An energy-efficient home can help you save money and minimize your carbon footprint. If you know what features to look for in energy-efficient homes, you’ll be able to find one that delivers the best of both worlds.
You also have the option to meet with energy-efficient home builders. From here, you’ll be able to maximize your home energy efficiency as soon as you move in.
Now, let’s look at five key features of energy-efficient homes — and why it pays to partner with an energy-efficient home builder.
1. Insulation
Energy-efficient insulation delivers year-round benefits, such as:
- Comfort: Helps keep heat inside your home in cold temperatures and cool air indoors in warm ones.
- Noise: Absorbs sound, reducing the risk of noise from traffic, neighbors, and other sources from getting inside your home.
- Cost Savings: Saves homeowners an estimated 15% on heating and cooling costs, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); this estimate is based on owners who air-seal their homes and add insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces, and accessible basement rim joists.
Ask a home builder about the insulation it uses. Ideally, your builder can provide details about its insulating material’s R-value, aka thermal resistance.
R-value is a measurement of an insulating material’s resistance to conductive heat flow. The higher your home insulation’s R-value, the more effective it is in insulating your space.
2. Appliances
Energy-efficient appliances simultaneously help you save money without compromising on performance. They use less energy than other appliances and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Examples of energy-efficient appliances include:
- Air cleaners
- Clothes dryers
- Clothes washers
- Dehumidifiers
- Dishwashers
- Electric cooking products
- Freezers
- Refrigerators
Look for a home builder that offers ENERGY STAR energy-efficient appliances with its properties. These appliances work the same or better than similar products and meet strict energy-efficiency criteria set by the EPA or U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
3. HVAC Systems
Every year, Americans spend approximately $14 billion on HVAC services or repairs, DOE reports. If you buy a home with an energy-efficient HVAC system, you probably won’t have to worry about getting these services or repairs for a long time.
Replacing heating and cooling equipment with a high-efficiency alternative can reduce energy use by 50% for electric systems and 10% for gas furnace heating options, DOE points out. Along with this, proper installation of ENERGY STAR-certified heating and cooling equipment can deliver annual energy bill savings of 10-30%.
Choose a home builder familiar with efficient HVAC systems for the most savings possible.
4. Windows
ENERGY STAR-qualified windows are certified and labeled to perform as expected. There are many reasons why buyers choose these windows during new home construction projects, such as:
- Energy Savings: Help limit energy consumption and keep heating and cooling bills low.
- Consistent Indoor Temperatures: Keep interior glass warm in cold temperatures and reduce “heat gain” in warm ones.
- Protection of Your Valuables: Feature coatings protect your valuables from ultraviolet light without a significant reduction in visible light; these coatings can reduce the risk of fading by up to 75%, research suggests.
When you buy a home, prioritize ENERGY STAR-qualified windows. Also, check out window ratings on the energy performance label from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). This will help identify energy-efficient window products that will continue to perform long after they’ve been installed.
5. Siding
Get details about the type of home siding your builder uses. The R-value of siding varies and impacts a home’s energy efficiency.
Pairing products like James Hardie Engineered for Climate® siding with house wrap generally offers better thermal resistance than many other options.
Engineered for Climate® siding is water resistant. It helps protect against cracks and buckling that cause air leaks and water infiltration.
Meanwhile, house wrap refers to a synthetic material that goes behind a home’s siding. The wrap offers additional protection against air leaks and water infiltration and helps improve energy efficiency.
In terms of home wrap products, DuPont™ Tyvek® HomeWrap® is a top choice. This non-woven, breathable structure helps insulation perform close to its R-value. It also promotes drying in wall systems.
Benefits of Buying an Energy-Efficient Home
Purchasing an energy-efficient home or retrofitting an existing one can be beneficial. However, buying a personalized build or move-in-ready home with energy-efficient features is the superior option. Here are some of the reasons why:
- Cost: The initial cost of retrofitting a home with energy-efficient features may be much higher than buying a new one.
- Timeline: It often takes less time to construct a new home versus retrofitting your current residence.
- Effectiveness: Even if you retrofit your home with energy-efficient features, there’s no guarantee that it’ll perform at the same level as a new residence.
In addition to these things, buying a new or move-in-ready home gives you unparalleled flexibility. You have the option to equip your home with a wide range of energy-efficient features and many others. When you have an experienced builder at your side, you’ll be able to get an energy-efficient home that looks and performs great long into the future.
Want to Buy an Energy-Efficient Home in Oklahoma City?
TimberCraft Homes partners with nationally recognized brands that value energy efficiency just as much as we do, such as:
- James Hardie for siding
- Rinnai for tankless water heaters
- Lennox for HVAC products
- Moen for faucets
- DuPont™ Tyvek® for insulation
We also continue to explore new partnership opportunities, search for ways to improve, and provide new and move-in-ready construction homes in Oklahoma City that exceed industry standards.Contact the energy-efficient home builders at TimberCraft Homes for an energy-efficient home.