The Housing Shortage: Are 3D Printers the Solution?
There currently exists an immediate demand for more than 4 million homes in the United States, according to reports from the White House. The housing sector, has been facing a decrease in new construction and a simultaneous increase in demand, and that has resulted in a nearly 20% increase in the cost of a new home as millennials begin to settle down and seek housing.
To understand the scope of the problem, it's necessary to look back at the 2008 recession. The production of homes decreased significantly during that time; it was one of the worst housing market crashes since the Great Depression. When people stopped buying houses during the recession, builders went bankrupt, tradespeople were forced out of the industry, and production saw a nearly unprecedented lull.
Normally, it's expected that an industry will rebound from such a setback, and perhaps even experience growth, but sadly, that did not happen in the housing industry, rather, the slow down remained steady for nearly the entire decade that followed.
The slowing of the industry did not slow the demand for housing, so organizations like Habitat for Humanity have been considering ways to address the need for housing while keeping consumer costs low.
Habitat for Humanity proposed the idea of using large 3D printers to address the problem. This particular solution is still in its infancy, and so far only a handful of new homes have been constructed with the help of a large format printer. Currently, this production method has not proved less expensive than traditionally constructed homes, however, the outlook is hopeful. Time is money, so if the 3D printer technology can be improved and construction expedited, there's a good chance that it will drive down the cost of a new home. That addresses not one, but two of the existing problems in the building industry. This could potentially reduce the cost of labor, and also address the absence of builders in the workforce.
In addition to the exploratory work being done by Habitat for Humanity, there are a few other companies trying to reduce building costs through 3D printing. In the Bay Area, Mighty Building is working on a 3D printed planned community in Coachella Valley. In Austin, TX, Icon Co. has been working on a community focused project intended to address the needs of more than 450 unhoused individuals. using 3D printed homes." Houston based Peri is using 3D printing technology to supply Habitat for Humanity with affordable houses as well.
These 3D printed homes can be constructed in around half of the time it takes to build a traditional home which means the housing shortage can be addressed more quickly. As 3D printing technology rapidly improves, it will become more available, less costly, and more prolific in the years to come, which in turn offers up a viable solution to the housing shortage in America and in the world.