have advantages from an engineering standpoint beyond just the aesthetic upsides.

Our goal was to provide EAH the flexibility and a little bit more time to make that decision, Musick said.

From Lowneys view, the prospect of going 100% modular would be ideal if it results in cost savings. He said he likes the quality assurance and control in a factory environment coupled with saving 15% in construction costs and delivering product 35% to 40% faster.

In the Bay Area, where developers struggle with getting project proposals to pencil, some consider modular as a way to build more cheaply. Lowney cited the Mayfair project in El Cerrito his firm is nearing completion on as an example of modular construction with no compromises on quality or appearance. The project is a transit-oriented development near BART that offers 223 housing units, 67 of which are designated affordable. With a landscaped courtyard and a mix of colors and design elements on the facade, no passerby would think it was modular, Lowney said.

I think that modular should always be considered and then eliminated if it doesn't make sense for the particular project, Lowney said. But in many instances, it is a very beneficial solution that will save money and time."

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Modular Construction Has An Image Problem. Housing Proponents Are Trying To Fix It - Bisnow

As renters and buyers are becoming more environmentally aware around the world, property developers now need to meet even higher green standards. Sustainability is a sign of quality and a desirable aspect of new properties. Research has shown that 73% of millennials are willing to pay more for sustainable products, but its not only about younger buyers. Green retirement villages that are entirely powered by renewable energies are also opening. There are more financing initiatives in place to encourage green living and tax credits for those using renewable energies to power their homes. Here are a few examples of how higher green standards are affecting the housing market in different countries.

The global shift towards sustainable living has meant that eco-friendly property is changing the market. Energy-efficiency is one of the key factors renters and buyers look for in a home. It not only helps to reduce their environmental impact but also lowers utility bills. Greener homes are therefore viewed as a better investment overall. Renewable energy sources are much more accessible and theres a growing trend in the use of solar power, ground, and air source heat pumps, and biomass systems. Many energy providers also offer a renewables-backed electricity supply making sustainable living much easier to achieve.

Due to the increase in demand for eco-friendly properties, there are also higher green standards in place for new building projects. The UK government, in particular, has set out plans to improve the energy-efficiency of new builds. There are now higher green standards for new builds in the UK with the objective that by 2025, carbon emissions are decreased by 75%. This means reducing emissions by 31% from 2021. There are also schemes in place to help homeowners improve the energy performance of their existing properties. This is just one example of how higher green standards will play a part in economic recovery and it will be beneficial for landlords and tenants alike.

As well as introducing higher standards for new builds, there are also incentives in place for homeowners if they make the effort to improve the energy-efficiency of their property. Companies such as LendInvest are offering green cashback on loans given to bridge-to-let customers who increase their energy rating. It seems theres never been a better time to invest in making your property more sustainable. Initiatives such as these allow borrowers to benefit financially from a more positive environmental impact. By turning your home into an eco-sanctuary, youll not only increase its value but also save on your financing.

Many countries have a solar investment tax credit in place. This means that homeowners who install solar panels will receive a tax credit in exchange for the investment. Government initiatives in the US, UK, and across Europe for example have been set up to encourage the use of renewable energies. There are also plenty of new housing concepts inspiring people to live sustainably. The technology needed to run a fully self-sustainable household exists, now the main objective is to change peoples attitudes and habits. Many people dont see using renewables to power their home as realistic or believe it will make much difference. This is not the case, however, and there are several campaigns to raise awareness.

Advance developments in PropTech have had a massive impact on the real estate industry. Renters and buyers are now able to understand the sustainability of their properties by using tools that employ deep learning and artificial intelligence. Smart technology is constantly collecting data to analyze the energy performance of a building. One of the PropTech predictions for the future is that it will be used to improve the energy-efficiency of property and encourage more sustainable living. The technology will empower property managers to make the right decisions towards sustainability. It outlines areas for improvement by allowing them to perform a thorough energy evaluation of the building.

According to Forbes, prefab housing is key to a sustainable future. Self-sustainable prefabricated homes are on the rise thanks to companies such as Dvele, for example. Their prefab homes run entirely on solar energy and are not dependent on any power grid. They are also affordably and ethically manufactured off-site. Eco-friendly modular housing is on the rise globally, in fact, we have seen many examples in different locations in recent years. The appeal of these prefab homes is that they embody current trends of efficiency and minimalism, not to mention their affordability. Whereas these types of properties may not be 100% realistic in certain urban areas, their popularity is still increasing.

Its not only younger residents that are seeking more eco-friendly properties. There are also retirement villages popping up around the world that are solely fueled by renewable energies. The Audley Group in the UK, for example, plans to power all retirement villages with green energy by next year. The organization runs over nineteen villages offering on-site care. These will soon be entirely run on renewable resources such as solar and wind power. The aim is to finally move towards a zero-carbon status. The company is also investing in innovative technologies including natural ventilation and ground source heating. Although these villages mainly offer luxury housing at the moment, it appears there are increasing eco-friendly options for renters and homeowners of all ages.

These are just a few examples of how higher green standards are affecting the housing market and its been predicted that youll see more of these in the future. With government-backed initiatives, its becoming financially beneficial to invest in greener property. Its clear that in order to succeed in the property market, you need to shift your priorities towards renewable energies and sustainable materials over traditional building methods. Eco-homes are not only a more valuable investment, but they also create a healthier living environment to suit the socially-conscious consumers of today.

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How Higher Green Standards Are Affecting the Housing Market - Innovation Origins