What is Energy Efficiency Construction? And Why You Would Be Crazy Not To Utilize It In Your New Home

Who doesn’t want to save money on their energy bills? And who wouldn’t want to do their part to help the environment while they are it? Amazingly, you can accomplish both relatively easily with an energy efficient home.

Energy-efficient construction is gaining in popularity throughout the home building industry–and it is easy to see why. When building a new home, there are several design features, building materials, and home systems that can be utilized to help make your house more energy efficient. Employing these various elements have the capability to not only keep your energy costs low but also give you more control over the comfort level of your home.

So, what features, materials and systems make for an energy efficient home?

Lot orientation and landscaping

Where and how the home is positioned on the lot can do a lot for energy conservation. A house with maximum passive solar gain can help utilize the sun in the winter and protect the home from the summer’s more uncompromising rays. Landscaping can also play a significant role in energy efficiency. Trees planted on the south and west sides of the house provide shade from the summer sun but allow in the sun during the winter once they lose their leaves.

Insulation

Thicker walls and roof construction with higher R-value insulation offers more energy efficiency. At Stanley Martin Homes, we use R-30 insulation in all attic spaces, R-13 batts on frame walls between the house and garage, and radiant barrier roofs to reduce the sun’s heat transfer into your home.

Windows and proper sealing

High quality, double paned windows with a U-factor (heat transfer rating) and low-E (low emissivity) are crucial for maintaining a consistent and comfortable temperature in your house. Proper sealing around all windows, doors, vents, joints, and ducts is equally critical in preventing any unnecessary air leakage.

ENERGY STAR rated appliances

We have all seen those big yellow stickers on appliances in the store. They aren’t just a selling point, but also an energy efficiency indicator. ENERGY STAR is the trusted, government-supported energy efficiency rating that helps protect the environment, and ultimately, save you money on your energy bills. Many major household appliances can be designated as ENERGY STAR rated appliances, including your refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer, water heater, and more

Programmable thermostats

According to the Department of Energy, over 50% of a household’s energy costs can come from heating and cooling. Choosing the most efficient HVAC system for your house and local climate is extremely important. With a programmable thermostat, homeowners can adjust the temperature to the exact degree of personal comfort and keep that temperature consistent. You also don’t have to keep the air or heat churning high while you are not at home. You can create a schedule that follows your family’s daily routine to ease up on your energy usage.

At Stanley Martin Homes, we understand the importance of energy efficient construction and utilize it with every new construction home we build. As one of our core values, we strive to design and build homes with the all of the best energy efficient strategies to fit within your budget. To learn more about our energy efficient construction, contact us today!