Did You Know?

Home Improvement Trends

According to a 2008 survey from online business directory Kudzo.com, one in four Americans have hired a professional to fix or finish a home improvement project they first attempted themselves in an effort to save money. Nearly four in ten Americans age 45 and older think hiring a professional for a home improvement project is more cost-effective than doing it themselves, compared to 32% of those 18–44.

Recession Shoppers

According to a 2008 study by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates, Inc., consumers are curbing their shopping habits due to the economy. A new group, called “recession shoppers,” has reported that they will now go online to find the best deals, coupons, and discounts. Because of a coupon or discount, 68% of “recession shoppers” purchased something online that they wouldn’t have otherwise, and 64% purchased something online from a particular retailer that they wouldn’t have otherwise visited.

Consumer Energy Waste

According to a 2008 study by SMR Research Corporation, home and family size can greatly affect consumer energy waste. Results showed that those in single-person households use 18.4% more energy per capita than those in two-person households, and 52.8% more energy per capita than those in three-person households. In addition, people in houses with ten or more rooms use 18.8% more energy than people in eight-room homes, and 31.3% more than people in seven-room homes—regardless of the age of the home.