10 TIPS TO BUILD AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT CUSTOM HOME
Nowadays, most homes are energy-efficient as they consume less energy and save in the long-term when it comes to electricity bills. A lavish life is a dream, but a massive monthly energy bill can be a nightmare. To keep electricity bills low, you should build an energy-efficient custom home. However, you must use suitable materials and tricks to meet your demand.
Want to know how you can build an energy-saving custom home? Follow the tips and tricks below:
1. ADD INSULATION
You should insulate your home as insulation keeps heat out during summer and winter, saving energy bills. Plus, insulation prevents moisture and air from entering and controlling the temperature in your home. It helps your HVAC system work smoothly to maintain a consistent home temperature.
Wrapping and insulating hot water pipes improve water heater functionalities. Add insulated doors to seal your home, as they protect the interior temperature.
2. SEAL JOINTS AND DUCTWORK
Joints and ductwork are necessary for perfect ventilation and to reduce the causes of energy leaks. Poorly sealed joints and ductwork leak air. The poor design/installation can also make your home lose further energy.
Air leaks and improper ventilation can cause a loss of energy and make it difficult to control the temperature inside your home. Thus, the HVAC system works harder to compensate for the energy loss, which increases your electricity bills.
3. INSTALL ENERGY-SAVING WINDOWS
Energy-efficient windows seal high temperatures and maintain the current temperature inside your home. They are expensive but save your long-term energy bills. Your home stays cool in summer and warm during winter. As energy-efficient windows reduce noise, they are a popular soundproofing option for a quiet environment.
Inefficient windows cause significant energy loss that increases your cooling and heating costs. Energy-saving windows have double-pane/triple-pane glass that is airtight and keeps heat inside your home. Install windows with a coating that blocks UV rays to save on yearly energy bills.
4. INVEST IN PERFECT WINDOW TREATMENT
Window treatment saves money on your energy bills and enhances your home. Use blinds/drapery for south-facing windows, which filter light in the summer, to decrease the heat and reduce the chance of color fading in furniture and carpets.
If you have north-facing or oversized windows, use insulated draperies to decrease cold air filtration in the winter. You can also use clear plastic liners to prevent airflow and provide a clear view.
5. HANG CEILING FANS IN MAIN ROOMS
As ceiling fans circulate air across a room, they can control and maintain a consistent temperature. The fans can be a perfect addition to rooms with at least eight-foot ceilings.
Ceiling fans always help to promote cooling inside a room. Using a ceiling fan and AC together helps to increase cooling inside of a room without compromising comfort.
6. PLACE SOLAR PANELS
Solar panels, when placed on your home, can primarily save heating costs and keep your home cool for years. Going solar offers the benefits of lesser monthly utility bills and high financial returns.
The savings after solar panel installation depends on electricity consumption, purchasing vs leasing, sunlight duration, roof size, and local electricity charges. Solar panels are a low-risk investment to save your monthly bills.
7. USE POWER-SAVING APPLIANCES
You can find diverse energy-saving appliances suited to your existing homes and new homes, which save on electricity bills. These energy-efficient appliances ensure your devices aren’t increasing your electricity bills excessively.
Investing in energy-efficient appliances can boost your property value. Many people tend to look for energy-saving homes. Once you install energy-saving appliances, it benefits both you and prospective homebuyers.
8. ADVANCE LIGHTING
If you have incandescent lights in your home, replace them with CFL bulbs as they save a lot of energy. Higher watt bulbs tend to phase out shortly. Go for CFL/LED lighting to get long-lasting lights at affordable prices. The energy-saving bulbs cost a lot in the initial purchase. However, they are built to function much more prolonged and better than incandescent bulbs.
Set up an automated lighting system in your custom home if you want lights to be switched on and off at pre-decided times of the day. A motion detection system works perfectly in places where people forget to switch on and off lights. You can also operate them using a smartphone or computer.
9. GO FOR CAULKING AND WEATHER-STRIPPING
Add a long-lasting caulk around all windows and doors. The tiniest gaps can allow a vast amount of cold/hot air. Check the interior and exterior of all your door and window frames to find and seal areas where you sense draft. Find those regions where drafts enter the home and caulk around such openings.
Invest in weather-stripping for all gaps where an outer door meets the frame. Weather-stripping rolls are affordable, and self-adhesive ones are easy to apply. Add strong door seals to the bottom of all exterior doors to prevent drafts from entering below. You can place a rolled-up towel as a temporary fix at the bottom of the door to prevent drafts.
10. LEVERAGE A SMART THERMOSTAT
As you build a custom home, you can leverage cutting-edge technologies and building techniques. The custom home helps you to use state-of-the-art water heaters, and cooling and heating systems. You can also add a thermostat to your new home. If run consistently, a heating and cooling system can significantly increase your energy bills. One of the most common home heating mistakes is not installing a smart thermostat or any other device to manage heating and cooling.
The effectiveness of a smart thermostat depends on the technology that operates it. A smart thermostat will turn the heating and cooling system on and off as required. It will often optimize depending on your requirements and utilities. You don’t need to keep your system active 24/7 and pay a massive energy bill. A smart thermostat not only saves energy bills but also helps to maintain a healthy environment.
Energy-efficient saves money on energy bills and gives you a healthier and better life. Follow the tips above to build a custom energy-efficient home. Caroline Contractors can always help you customize a home to boost energy efficiency and sustainability per your requirements and preferences. Schedule a consultation today for residential construction services.
