Boomers will need to find homes to sustain their life.

Curbless shower entries reduce the hazard of tripping in the shower.

From a recent press release:  

When we hear the words “sustainable design,” it refers to buildings that are designed to reduce their carbon footprint. But with the growing population of 76 million baby boomers, creating a “sustainable life” at home will the next big wave in design according to Michael A. Thomas, a Palm Springs, CA. interior designer with a special interest in creating live and work environments to sustain the quality of life.


According to Thomas, the ultimate place to spend retirement years is to be in a home of ones choosing, homes that combine safe, secure barrier-free spaces with “green designed” interiors.  By providing for good indoor air quality, selecting high efficiency appliances and choosing low maintenance furnishings, fixtures and finishes, boomers can expect to live in their own places for a much longer period of time.


“I find that Boomers are in age denial,” stated Thomas during a presentation he made during a symposium for the United Way and AARP.   “And another fear is that the sustainable home designed with universal design principles will look ‘institutional’ or will cost a lot to do. But manufacturers such as Kohler are making high style ‘comfort’ products that cost little or nothing more and feature water savings benefits.” 

Some of the ideas Thomas suggests that combine sustainable and age-friendly solutions include: abundant lighting using LED and compact florescent light sources, hard surface flooring like cork and wood from sustainably managed forests, cabinets finished with low or no volatile organic compounds and water, heat and cooling systems with Hepa-type filtrations. 

Other concepts include showers with temperature and water flow settings, taller toilet seats with dual flush controls, smart-control thermostats with large readable displays, auto-controlled window treatments that screen out the sun’s glare and harmful rays and solid surface quartz countertops that inhibit the growth of bacteria.

To Read The Press Release, CLICK HERE 

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