ANNOUNCER: BRICK BY BRICK IS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO LEADING SUPPORT FROM: AND MANY MORE.

WE COULDN'T DO THIS WORK WITHOUT YOU.

THANK YOU.

THOMPSON: WHILE THE NEED FOR HOUSING REMAINS HIGH, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR INCOME, THERE'S ALSO A SURGING DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY IN OHIO DRIVEN BY INDUSTRY, BUT ULTIMATELY DRIVING UP PRICES FOR ALL OF US.

HOLZHAUSER: FOR MANY HOMEOWNERS, REGARDLESS OF INCOME, THEIR ENERGY BILLS ARE A LOT OF TIMES THEIR SECOND OR THIRD LARGEST COST.

THOMPSON: ONE RESPONSE TO CONTROL THOSE COSTS AND DECREASE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT IS ROOFTOP OR RESIDENTIAL SOLAR POWER.

IT'S NOT A NEW OPTION, BUT AS SOME CONSIDER A SWITCH, FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SOLUTION MAY FACE ITS OWN SUNSET.

ESTILL: AND IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

I'VE ONLY RECEIVED ONE ELECTRIC BILL A YEAR.

SO WE'RE QUITE PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS.

THOMPSON: PLUS, A TECH RESPONSE TO ADD MORE HOUSING QUICKLY BY 3D PRINTING THEM.

SMOLL: YOU CAN BUILD IT ACTUALLY CHEAPER, YOU CAN BUILD IT FASTER AND YOU CAN BUILD A BETTER QUALITY PRODUCT.

THOMPSON: WE VISIT WITH AN OHIO DEVELOPER ADVANCING THIS APPROACH REGIONALLY TO SEE WHAT IT CAN OFFER.

WE'RE TALKING HIGH TECH RESPONSES TODAY.

SO LET'S GET INTO IT.

THIS IS BRICK BY BRICK; SOLUTIONS FOR A THRIVING COMMUNITY.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO BRICK BY BRICK, WHERE WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING SOLUTIONS FOR A THRIVING COMMUNITY IN SOUTHWEST OHIO.

I'M ANN THOMPSON, ONCE AGAIN ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES, MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST EMIKO MOORE AND HERNZ LAGUERRE, JR.. HEY, TEAM.

LAGUERRE: HELLO.

MOORE: HELLO, ANN.

THOMPSON: SO WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT A NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS, EACH WITH THEIR OWN CHALLENGES.

MOORE: THAT'S RIGHT, THE HEADLINES AROUND HOUSING CONTINUE TO BE THAT INTEREST RATES AND PRICES ARE TOO HIGH FOR MOST HOME BUYERS, WHETHER YOU'RE WANTING TO BUILD NEW OR TO BUY A HOME.

SO THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO LOOK AT 3D PRINTED TECHNOLOGY TO SEE WHAT IT'S ADDING IN TERMS OF ADDING DIFFERENT SUPPLIES TO THE HOUSING.

THOMPSON: AND THAT IS SO FUN TO WATCH, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE BIG ROBOTIC ARMS.

MOORE: YES, IT SEEMS TO HAVE SPEED ON ITS SIDE, AND AT A TIME WHEN WE NEED MORE HOUSING ASAP.

THOMPSON: DEFINITELY.

WELL, HERNZ, YOU AND I HAVE BEEN ON THE SOLAR POWER BEAT.

LAGUERRE: YEAH, WHEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT RESIDENTIAL SOLAR, I THINK THEY PRIMARILY THINK IT'S FOR CLIMATE CHANGE OR A WAY TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT.

BUT AS ENERGY NEEDS CONTINUE TO GROW AND ENERGY BILLS CONTINUE TO RISE, I THINK PROPERTY OWNERS ARE LOOKING AT SOLAR ENERGY AS A WAY TO ALSO REDUCE THEIR COST.

THOMPSON: THAT IS SO TRUE, AND I'VE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT LOW TO MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS CAN BENEFIT, SO THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOLAR.

I MEAN, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO ENERGY BILLS AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE CONSISTENTLY GOING UP.

AND THIS COULD BE ONE WAY TO COMBAT THAT.

LAGUERRE: THAT'LL BE HELPFUL BECAUSE THESE SOLAR SOLUTIONS COULD BE QUITE EXPENSIVE.

THOMPSON: WELL, LET'S GET INTO IT, SHALL WE?

LAGUERRE: SURE.

THOMPSON: WE'LL SEE YOU IN A BIT.

HERNZ AND EMIKO.

MOORE: THANKS, ANN.

THOMPSON: SO, LET'S LOOK AT THE STATE OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION, AND THEN WE CAN EXAMINE SOLAR AS A SOLUTION.

VARIOUS NEWS OUTLETS REPORT THAT THERE COULD BE SHORTAGES AS EARLY AS 2027 IN OHIO DUE TO INDUSTRIAL AND PUBLIC DEMAND, ALONG WITH MORE EXTREME WEATHER PATTERNS FORCING HIGHER HEATING AND COOLING USAGE.

A LARGE PART OF THE DEMAND IS FROM DATA CENTERS, WHICH SERVE AS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR AI.

TO MEET THOSE NEEDS IN PART, POWER COMPANIES ARE SPENDING MORE TO BUILD OUT AND UPDATE THEIR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE AND INCREASING RATES IN TOW.

DUMOULIN-SMITH: AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING, ESPECIALLY IN THE MID-ATLANTIC OF LATE, THERE ARE BILLS GOING UP IN A RATHER ACUTE WAY, DRIVEN BY THE FACTORS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT ARE DATA CENTERS, RIGHT?

FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND AGAIN, IN A WORLD IN WHICH, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST THE NEED TO SORT OF DRIVE INFLATION BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND THE SECTOR ITSELF IS BUILDING OUT RAPIDLY.

BUT IN THIS WAY ELECTRICITY BILLS ARE GOING UP DIRECTLY BECAUSE THEY'RE COMPETING WITH DATA CENTERS FOR ELECTRICITY.

THOMPSON: THESE CENTERS, WHICH HOUSE COMPUTER EQUIPMENT THAT PROPELS THINGS LIKE AI SERVICES, ARE PROLIFERATING IN OHIO.

OHIO HAS 188 OF THEM, PUTTING THE STATE IN THE TOP TEN IN THE COUNTRY.

MOST ARE NEAR COLUMBUS, 20 ARE IN CINCINNATI, AND A HANDFUL OF THEM ARE IN SUBURBAN DAYTON.

AS FAR AS INCREASED PRICES REGIONALLY, AES OHIO HAS FILED FOR A 14% INCREASE, WHICH, IF APPROVED, WOULD RAISE COSTS $261 PER YEAR FOR CUSTOMERS IN DAYTON AND OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

FOR TRANSPARENCY, AES OHIO FOUNDATION IS A SPONSOR OF THIS INITIATIVE.

THE OTHER MAIN SUPPLIER, DUKE ENERGY, STARTED INCREASING ELECTRICITY RATES THIS SUMMER FOR CINCINNATI RESIDENTS.

THE 25% HIKE TRANSLATES INTO AN AVERAGE $10 EXTRA A MONTH.

AGAIN, BOTH COMPANIES SAY THE HIKES ARE TO COVER THE COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

SO THIS HAS SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS LOOKING TO SOLAR AS AN OPTION TO LOWER ELECTRICITY BILLS IN THE LONG RUN, WHILE ALSO REDUCING THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT IMMEDIATELY.

THE AVERAGE OHIO HOUSEHOLD USES 811 KILOWATT HOURS PER MONTH, AND THE AVERAGE 18 SOLAR PANELS CAN GENERATE MORE THAN THAT IN OUR STATE WITH PROPER CONDITIONS.

WHILE SUBSIDIES AND TAX CREDITS HAVE BEEN THE MAIN MODE OF HELPING HOMEOWNERS ADOPT ROOFTOP SOLAR, THE TECHNOLOGY WILL BE GETTING HARDER TO FINANCE GIVEN UPCOMING CHANGES TO THE FEDERAL TAX CODE.

UNDER THE BUDGET RECONCILIATION BILL, HOMEOWNERS HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST TO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS AND LOCK IN THE 30% TAX CREDIT.

FOLLOWING THAT DATE, THE OPPORTUNITY WON'T JUST VANISH, BUT ACCORDING TO INDUSTRY EXPERTS, UNLESS YOU CAN PAY FOR THE INSTALL YOURSELF, HOMEOWNERS WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO WORK WITH THE SOLAR LEASING COMPANY TO TAP INTO TAX CREDIT SAVINGS, SINCE COMMERCIAL TAX CREDITS EXTEND OUT FURTHER.

BECAUSE OF THE TICKING CLOCK THOUGH, INTERESTED HOMEOWNERS ARE CURRENTLY FLOODING THE MARKET TO INSTALL ROOFTOP SOLAR BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR TO GET THOSE TAX CREDITS.

BOTH CINCINNATI AND DAYTON SUSTAINABILITY OFFICES ARE GETTING LOTS OF QUESTIONS ON THE NEW RULE CHANGES AND RAMIFICATIONS.

HERNZ LAGUERRE, JR.

JOINS US AGAIN.

AND HERNZ, TO DIVE DEEPER INTO THE SOLUTION, YOU CONNECTED WITH A FEW PROPERTY OWNERS ADOPTING SOLAR.

WHAT WERE THEIR MOTIVATIONS AND IS IT PAYING OFF?

LAGUERRE: YEAH, I'D SAY IT'S PAYING OFF IN MULTIPLE WAYS.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GET SOLAR FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

ONE IS SUSTAINABILITY, DECREASING OUR RESIDENTIAL RELIANCE ON A TAX GRID, AND A TAXED ATMOSPHERE, THE OTHER IS COST SAVINGS ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL.

AS THE SUN RISES IN THE WEST END NEIGHBORHOOD, THE ENERGY BILLS FALL IN CHRIS HECKMAN'S 1870S HOME.

HECKMAN: OUR INTERACTION WITH THE GRID, IT'S LESS ENERGY.

IF YOU WERE THE POWER COMPANY, IF YOU WERE DUKE LOOKING AT OUR HOUSE, YOU WOULD ASSUME THAT IT'S A MUCH SMALLER HOUSE BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY THAT WE'RE USING.

LAGUERRE: CHRIS'S HOME IS FULLY ELECTRIC, AND HIS DEPENDENCE ON THE ELECTRICAL GRID IS LESS BECAUSE OF THE ENERGY HIS SOLAR PANELS BRING INTO HIS NET ZERO HOME.

HECKMAN: NET ZERO MEANS THAT YOU ARE GENERATING MOST OF THE ENERGY THAT YOUR HOUSE IS ALSO CONSUMING.

LAGUERRE: DURING ANOTHER VISIT, CHRIS SHOWED ME THE BATTERY IN THE BASEMENT OF HIS HOME THAT STORES SOME OF THE ELECTRICITY GENERATED BY THE SOLAR PANELS.

THERE IS EVEN AN APP TO TRACK THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY BEING USED THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE.

HECKMAN: SO RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE THAT THE ENERGY IS COMING DOWN FROM THE ROOF AND GOING TO THE BATTERY TO POWER UP THE BATTERY AND GOING TO THE HOUSE, REPRESENTED BY THE WINDOWS.

AND RIGHT NOW THE GRID, I'M NOT USING ANY GRID POWER.

IT'S AT ZERO.

LAGUERRE: AT 3600 SQUARE FEET, CHRIS PAYS ABOUT $160 A MONTH IN ELECTRIC BILLS IN A HOUSE WHERE HE, HIS WIFE AND THEIR TWO KIDS STAY.

DEPENDING ON THE SEASON, HE USES ABOUT 25-60KW A DAY, AND HIS SOLAR PANELS GENERATE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 10-50KW A DAY.

BUT CHRIS DOESN'T ONLY WANT TO SUSTAIN HIS ENERGY USAGE.

HECKMAN: AS SMALL AS OUR ROW HOME IS, WE'RE ABLE TO GENERATE ABOUT HALF OF THE ELECTRICITY THAT OUR HOME USES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

LAGUERRE: CHRIS ALSO WANTS TO SUSTAIN THE ENVIRONMENT.

HECKMAN: OTHER THAN COLLECTING FREE ENERGY FROM THE SUN, IT ALSO DOESN'T EMIT ANY OF THE GASES THAT CAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE OR CAUSE THE ATMOSPHERE TO TRAP SOME OF THE HEAT THAT COMES FROM THE SUN.

IT'S PART OF WHAT WE CALL CLEAN ENERGY, FOR THAT REASON, AND I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY WILL CONSIDER LOOKING INTO SOLAR FOR THEIR HOMES FOR THAT REASON.

LAGUERRE: CHRIS BELIEVES IN THIS CLEAN ENERGY MODEL SO MUCH HE INSTALLED SOLAR ARRAYS ON HIS NEW RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY CALLED PLEASANT FLATS.

I'M STANDING ON TOP OF THIS FIVE UNIT RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CREATED BY HIS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY CALLED PLEASANT CAKE, LLC.

THE SOLAR ENERGY WILL BE CONVERTED INTO ELECTRICITY TO MEET THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS.

ANY EXCESS ENERGY GOES BACK INTO THE GRID IN A PROCESS CALLED NET METERING.

THE SOLAR ARRAY PROVIDES IMMEDIATE COST SAVINGS FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT MOVE IN.

HECKMAN: THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUSINESS, RUNNING THE BUSINESS, THAT'LL BE LOWER BECAUSE OF THE SOLAR PANELS.

LAGUERRE: THE RESIDENTS WILL, I GUESS -- HECKMAN: BY EXTENSION, GET A LITTLE BIT OF, YEAH, A LITTLE BIT OF A CUT THERE.

LAGUERRE: BUT CHRIS TELLS ME THERE'S OTHER WAYS TO SAVE.

HECKMAN: SOLAR IS REALLY GREAT, BUT INSULATION WORKS 24/7, AND THAT IS THE BIGGEST THING THAT, AS FAR AS OUR RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED, IS GOING TO SAVE THEM THE MOST MONEY.

LAGUERRE: ALSO LOOKING TO SAVE THE MOST MONEY ARE CATHERINE AND ERIC ESTILL IN THE VILLAGE OF MAINEVILLE IN WARREN COUNTY.

THEY PUT THEIR SOLAR PANELS ON THE ROOF OF THEIR HORSE BARN, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TREES THAT SHADE THE ROOF OF THEIR HOUSE.

FOR THE ESTILLS SOLAR PANELS HAVE BEEN... ESTILL: VERY SUCCESSFUL.

I'VE ONLY RECEIVED ONE ELECTRIC BILL A YEAR, MID-WINTER, FOR THE EXTRA HEATING, SO WE'RE QUITE PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS.

LAGUERRE: BUT THERE'S ONE THING THAT PROPELLED THEM TO GO SOLAR IN THE FIRST PLACE.

ESTILL: WE HAD CONSIDERED IT EARLIER, LIKE ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO.

AT THAT TIME, THE PAYBACK WASN'T SUFFICIENT.

BUT WITH A 30% FEDERAL REBATE, THAT WAS ATTRACTIVE BECAUSE WE GOT THAT MONEY BACK RIGHT AWAY, WELL, ALMOST RIGHT AWAY.

LAGUERRE: BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT REBATE IS GOING AWAY DUE TO THE RECONCILIATION BILL.

WITH ALL THE CHANGES SOON TO BE AFFECTING THE SOLAR INDUSTRY, I REACHED OUT TO LOUIS CONNELL, THE DIRECTOR OF SALES FOR THE SOLAR AND INSULATION COMPANY, SUSTAINERGY.

THEY'RE THE SAME COMPANY BEING USED ON PLEASANT FLATS.

USING SOLAR FOR ELECTRICITY, IS THAT THE FUTURE?

CONNELL: YEAH.

LAGUERRE: WHY?

CONNELL: THE GRID BURDEN IS ONLY GROWING, BUT THE SUPPLY IS NOT.

RENEWABLES ARE INEVITABLE BECAUSE RENEWABLES ARE SCALABLE, THEY'RE CHEAPER, AND THEY'RE A LOT MORE SUSTAINABLE.

SO THEY'RE BETTER FOR THE POCKET OF EVERYBODY, AND THEY'RE A LOT BETTER FOR THE EARTH.

LAGUERRE: ON AVERAGE, ONE OF THESE SOLAR INSTALLATIONS CAN COST AROUND $20-30,000 AROUND THE COUNTRY.

SOLAR PANELS IN OHIO ARE A BIT MORE, ON AVERAGE $33,000.

THE FEDERAL TAX CREDITS EXPIRING AT THE END OF THE YEAR WOULD PAY 10,000 OF THAT.

ANN.

THOMPSON: THANKS, HERNZ.

IF A HOMEOWNER INSTALLS THE SYSTEM WITHOUT ANY TAX CREDITS, IS THERE A TIME FRAME FOR GETTING YOUR RETURN?

LAGUERRE: YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, ANN.

YOU KNOW, WITHOUT TAX CREDITS IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT, I WOULD SAY, 17 YEARS FOR HOMEOWNERS TO EARN BACK THEIR SOLAR INVESTMENTS BASED ON OFFSETS AND SURPLUS.

THOMPSON: THANKS, HERNZ.

GREAT INFORMATION.

WE'LL SEE YOU A BIT LATER.

ALONG WITH THE EXPIRING CREDIT, THERE ARE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GRANTS AND REBATES THROUGH UTILITY COMPANIES YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET.

BUT EVEN WITH THOSE, YOU MAY STILL NEED TO SEEK FINANCING.

AS IT TURNS OUT, NOT ALL BANKS ARE INTERESTED, EVEN IF IT'S A PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT.

HOLZHAUSER: LENDING TO A HOME OR BUILDING THAT IS MORE EFFICIENT, A HOME OR BUILDING THAT IS MORE EFFICIENT, THERE'S A LOT OF DATA IN THE MARKETPLACE THAT SAYS IT'S A MORE STABLE BUILDING FINANCIALLY, YOU'RE REDUCING OPERATING COSTS IN THAT HOME OR BUILDING, AND THUS THE HOME OR BUILDING OWNER HAS GREATER ABILITY TO REPAY A LOAN.

THAT SAID, YOU CAN'T -- IT'S HARD TO JUST GO TO A BANK AND GET AN OFF THE SHELF FINANCING PRODUCT.

THOMPSON: IF TRADITIONAL BANKS WON'T SUPPORT, THERE ARE GREEN BANKS THAT OFFER SAVINGS.

THE NONPROFIT COLUMBUS REGION GREEN FUND IS ONE.

LATER THIS YEAR, IT WILL OFFER A LOAN THAT'S NOT DETERMINED BY YOUR CREDIT.

IT'S UNDERWRITTEN ON YOUR ABILITY TO PAY, LIKE SENDING IN YOUR UTILITY BILL ON TIME.

THAT'S IMPORTANT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD CREDIT SCORE.

SO, WITH INCREASING GOVERNMENT CUTBACKS, HOW CAN LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOMEOWNERS ACCESS ROOFTOP SOLAR?

A PILOT PROGRAM IS UNDERWAY IN CINCINNATI FROM THE QUASI GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, THE PORT.

ON THIS WALNUT HILLS STREET LINED WITH ROW HOUSES, ALEX POWERS FOUND A HOME HE COULD AFFORD, ONE OF EIGHT INCOME RESTRICTED ONES THE PORT AND THE WALNUT HILLS REDEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION BUILT ON CONCORD AVENUE.

POWERS: IT IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL HOME.

AND FOR THE PRICE POINT THAT IT WAS, IT WAS LIKE TOTALLY WORTH IT.

YEAH.

THOMPSON: WHEN DID YOU NOTICE IT HAD SOLAR?

POWERS: WE DID THE INITIAL WALKTHROUGH, AND THEN WE SAW THAT IT HAD SOLAR PANELS AND WE WALKED OUTSIDE, WE WERE LIKE, "OH, COOL."

THOMPSON: THE PORT PAID $16,000 EACH TO PUT THE PANELS ON FOUR OF THE HOMES.

THAT'S A WELCOME BONUS FOR POWERS, WHO'S ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT HIS RISING ELECTRIC COSTS.

POWERS: WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF DUKE ENERGY.

THERE'S NOT REALLY MUCH OTHER OPTIONS OUT THERE FOR US TO GET ENERGY FROM, SO IT'S LIKE WHATEVER THEY SAY GOES.

AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO TO BRING THAT PRICE DOWN, ESPECIALLY IN AN ALL ELECTRIC HOME, I'LL TAKE IT.

THOMPSON: THE 13 SOLAR PANELS WILL SAVE POWERS $100 A MONTH, AND THE SYSTEM IS HIS TO KEEP.

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL ANDREW GARTH SAYS THE PORT USED EXPIRING FEDERAL TAX CREDITS AND FRONTED THE REST OF THE COST, AND THAT BENEFITS HOMEOWNERS.

GARTH: THEY PAY $0 FOR THAT, AND AFTER FIVE YEARS IN THE HOUSE, THE SOLAR BECOMES THEIR OWN ASSET.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE A SERVICE WARRANTY TO COVER ALL THE REPAIRS, IF ANYTHING SHOULD BE NEEDED, TO GO WRONG.

AND THE SOLAR PANELS THEMSELVES ARE UNDER WARRANTY FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

THOMPSON: I BET OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE LOOKING AT THIS AND THINKING, "MAYBE WE COULD DO THIS."

AS SOME OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING HAS BEEN CUT, THE SOLAR FOR ALL PROGRAM, MAYBE THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT A COMMUNITY COULD DO.

AND YOU TALK REGULARLY TO THESE OTHER COMMUNITIES?

GARTH: ABSOLUTELY.

THROUGH THE CINCINNATI GREEN BANK, WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP OF ENTITIES HERE, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, IN THE CINCINNATI REGION, WHO ARE WORKING TO BRING MORE FEDERAL FUNDING AND RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATION TO THE REGION'S SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS.

WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS SCALABLE ACROSS THE BOARD.

THOMPSON: SCALABLE WITHOUT FEDERAL SOLAR TAX CREDITS.

THE HOPE IS THAT THE PORT AND THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT WILL ESSENTIALLY HAVE PLUG AND PLAY OPTIONS THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE AND ADOPT AND APPLY TO THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.

AND IT'S POSSIBLE THAT SOME OF THE HOMES INSIDE THE PORTS CARE PORTFOLIO IT BOUGHT FROM AN OUT-OF-TOWN INVESTOR MAY ALSO BENEFIT FROM SOLAR.

3D PRINTING PROCESSES HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT IN INDUSTRY AND ARE ALSO ANOTHER POSSIBLE RESPONSE FOR MORE BROADLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THESE DAYS ON HOME SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ROBOTIC ARMS SQUEEZE OUT CONCRETE LIKE TOOTHPASTE, BUILDING EVERYTHING FROM TINY HOMES TO $1 MILLION ONES.

ONE BUILDER, ICON, WHICH BUILT 100 HOMES IN ONE TEXAS DEVELOPMENT, EVEN HAS A CONTRACT WITH NASA FOR BUILDING THE TECHNOLOGY TO 3D PRINT STRUCTURES ON THE MOON.

FOR HOUSING BACK ON EARTH, THE PROCESS IS PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT SIMPLER.

BUILDERS INSTALL A TRADITIONAL FOUNDATION AND THEN USE ROBOTIC ARMS TO CREATE THE STRUCTURAL WALLS, USING THE EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGY TO BUILD UP A QUICK DRYING CONCRETE MIXTURE LAYER BY LAYER, A RELATIVELY FAST AND FLEXIBLE PROCESS.

ACCORDING TO BUILDERS, A SINGLE PRINTER CAN DO THE JOB OF MORE THAN A DOZEN CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.

THERE'S A RANGE OF MODELS, BUT WITH THIS TECH, CREWS CAN PRINT A CORE STRUCTURE IN ABOUT 24 HOURS.

IT'S DEFINITELY STILL A NICHE INDUSTRY, THOUGH, WITH JUST A HANDFUL OF COMPANIES 3D PRINTING HOMES.

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST EMIKO MOORE JOINS US AGAIN LOOKING INTO THIS SOLUTION.

EMIKO, YOU'VE BEEN TALKING TO AN OHIO DEVELOPER WHO WAS WONDERING IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD WORK.

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

MOORE: WELL, OHIO HOUSING DEVELOPER JOHN SMOLL HAD RESERVATIONS AT FIRST, BUT ONCE HE SAW HOW IT COULD BUILD FASTER AND STRONGER HOMES WITH SOME SAVINGS, HE QUICKLY SAW THE POTENTIAL TO HELP RESPOND TO THE RISING TIDE OF HOUSING COSTS.

JOHN SMOLL, OWNER OF OPEN VISION BUILDERS, WITH OVER 30 YEARS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, WASN'T SOLD ON 3D PRINTED HOMES WHEN THE CONCEPT WAS BROUGHT TO HIM.

BUT HIS PARTNERS IN SUSTAINABLE CONCRETE INNOVATIONS WANTED TO TEST IT OUT, BUILDING OHIO'S FIRST 3D PRINTED HOME IN WAPAKONETA.

SMOLL: AS WE PRINTED THE FIRST HOUSE, AS THE WALLS WERE GOING UP, MY SKEPTICISM WAS COMING DOWN.

IT'S VERY REASONABLE TO THINK ABOUT BUILDING A 3D PRINTED HOME WITHIN A MONTH.

MOORE: AND INSTEAD OF 3 TO 5 YEARS TO TRAIN SOMEONE TO BUILD A CONVENTIONAL HOME, TRAINING FOR 3D PRINTING A HOME TAKES JUST A FEW WEEKS.

MANY YOUNG ADULTS ARE EXPERIENCED WITH USING 3D PRINTERS.

SMOLL: THEY KNOW MORE ABOUT IT THAN I DO WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THE HOUSING, HOW TO BUILD A HOUSE, THEY UNDERSTAND HOW TO MAKE THE HOUSE.

AND SO I SAID THAT'S A GAME CHANGER.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT BROUGHT ME ON BOARD.

I GOT REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT WHEN I RECOGNIZED THAT WE ACTUALLY NOW HAVE SOMETHING THAT CAN MOVE THE NEEDLE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND AFFORDABLE FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS.

MOORE: SMOLL SAYS HE IS AMAZED BY THE INTEREST FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS.

ONE HIRE, BENJAMIN HOWARD, WHO NOW DOES A LOT OF WORK, CAME WITH NO CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE.

HOWARD: I'D SAY IT TAKES ABOUT TWO WEEKS JUST TO GET THE BASICS DOWN.

THAT'S JUST ALL THE REAL BASIC STUFF.

TO BE COMPETENT AT IT, I'D SAY, YOU KNOW, JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS IS REALLY ALL IT TAKES.

IT'S VERY SIMPLE OVERALL.

AND IF YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND IN, LIKE, COMPUTERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT FOR MODELING, SETTING UP MODELS WITH CAD AND BIM, WHICH IS, UH, BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING, THEN, YEAH, YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY DO IT VERY, VERY QUICKLY.

MOORE: ALSO RAPIDLY GROWING IS DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH IN CONCRETE.

SMOLL: WE NEED OUR CONCRETE TO BE HARD IN ABOUT 3 TO 5 MINUTES.

SO FROM THE TIME IT EXTRUDES FROM THE NOZZLE WITHIN ABOUT 60 TO 120 SECONDS THAT NEEDS TO BE HARD ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE LAYERS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, BUILDING UP ON IT.

SO WE PRINT A WALL SECTION, A NINE FOOT TALL WALL, AND WE DO THAT IN 45 MINUTES.

WE'RE GETTING A LOT MORE FASTER CEMENTS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS WE'RE ACTUALLY STARTING TO USE A CEMENT THAT WAS, UH, IT'S ZERO CARBON FOOTPRINT, BASICALLY, BECAUSE IT'S CREATED FROM FLY ASH, WHICH COMES OUT OF COAL MINES.

RIGHT?

SO WE'RE USING, AGAIN, A SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO.

MOORE: CONSTRUCTION SITES ARE EASIER TO MANEUVER, SINCE A 3D PRINTER ONLY TAKES AN EIGHT BY EIGHT FOOT SPACE.

SMOLL: A LOT OF THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE LOTS THAT ARE INFILL, WE CALL URBAN INFILL, WHICH IS PRIMARILY WHY WE BOUGHT THE ROBOTIC PRINTER, BECAUSE IT NEEDS A VERY SMALL FOOTPRINT.

SO NOW I CAN GO IN AND PRINT NEXT TO HOMES THAT ARE EXISTING ON VERY SMALL LOTS AND BUILD SMALL HOMES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE.

SO WE BRING A GENERATOR ON SITE.

WHICH ANOTHER COOL THING WITH THAT IS WE'RE COMPLETELY OFF GRID, SO WE CAN LITERALLY TAKE THIS ANYWHERE AND BUILD ANYWHERE.

SO ON A MOUNTAINSIDE, YOU KNOW, IN A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY THAT HAS NO INFRASTRUCTURE, WE COULD DO THAT ALL ON SITE.

MOORE: TODAY, SMOLL HAS FINISHED A SECOND 3D PRINTED HOME IN LIMA, OHIO, WHICH HE AND HIS WIFE PLANNED TO LIVE IN.

SMOLL: IT'S A VERY DURABLE AND STRONG STRUCTURE.

IT ALSO HAS CONCRETE COLUMNS THAT COME DOWN THE WALL WITHIN THE WALL, SO WIND RESISTANCE, HAIL RESISTANCE, DEBRIS IN A TORNADO, IN THEORY, MUCH MORE DURABLE.

MOORE: AND EASY TO ADD TEXTURES TO THE WALLS.

SMOLL: FOR ME TO PRINT A WALL THAT HAS SOME DESIGN TO IT, MAYBE CURVES OR ARCHES, VERY EASY TO DO AND DOESN'T ADD TO THE COST.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD IN CONVENTIONAL CONSTRUCTION WOULD COST A LOT MORE.

MOORE: OVER TIME, SMOLL ANTICIPATES THE COST WILL BE 15 TO 20% LESS THAN CONVENTIONAL CONSTRUCTION.

AND THE KEY TO AFFORDABILITY IS BUILDING SMALLER HOMES THAT CAN ADAPT OVER TIME.

SMOLL: DOWN THE ROAD, IF YOU NEED A LITTLE MORE SPACE, YOU CAN ADD A LITTLE MORE SPACE WITHOUT HAVING TO HAVE THAT MASSIVE MORTGAGE UPFRONT.

MOORE: SMOLL SAYS MANY CITIES HAVE BEEN RECEPTIVE, INCLUDING LIMA.

SMOLL: SO THAT'S WHERE WE'LL BE ACTUALLY BE DOING SOME CONCEPT HOMES THAT ARE IN THAT 7-800 SQUARE FOOT RANGE, HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR.

WE'RE THRILLED ABOUT THAT, THAT WE GET TO USE OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AS A STEPPING STONE TO HOPEFULLY MAKE THIS WORK THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

MOORE: SINCE TAPING, SMOLL HAS FINISHED HIS 3D PRINTED HOME.

WHILE HE AND HIS WIFE WERE PLANNING TO MOVE INTO IT, SMOLL HAS BEEN BUSY SHOWING IT AS A MODEL HOME, SO HE DECIDED TO BUILD ANOTHER ONE FIRST BEFORE THEY MOVE IN.

SMOLL IS ALSO WAITING ON THE CITY OF LIMA TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HIS TINY HOMES PLAN.

ANN.

THOMPSON: THANKS, EMIKO.

SO WE'RE SEEING ON THE SCREEN THE FIRST 3D PRINTED HOME IN OHIO.

IS THERE A WAY PEOPLE CAN CHECK IT OUT IN PERSON?

MOORE: YES, ACTUALLY YOU CAN VISIT THE FIRST 3D PRINTED HOME SMOLL BUILT.

IT IS CURRENTLY AN AIRBNB THAT YOU CAN RENT IN WAPAKONETA, WHICH AS MANY KNOW, IS THE HOMETOWN OF ASTRONAUT NEIL ARMSTRONG.

AND GET THIS, THE TAGLINE IS: FIRST TO THE MOON AND FIRST OHIO 3D PRINTED HOME.

THOMPSON: INTERESTING.

WONDER WHAT THE RATE ON THAT AIRBNB IS.

MOORE: IT'D BE WORTH CHECKING OUT.

THOMPSON: THANKS, EMIKO.

WHILE THE TECHNOLOGY IS IMPRESSIVE, ESPECIALLY IN SPEED AND STURDINESS, THIS HOME BUILDING APPROACH, LIKE OTHERS, HAS LIMITATIONS.

FOR INSTANCE, IT'S NOT TYPICALLY PART OF THE BUILDING CODE IN MANY DISTRICTS YET, SO GAINING VARIANCES AND APPROVAL CAN ADD SOME TIME TO THE PROCESS.

IF THE PRODUCT WERE STANDARDIZED, IT COULD HELP IMPROVE ADOPTION AND PROVE ITS WORTH.

AS FAR AS COST SAVINGS, DEPENDING ON SIZE AND STRUCTURE, THESE HOMES ARE COMPARABLE TO A TRADITIONAL STICK BUILT HOME, WITH THE SAVINGS SEEN MOSTLY IN THE WALL CONSTRUCTION PART OF THE BUILD.

REGARDLESS, DEVELOPERS LIKE SMOLL BELIEVE IT COULD SAVE 15-20% OFF THE TYPICAL COST TO BUILD ONCE THINGS GET MORE STREAMLINED.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT 3D PRINTED HOMES OR ANY SOLUTION WE COVER, GO TO OUR SHOW PAGE ON THINKTV.ORG AND CETCONNECT.ORG FOR EPISODES, ARTICLES, AND EXTRA RESOURCES, PLUS, YOU CAN SHARE YOUR SOLUTIONS WITH US TOO.

WHAT'S WORKING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR TOWN?

FILL OUT OUR FEEDBACK FORM OR EMAIL OUR TEAM AT BRICKBYBRICK @PUBLICMEDIACONNECT.ORG.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

AND WE'RE ALL BACK TOGETHER FOR SOME TAKEAWAYS.

I'M JOINED ONCE AGAIN BY HERNZ AND EMIKO.

AND TODAY WE LOOKED AT SOME TECH BASED RESPONSES TO DIFFERENT ISSUES AND WHAT GOT YOUR ATTENTION, EMIKO?

MOORE: WELL, FOR ME IT WAS THE IMPACT ON THE HOUSING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WHEN IT COMES TO 3D PRINTING.

WITH TRADITIONAL CONSTRUCTION, IT TAKES 3 TO 5 YEARS TO TRAIN SOMEONE, ACCORDING TO SMOLL, WHEREAS WITH 3D PRINTING, WITHIN A FEW WEEKS YOU CAN HAVE SOMEONE TRAINED TO DO THIS JOB.

AND IT ALSO HAS A WIDER APPLICANT POOL.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE MANY PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT EVEN HAVE CONSIDERED CONSTRUCTION BEFORE, MAY WANT TO GO INTO THIS.

AND IF THEY HAVE A LITTLE EXPERIENCE WITH 3D PRINTING, WHICH MANY PEOPLE DO, THEY MIGHT BE REALLY GOOD AT THIS.

I DID ALSO ASK IF THIS WOULD TAKE AWAY JOBS FROM YOUR TRADITIONAL SKILLED TRADESMEN, AND SMOLL SAID THAT IT WOULD NOT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU STILL NEED THOSE TYPE OF SKILLED LABORERS FOR HIGH RISE APARTMENTS, RENTALS, FOR CUSTOM HOMES.

SO RIGHT NOW YOU NEED BOTH TYPES OF THESE LABORERS, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAVE A LOT TO ATTACK WITH THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS.

THOMPSON: IN THE HOPE THEN IT WOULD APPEAR IS THAT YOU COULD BUILD MORE OF THESE HOMES FASTER, THESE AFFORDABLE HOMES.

MOORE: ABSOLUTELY.

THOMPSON: YEAH, AND SPEAKING OF 3D PRINTED HOUSING, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST CONCRETE.

THERE ARE ALSO OTHER MATERIALS BEING CONSIDERED, LIKE DIRT.

AND THAT'S HAPPENING WITH RESEARCHERS BUILDING THEM IN COLORADO AND CALIFORNIA AND OTHER PLACES.

AND IN FACT, THIS IS NOTHING NEW.

I MEAN, ONE OF THE RESEARCHERS POINTED TO YEMEN 1200 YEARS AGO, WHERE THERE IS AN 11 STORY BUILDING STILL STANDING MADE OF DIRT AND STRAW.

LAGUERRE: THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

THOMPSON: AND HERNZ, YOU NOTICED A LIMITATION WHEN IT CAME TO SOLAR?

LAGUERRE: YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I'LL SHARE WITH YOU WHAT CHRIS CALLED A MINOR INCONVENIENCE.

YOU GUYS REMEMBER IN EARLY 2025, WHEN WE HAD THAT CRAZY SNOWSTORM, HAD ABOUT TEN INCHES OF SNOW?

WELL, CHRIS SAID, BECAUSE OF THE CAKED UP SNOW, HE WASN'T ABLE TO ACCESS HIS SOLAR PANELS FOR NEARLY TWO WEEKS, SO HE DIDN'T GET SOLAR ENERGY FOR THOSE WEEKS.

HE HAD TO DEPEND SOLELY ON THE GRID.

NOW, I KNOW THERE'S SOME REPORTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, INCORPORATING SOME HEATING WITH THESE SOLAR PANELS, BUT NOTHING CONCRETE AS OF YET.

SO DEFINITELY STILL SOME QUESTIONS TO BE LEFT UNANSWERED.

THOMPSON: YEAH, AND SO WE KEEP HEARING THAT MAYBE SOLAR PANELS AREN'T ENOUGH, BUT YOU NEED TO HAVE THE BATTERY STORAGE BECAUSE NOT EVERY DAY IS GOING TO BE SUNNY.

LAGUERRE: YEAH.

YOU KNOW, AND CHRIS DOES HAVE THOSE BATTERIES.

IT'S JUST THAT, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF BATTERIES YOU WOULD NEED IN ORDER TO COVER YOURSELF FOR THOSE TWO WEEKS IS A LOT.

AND I KNOW WE SPOKE ABOUT HOW EXPENSIVE SOLAR PANELS ARE.

THOSE SOLAR BATTERIES ARE EXPENSIVE TOO, ABOUT $10-$20,000 FOR JUST ONE OF THEM, WHICH IS PART OF THE REASON WHY CATHERINE AND ERIC CHOSE NOT TO GET ONE.

THOMPSON: WELL, YOU KNOW, GUYS, FOR AT LEAST THIS EPISODE, WE CAN ADD SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM.

LAGUERRE: THAT'S FOR SURE.

THOMPSON: ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES, EMIKO MOORE AND HERNZ LAGUERRE, JR.

FOR THEIR INSIGHT AND REPORTING.

AND THANKS TO YOU AT HOME FOR JOINING US.

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EXPLORATION, SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER AND LET'S BUILD THIS COMMUNITY FOCUSED ON SOLUTIONS.

WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE SOLUTIONS SOON.

UNTIL THEN, TAKE CARE.

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