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Cost-Saving Innovations for Homebuilders 2023

By Christopher Grubbs

Article Summary

In 2023, homebuilders must look for ways to reduce costs while still delivering quality results
Green-minded building trends are gaining traction in the market.
Homebuyers have increased interest in sustainable and environmentally friendly products.
Top picks for products that can maximize value without compromising comfort or performance.

In 2022, homebuilders faced many unforeseen challenges that threatened their business significantly.

By the end of the year, demand for new construction had dropped significantly due mainly to rising interest rates and expensive financing.

Obtaining materials also became more costly, with lumber prices increasing by an astronomical 142%, leading to major financial setbacks for building companies.

With their resources strained and many projects put on hold, businesses had to take drastic measures to stay afloat financially. As a result, many firms downsized their staff or reduce wages to remain competitive in this challenging economic environment.

In 2023, homebuilders must look for ways to reduce costs while still delivering quality results.

Fortunately, there are now several cost-saving innovations available that can help homebuilders save time, money, and effort.

In this blog post, we’ll look at new cost-effective options for homebuilders and in-demand building trends to cut costs without sacrificing quality.

Census Economic Indicators

Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders
January 7, 2026
New orders for manufactured goods in October, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $8.1 billion or 1.3 percent to $604.8 billion.October 2025: -1.3° % ChangeSeptember 2025 (r): +0.2° % Change
Advance Monthly Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders
December 23, 2025
New orders for manufactured durable goods in October, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $6.8 billion or 2.2 percent to $307.4 billion.October 2025: -2.2° % ChangeSeptember 2025 (r): +0.7° % Change
Manufacturing and Trade Inventories and Sales
December 16, 2025
U.S. total business end-of-month inventories for September 2025 were $2,670.0 billion, up 0.2 percent (+/- 0.1 percent) from last month. U.S. total business sales were $1,947.5 billion, virtually unchanged (+/- 0.1 percent)* from last month.September 2025: +0.2 % Change in InventoriesAugust 2025 (r): 0.0* % Change in Inventories
Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services
December 16, 2025
U.S. retail and food services sales October 2025 were $732.6 billion, virtually unchanged (+/-0.5 percent)* from the previous month.October 2025: 0.0* % ChangeSeptember 2025 (r): +0.1* % Change
Quarterly Financial Report – Retail
December 15, 2025
Not seasonally adjusted after-tax profits for retail corporations with assets of $50 million and over were $53.5 billion for the third quarter 2025 (the 3 months ending October 31, 2025), down $7.1 (+/- 0.5) billion from second quarter 2025 (the 3 months ending July 31, 2025).3rd Qtr 2025: -7.1 Billions of Dollars2nd Qtr 2025 (r): +15.9 Billions of Dollars

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Cost-effective, value-adding building options for homebuilders

Homebuilders looking to make the most of their resources and give their customers the best value possible should consider introducing cost-effective, value-adding building options into their designs. These options are becoming increasingly popular due to their range of benefits. Investing in these solutions can benefit your customers and your business, from reduced energy costs to improved aesthetics.

There is an exciting opportunity to break away from traditional construction methods and upgrade the quality and efficiency of residential homes with Comfy-Light. This revolutionary new technology offers a reliable and efficient solution for improving airflow in these homes without compromising aesthetic value.

This combined HVAC diffuser and recessed LED lighting system recently released on the market has caught the attention of many top homebuilders.

Cut heating & cooling costs
Increase comfort & airflow control
Fewer ceiling penetrations on every build
Reduced air leakage

Construction cost savings: With fewer parts and simplified installation, builders can save money on every project with Comfy-Light.

Improved equipment life span: Reduced operating frequency helps extend the lifespan – so you can expect greater reliability and performance over time.

Improved airflow: Enjoy a greater comfort level with enhanced 360-degree air circulation and improved airflow.

Aesthetic and minimalist design: Comfy-Light’s design provides a crisp, clean look to any ceiling without compromising comfort or performance.

Green HVAC Technologies We Saw Last Year

As the world becomes more aware of the need to protect our environment, green construction companies are gaining popularity. HVAC companies are working to develop systems that are more efficient and use less energy.

Green-minded building trends

It is no secret that green-minded building trends are gaining traction in the homebuilding market. As we face the urgent realities of climate change and environmental conservation, builders are being called upon to adopt sustainable practices in their construction projects.

Green-minded building practices offer homebuilders potential financial gains. Incentive programs such as LEED certification can offer builders valuable tax credits or rebates when pursuing sustainable initiatives in construction projects. Furthermore, properties with green features tend to be marketed with higher price points due to consumer preference for eco-friendly homes—a competitive advantage when listing properties for sale or rent.

Solar as a standard option

The push toward solar energy is only getting stronger for homebuilders. With electricity costs continuing to rise and homeowners wanting to save money on their energy bills, solar panel installation is becoming a more popular option. Solar energy offers numerous advantages over traditional sources of electricity, including cost savings and environmental friendliness.

Not only can homeowners save thousands each year through solar energy, but they are also doing their part to reduce their carbon footprints by using renewable energy sources rather than traditional fossil fuels.

Homebuilders who offer solar panel installation services can help their clients reap the benefits of this alternative form of energy and make their homes more efficient. With its proven ability to generate cost savings and environmental friendliness, solar energy is quickly becoming one of the most desirable options for new home construction.

Environmentally friendly and sustainable building

Homebuyers have developed an increased interest in sustainable and environmentally friendly building materials and appliances.

By understanding the value of environmentally friendly and sustainable buildings, you can ensure your homes are both energy-efficient and eco-friendly while still providing a comfortable living environment for your customers.

There are many ways to make a home more eco-friendly from using renewable resources like solar panels and geothermal heating systems to utilizing green building materials like bamboo, cork, recycled wood, and metal designed to reduce or eliminate the use of toxic chemicals during their production.

Energy-efficient appliances such as recessed LED lighting, high-efficiency water heaters, and air conditioning units can also dramatically reduce energy usage in a home.

Additionally, you can consider installing water filtration systems that will help reduce their use of plastic bottles and smart technology such as thermostats that can be programmed remotely to save on energy costs.

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New home features buyers are looking for and willing to pay extra

Homebuilders are uniquely able to capitalize on the growing demand for new home features that buyers are increasingly willing to pay extra for.

From energy efficiency to safety, people want to create an ideal living space that also provides modern conveniences. Over the last few years, homebuyers across all residential price points have gravitated towards products that offer improved safety and indoor air quality.

Luxury segment buyers have also responded positively to products that promote:

advanced air filtering
humidity control
whole-home fresh air ventilation
low-VOC products
water filtration

62% of current and prospective homeowners put a lot of value in healthy home environments – Panasonic industry survey of homeowners and homebuilders across North America

Investing in these features is simple and can give your new builds a competitive edge by demonstrating your commitment to providing buyers with the best home environment.

4 IAQ products builders can market and maximize value

IAQ impacts the health and comfort of those who live in your homes and plays an important role in the pricing and appeal of each property. Imagine how much value you could add to your builds if you had access to premium IAQ products.

Top picks for 2023:

MERV 13 air filters. Zephyr MERV 13 media air cleaners are the first choice for many looking to upgrade their traditional 1” filters. With superior efficiency and capacity, these high-performance air cleaners are ideal for clean, healthy indoor air quality.

Mechanical fresh air ventilation (HRV/ERV). As a leader in residential and commercial HVAC systems, Lifebreath premium ventilation products offer unprecedented efficiency, reliability, and durability.

Whole-home air purification. Dust Free’s IAQ products are the perfect solution for those looking to reduce allergens, eliminate dust, and smoke particles. Breathe easy knowing your home is protected with this proactive indoor air purifier!

Whole-home humidity controllers. With Clean Comfort Indoor Air Essentials, builders can provide their customers with an upgraded service that offers top-quality products.

With these products, you can add value to your homes while ensuring your clients receive the best possible benefits on their purchase.

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