Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1415897
8 SMT007 MAGAZINE I OCTOBER 2021 Nolan's Notes by Nolan Johnson, I-CONNECT007 CapEx Planning Have you found yourself investing more in capital expenditures to improve your fa- cility? No, I'm not talking about your facto- ry; I'm thinking about your home. If you are, then you're in good company as it seems that a lot of us are putting on our "CapEx" thinking caps and exploring new solutions to make our spaces more productive. According to a national survey by e Freedonia Group in December 2020 1 , 39% of consumers reported undertaking home im- provement projects because of changes asso- ciated with the pandemic. Some added home gyms or offices, installed decks or pools, start- ed gardening, or simply repainted their living spaces. is, overwhelmingly, was due to a shi in how we use our living spaces since the start of 2020. In terms of logistics, a home that normally accommodates a family for only a few hours each day has become a round-the-clock work- place, schoolroom, and entertainment and recreation venue, points out American Lifestyle Magazine 2 . e authors stress that it results in a lot of added pressure on the spaces to perform. In smaller homes, the requirement is double- duty, with the ability to make any given room work for the family's changing needs. In our homes, these changing needs have trended to- ward more occupants for a better part of the day. is contrasts with the general trend to reduce commercial building occupancy. For many of us, this brings an extra concern for— and investment in—how healthy our homes are. So where is that household capital invest- ment going? Healthier homes: Better ventilation and air quality. Anterooms and service porches are on the rebound, creating a transition zone be-