Saving energy in your home is a multi-pronged approach to solving a number of different issues. Among many top trends in home building and design, the term “going green” has become increasingly popular in recent years. Just as you may enjoy using your reusable straws and recycling when appropriate, you can now find comfort in building your home in the most energy efficient way possible. Plus, you can save some serious bucks too. Also, it’s important to note that you can still upgrade your current home’s energy levels and production in addition to implementing it during the building process. Older homes can preserve energy, too!
Choosing the Right Products for Your Home
There are a number of different ways you can set your home up for success, and J Thompson Builders is eager to help you create an energy efficient space. The following are our top suggestions for getting started:
1. Windows
When considering window installation in your home, the quality definitely matters. Double pane, low emissivity windows can help to reduce noise, drafts, and overall costs. For older homes, sealing your windows might be a more immediate option. This can help control drafty temperatures which will in turn keep your heating and cooling costs down. The material framing your windows matters too - and can have a great impact on their energy efficiency. Consider wood, vinyl or fiberglass over metal which conducts heat easily and may result in heat-loss.
2. Doors
Exterior doors should protect the inside of your home on all aspects related to outside conditions. A good quality door will seal all heat and cool air in, again giving you the ability to really save on energy costs. Compare energy performance ratings for your specific local climate and your home’s design. The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label will help you compare the energy performance of doors. ENERGY STAR certification tells you the door is energy-efficient, and the NFRC label takes it a step further to help you compare energy-efficient products by listing the product’s ratings in various energy performance categories. Read more about the NFRC label.
3. Insulation
Effective insulation ensures that your home is maintaining proper heating and cooling levels based on your preferences. Essentially, you want your insulation to slow the transfer of hot air leaving your home in the winter and the cool air leaving in the summer. Often, this issue arises in the attic so it often pays to upgrade these areas in your home. In order to properly insulate your home you need to understand where to insulation and the recommended R-values for those values. Use the U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Energy Saver tool to understand where to insulate and the recommended R-values relevant to your specific situation.
Using ENERGY STAR certified windows, doors and insulation can reduce your energy bills by up to 12%. You can find out more about ENERGY STAR, including benefits and a full list of ENERGY STAR certified doors, windows and insulation products on the ENERGY STAR website.
Why Going Green Saves the Green
In addition to adding a feather onto your eco-friendly cap, energy efficient homes often produce cheaper costs, too. By saving money on your energy bills and possibly qualifying for certain rebates, you can spend more on cosmetic updates or structural enhancements to your home. Energy efficient solutions also provide better air distribution in your home as well, providing a more relaxing and comfortable atmosphere. All in all, the positive benefits to both your home and our environment will strengthen our local communities by preventing harmful pollutants and save you money in the long run. A win-win, if you ask us.