We all want to save money. Have you taken a close look where you live? Do you know you may be able to save millions by making some smart construction choices?
Maybe you are gearing up to build your dream house. There are many choices to make before reaching a final product and energy consumption should absolutely be one of them.
Are you ready to decrease your energy consumption? Keep reading below for five helpful tips to building a low energy house.
A well-designed home will make it easier to reach your energy goals. Make sure your architects and builders know that energy efficiency is important to you.
Planning for this goal from the start will prevent unnecessary changes later on which can be costly and time-consuming.
As part of the planning process, try to be aware of how the sun can warm your house in the winter, but avoid heating up the house too much in the summer.
When you have adequate insulation, your home will absorb less heat in the summer and lose less in the winter. This means less energy from your heating/cooling system will be needed year round.
Many people forget about their attic, but if you have one, make sure it is properly insulated. Otherwise, your electric bills will keep being high.
There are many quality products out there for insulation. Your contractor will have the knowledge to help you choose the best option for your home.
Replacing or choosing energy efficient windows is often the first thing people think of when working towards a low energy house. Weather-stripping can improve old windows that are leaky or drafty. Using storm windows can also help make your house energy efficient.
Other times it is best to replace the entire window. This can raise the value of your house. Some states and counties will offer tax incentives for you to replace your windows with energy efficient ones.
Do not overlook the impact of lighting in your home. When you use regular light bulbs, you sometimes pay ten times the purchase price in electric usage.
Fluorescent lighting is common, but LED lighting is becoming the preferred choice for energy-conscious people. Making the switch can save you hundreds of dollars. It is one of the quickest ways to make an impact on your energy use.
No matter how much you decrease your energy use, you are still paying for it. One option to avoid this is to use solar power. Using solar panels for your household electric needs means you won't lose power during storms or power blackouts.
Solar energy is helpful to the environment too because it is a clean energy source. Find reputable professionals to install your panels for you. It can be a difficult job even for handy homeowners.
We hope you'll follow these five tips to building an energy efficient home. By taking these steps, you will upgrade your house and do your part for the environment.