When it comes to going green, custom built homes are a phenomenal opportunity to reduce your energy bills and your impact on the environment. A green home is easier to keep at a comfortable temperature, uses less energy for day-to-day functions, and can help save resources to shrink your footprint.
Let’s take a look at some of the top elements of your new custom build where it’s easy to choose an eco-friendly option.
1. Framing
Framing is the skeleton of your home, and like any comprehensive plan, it’s where real energy efficiency begins. Ask your builder about framing techniques to maximize opportunities for insulation so that your home is more efficient at holding its temperature.
2. Insulation
Insulation doesn’t just belong in your walls, either. Ceilings, windows, doors and floors can all be insulated to help minimize heat transfer and reduce the burden on your HVAC to regulate the temperature in your house.
3. Plumbing
Water conservation is an essential component of any eco-friendly plan, and a custom built house is no exception. Numerous water-saving options are available when building a new house, including high efficiency toilets, flow reduction faucets and showerheads, on demand circulation systems, and water-saving appliances. Cutting down on your water usage can drop your bills dramatically and reduce the amount of wastewater your home creates.
4. HVAC
Your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system is a major component of your new energy efficient home. An experienced builder will carefully install a new HVAC system and ensure that all of the ductwork is properly sealed to guarantee maximum efficiency. Additionally, you may want to talk to your builder about radiant floor heating, which can feel like a real luxury and reduce the burden on your HVAC.
5. Windows
Modern windows are amazing compared to older variations. Whereas old windows can allow drafts and have horrible heat retention, many new windows prevent practically any heat transfer from occurring, significantly reducing the impact of temperature fluctuations outside on the temperature inside your home. That means that your HVAC is coming on less to make up for changes in the ambient temperature of the house.
6. Lighting
It’s much easier to handle lighting when building a custom home than it is to upgrade an existing lighting system. Combining top notch, energy-efficient lighting technology with modern centralized lighting control systems will allow you to effectively control the lights in your home, whether you’re there or not. The end result? No more worrying about whether you left the lights on.
7. Home Automation
Smart home technology is on the rise, with everything from smart lights to smart thermostats and more. Using a home automation system can simplify your life, make everyday living more convenient, and reduce your energy bill by moderating your home’s energy usage without any effort on your part.