MARKET INSIGHTS Millennial shadow looms over International Builders’ Show Trends in windows, doors include smart, sustainable housing solutions By Sal Abbate There are few better places to dis- cuss building and design trends than the upcoming International Builders’ Show. These trends not only help pinpoint what is driving consumer decisions, but also how the newest generation of homeowners — millenni- als — are reshaping what future buyers will value in their homes. The impact of the following trends will be felt as millennials gradually own more than half of all housing stock, which projections show is likely to hap- pen within the next 10 years. Energy efficiency As homeowners look for more ways to lower their energy consumption, every feature of a house is carefully considered for its efficiency. Monumental doors As the next evolutionary step in connecting a house with its surround- ings, grand-scale doors add flexibility and boost quality of home life. In parts of the country where weather condi- tions are more consistent, monumental doors will become a much more com- mon order for new homes and remod- els. This reflects directly on millennials’ wishes for a more integrated home. Dark colors More homeowners are incorporat- ing dark colors into their color palate — both on exterior and interior color choices. We recognized this at Ander- 24 Andersen launched a new triple pane glass offering for A-Series windows with options that are recognized as the Most Efficient of Energy Star in 2015. sen Windows, which is why we offer a black color option on several of our product lines. Smart homes Each year we hear of new technol- ogy features that help a homeowner stay connected to their home. VeriLock is one such example. This patented sensor is embedded into a window lock, and can tell a homeowner if their windows are closed or opened and, more significant when improving en- ergy performance, locked or unlocked. Sustainability Homeowners have evolved beyond household recycling as their statement of sustainability. Now, they want to know their homes have a less negative impact on the environment. Sustain- ability is a practice applied through- out Andersen, from the raw material sources used to make our products JANUARY 2017 HARDWARE + BUILDING SUPPLY DEALER to manufacturing processes, even delivery logistics. Of course, we make sure our windows are sustainable, too. In fact, Andersen was the first window manufacturer to publish an Environmental Product Declaration that reports on a product’s environmental impact over its life cycle. The refined vision and detailed exploration of what have already been identified as trends for other consumer segments will be ever more important as millennials acquire more homes. These trends align with what they’re looking for, and will expect to find in any home they consider purchasing. Sal Abbate is senior VP and chief sales and marketing officer at An- dersen Windows. Learn more at Andersenwin- dows.com. HBSDealer.com