Tips in Making Your New Home Greener – Part I

Published by cravat | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous, Real Estate

Are you building your dream home? If your dream of the future includes a brand new home, you are in a position to make your dream house one that is good to the environment. Here are a few choices that can make your new construction home a lean green machine.

Select a site that is handy to public transportation or otherwise reduces your dependence on automobile travel. If you are like most people, your biggest contribution to pollution and energy use is driving. When you choose a home site that reduces your need to use an automobile, you will be reducing the amount of carbon based fuel that you use as well as reducing the amount of air pollution that you personally contribute. Many of the newest subdivisions and communities are designed to put everything that you need within walking distance of your front door.

Choose a design that makes use of natural features and lighting to reduce energy use. The design plan of your home can make use of passive solar design to make the most of natural light and shade to reduce the amount of energy you use to heat and cool your home. A southern facing roof, for instance, is ideal for installing solar water heating panels. Shade trees on the east and west sides of your house can keep the entire house cooler without the need for air conditioning.

Pick energy efficient windows and doors. If you are going to splurge somewhere, splurge on the most energy efficient doors and windows you can find. Low-e glass can make it possible to have those gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows you want in the study without completely destroying your energy profile. Energy efficient doors and windows provide the seal that you need to keep your inside air in and outside air out. They will cut down on heat transfer between the indoors and out. Break resistant glass in your windows will increase the ability of your dream home to resist hurricane force winds.

Use high efficiency lighting systems. Lighting is about more than light bulbs and fixtures. When you choose your lighting systems, consider using programmable timers to turn lights on and off using a sensor, dimmable lighting controls and task lighting areas that will reduce the amount of overhead light that you need. Outdoors, use motion sensors for landscape lighting rather than lights that stay on all night long. You will see the overall result in lower utility bills and less light pollution.

Use a properly sized heating or cooling system - and be sure that it’s Energy Star compliant. Over and undersized heating and cooling systems waste energy. Choose the right size system for your home.