Electric car companies such as Honda are creating smart homes by integrating built-in energy- and money-saving features.
Companies such as Tesla, Ford, and Honda are expanding their market beyond electric vehicles to home products. As Ben Schiller reports, Ford has built homes incorporating its electric cars and energy-saving features and Tesla has started making batteries that can be used not just for cars, but for homes as well. Schiller adds, the best example though, is Honda's collaborative efforts with University of California, Davis on their smart homes.
These smart homes feature solar panels with battery storage such that "the house produces more power than it consumes, which means its owner could actually make money from the power company." In addition to saving power and adding to your wallet, Honda's smart homes feature other "passive design" features such as rain gardens, radiant geothermal heating and cooling, electric vehicle charging station, and adaptive circadian LED lighting. On top of that, all the features of the smart home can be adjusted through a mobile app.
As Schiller writes, the benefits are multifold: "All in all, the house uses half the energy of a similar-sized abode in the area, Honda says. It is three times more water-efficient than a typical American home. And it saves 11 tons of CO2 a year, compared to an average dwelling and vehicle."
Though Honda has not listed a price tag for the homes, these smart homes are sure to be on demand and will continue to challenge the way we build homes.
FULL STORY: Honda Is Designing Houses, Because Cars And Homes Will All Be Part Of The Smart Grid

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems
SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope
Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects
The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service