Energy inefficient homes.
With soaring oil and natural gas costs, people will be under mounting pressure to make buildings more energy-efficient, especially as the weather turns colder and higher home heating bills arrive.

A couple of simple things
Generally, it’s the quick and easy, do-it-yourself fixes that have the fastest payback. Big-ticket items like new windows and doors, or adding more insulation to your attic and walls, can cost thousands of dollars. Not only that, it’ll take 15 or more years — longer than most people own their homes — to see much return from lower energy costs. And don’t expect the next buyer to pay a premium for your efforts and investment.

I think that rising energy prices are going to have a significant impact on housing affordability. Hopefully this will provide the impetus needed for private industry to exercise its innovation and develop alternative fuels and more efficient and economically feasible houses.