Lifestyles are changing  in many ways, in large part to our economy.  Hopefully a major factor also contributing to this adaptation would also be our increased awareness.  Home choices are changing as well.  Through the first half of 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau finds that:

• The average size of single-family homes was flat in 2008 and down in 2009.
• Homes with at least three bedrooms were down in 2009 for the first time since 1992.
• Homes with four or more bedrooms have been falling since 2007.
• Homes with two or more stories peaked in 2006. Since then there has been in a downward trend.

This appears to indicate that an inefficient home is becoming less desirable. This point is further made with the recent National Association of Home Builders survey in which builders indicated that their top ten priorities for 2010 are:

1. Walk-in closet in the master bedroom
2. Laundry room
3. Insulated front door
4. Great room
5. LOW-e windows
6. Linen closet
7. Programmable thermostat
8. Energy efficient appliances and lighting
9. Separate shower and tub in the master bathroom
10. 9-foot ceilings r higher on the 1^st floor

If you are a homeowner considering remodeling this should also be useful information.