Building The Home Of The Future

Tomorrow's high-tech home will include media rooms filled with high speed Internet access and wiring closets or energy rooms to store and backup gadgets; rain harvesters that will supplement the water supply; and solar roofing panels. Pulte Corp. with IBM Corp. recently began development on two communities featuring houses with central computers and a screen in every room. Owens Corning is developing sensors in shingles and siding that can detect leaks, water buildups and pests.