Gloucestershire based Glevum have been improving peoples’ homes by installing energy efficient doors and windows and high-quality conservatories for over 35 years. This level of experience is rare in the industry and gives the business a great insight into the way that our homes have changed over this period. Using this insight Glevum have got out their crystal ball and share below their views on how our homes will look in thirty years’ time.
More homes will be multi-generational. With the cost of new homes continuing to rise and getting out of reach for many, children will stay in the family home. Also, with many of us living longer and needing more support as we grow older, some will find it easier to care for relatives by having them live under the same roof.
With increasing pressure on development land, new homes will have a smaller footprint and more storeys. This is already happening, but three storey and even four storey homes could become the norm.
With space at premium conservatories will become even more popular as homeowners seek to maximise their inside space. With homes being used for more purposes, entertaining and relaxation space for which conservatories are ideal. will become essential.
Most of us by this point will be generating our own electricity. Solar panels will be the norm and those of us with conservatories will have glass roofs that will also act as solar panels.
By 2050, technology will transform homes into collectors and storers of energy, with electricity generated by non-fossil fuel. Air source and ground source heat pumps will make boilers a thing of the past. Electric cars will be commonplace with every property equipped with a charging point – you won’t have to plug in though, you will simply drive over your charging pad installed in your drive. By 2051 homeowners will manage their energy use from a centralised platform, combining heating, electrical consumption, ventilation, and vehicle charging.
As energy efficiency becomes ever more important, methods already used in some workplaces will become standard in homes, such as allowing non-essential equipment to automatically shut down when electricity is at peak price or when they are not required. There will be no such thing as a “standby” mode on your TV.
Urban homes will access neighbourhood heating and energy networks via a local energy centre. Commercial buildings that do not operate 24/7, will look to export any energy they generate when they do not need it themselves.
The connected home will become the norm with for example fridges ordering your groceries. As far back as 2016 Samsung had some of this functionality built into their fridges. Connected devices will notify repair companies before they break down and where replacement is the only option, orders will be placed with the most competitive retailer.
Windows and doors will be capable of opening remotely with your home management system, they will also notify you and the police if they are tampered with.
Letter boxes will be replaced by smart delivery boxes which can receive deliveries and store parcels. Door-to-door delivery services will become increasingly automated and involve smart cars, shuttle pods that drive around on their own tracks, and aerial drones. Autonomous delivery robots are already being trialled and distribution companies are increasingly focussing on what they call the “last mile” and how the gap between regional delivery units and homes will be bridged.
Household robots are also projected to become the norm by 2051. These could take the form of mobile units or next-generation appliances that are integrated directly into a room. These robots will be able to handle everything from regular household maintenance, cleaning, preparing food, and other such tasks. This may not be as great a jump as we think as vacuum cleaner and mower robots are already in use in some homes.
More homes will have to provide for the needs of over 65’s. Lifts will become more commonplace and things like level access and wheelchair accessible doorways will feature strongly. Technology will also play a part here and there will be heat sensors in flooring that will recognise when someone has fallen, notifying carers and things like mirrors, toilets and even toothbrushes will monitor different aspects of our health. Our homes will also remind us of when to take medication.
All homes will have dedicated workspaces. COVID has accelerated the idea of hybrid working and it is here to stay for many roles. Many new build developers are already including home offices in the new homes they are building.
How many of these forecasts will come true – only time will tell. But one thing is for sure, change is coming, and it is only going to accelerate. If you want to get ahead of the game and install the latest in energy saving doors and windows or you have decided that now is the time to add a conservatory, visit www.glevum.co.uk and request your free home visit now.
