The Building Materials Industry Can and Must Continue to Innovate
I recently attended the inaugural Housing Innovation Vision Economics (HIVE) conference in LA. Kudos to Hanley Wood for a successful first-time event.
The opening keynote was JB Straubel, co-founder of Tesla. Arguably one of the more innovative companies right now, Tesla is doing more than just making a beautiful electric car.
When Tesla brainstorms, they start with the problem they’re trying to solve. Their team wanted to reduce harmful emissions. How could they do that? By making an electric car that people would actually buy.
JB and his team looked at how established companies were building cars. Tesla realized how inefficient the process was and created a new way.
Tesla has been essential in integrating renewable energy. Its products, like the Powerwall and Powerpack, revolutionize energy solutions by storing solar energy for use during peak times. This allows homes and businesses to rely less on traditional power grids.
By focusing on sustainable energy, Tesla expands its innovation to craft a cleaner future.
During HIVE, two consistent problems kept bubbling up: the housing industry’s labor shortage and the increasing challenge of affordable housing.
How do we create a new way?
How do we build a better process for attracting, hiring and retaining labor? How do we hack and disrupt and innovate to make homes more affordable?
Tesla’s strides in autonomous vehicle technology showcase their innovative spirit. The development of Autopilot, offering semi-autonomous driving, shows the company’s commitment to safety and efficiency. Their focus on software updates keeps vehicles at the forefront of automotive technology.
This commitment reflects Tesla’s approach of constantly moving beyond conventional methods.
How do we follow Tesla’s lead?
Innovation isn’t industry specific. You don’t have to be Tesla to push the boundaries. A mature industry like ours can continue to innovate – in fact, we have to.
Better design. Better space planning. Better land management. All are important to meet the needs of shifting demographics, sustainability measures and first-time homebuyers.
HIVE was definitely not the typical building materials and housing industry conference. But the conversation about how our industry innovates can’t be limited to an annual event.
What “blue sky” idea is our industry pursuing today that will be mainstream tomorrow?
