Tucker takes listeners on a journey into the latest innovations in sustainable home construction. Recorded from the 2024 Southern Living Idea Home in Kiawah River, South Carolina, the episode brings together industry experts to discuss the evolving landscape of residential building to create homes that are independent, resilient, and sustainable.
Tucker is joined by:
Tom Dillard, President of Dillard Jones Builders
Matt Blashaw, Owner of Blashaw Residential, Inc.
Will King, President of High Cotton Homes
The conversation covered a wide array of topics, from the demand for backup generators to advancements in energy efficiency and the growing importance of building homes that are both eco-friendly and disaster-resilient.
Building for Independence and Resiliency
The episode opened with Tom Dillard emphasizing the shifting priorities of homeowners today.
“People are definitely interested in independence,” said Dillard. “They want to be able to live where they want and still have access to reliable energy, even in remote areas.”
This trend is particularly noticeable as more homeowners seek to escape urban areas while still ensuring their homes are equipped to handle unexpected events like storms and power outages.
Matt Blashaw agrees, noting a significant uptick in the demand for backup generators.
“Our weather is changing, and we’re seeing more power outages. Home is about safety, and a generator ensures that families will have power when they need it,” he explains.
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- 2024 Southern Living Idea Home in Kiawah River, South Carolina built by Dillard-Jones Builders
Efficiency Meets Innovation
As the conversation shifts to energy efficiency, Will King emphasizes the importance of designing homes that require less energy to operate.
“We pay a lot of attention to our building envelopes and the energy that goes into heating and cooling them,” says King. He explains how advancements in high-efficiency propane furnaces and water heaters are helping to reduce the overall energy footprint of homes, particularly in rural areas where natural gas infrastructure may not be available.
Blashaw, King, and Dillard all agree that efficiency is not just about reducing energy bills but also about minimizing environmental impact. By using less fuel and maximizing the energy from every source, these builders are helping homeowners make greener choices without sacrificing comfort or convenience.
Sustainable Building in the Modern Market
With the residential construction market on the rise, the panel discusses the growing challenge of land availability and how propane is enabling builders to construct homes in more remote locations.
“Propane offers the flexibility to build where natural gas isn’t available, giving homeowners energy independence and the ability to build in areas they might not have considered before,” says Blashaw.
Dillard adds that in coastal areas like Kiawah River, where natural gas infrastructure is lacking, propane is the ideal solution for maintaining energy reliability while preserving the delicate ecosystem.
“Our job is to not impact nature in a negative way while still allowing people to enjoy it,” he says, underscoring the importance of clean fuels in sustainable building.
Disaster Preparedness and Resilience
As natural disasters become more frequent, the panelists share their approaches to building homes that can withstand extreme weather events. Will King, drawing from his experience as a former firefighter, emphasizes the importance of standby generators, safe rooms, and fortified construction standards in ensuring that homes remain safe during power outages and severe storms.
Blashaw, who recently moved from California to Kansas City, shares his newfound respect for tornadoes and how propane generators have become a crucial part of disaster preparedness in the Midwest. “Propane generators are cleaner, more reliable, and require less maintenance than gasoline-powered ones,” he explains.
A Cleaner Future with Propane
Tucker wraps up the discussion by highlighting the environmental benefits of propane. The Southern Living Idea Home is a perfect example of how propane can reduce a home’s carbon footprint while offering the security and independence that homeowners desire. In fact, the home boasts 13% lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to an all-electric equivalent, thanks to efficient propane-powered appliances.