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New Homes Save on Energy

There are a number of features that prospective home buyers or remodelers can look for if they are interested in saving energy, according to information released by NAHB last week in celebration of Earth Day.

While today’s new homes are generally much more efficient than homes built even a generation ago, following are some of the things that consumers may want to consider if energy conservation is a special priority:

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• Check for the appropriate amount of insulation for the climate in the walls, roof assembly and floor.
• Look for high-performance, double-pane windows that have high-performance glass that helps reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. Examples are low-e coated and solar control spectrally selective glass.
• Choose energy-efficient appliances and lighting by checking the EnergyGuide label, which will provide an estimate of the unit’s annual operating costs.
• In some parts of the country, consumers can consider using the sun’s energy to help reduce utility bills through solar water heaters and photovoltaic (PV) systems that can convert sunlight into electricity.
• Use hot water wisely by setting the water heater’s thermostat at 115 degrees Fahrenheit instead of 120 degrees; buying an energy-efficient water heater; installing non-aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads; using the “warm” water setting on the clothes washer instead of “hot”; and setting the dishwasher to “energy saver” or “water saver”.
• Check to ensure that the house is well sealed against air leakage. In some parts of the country, as much as 30%-40% of a home’s energy use is attributable to the infiltration of outside air into the home.

An extensive amount of information about energy efficiency in housing is available from the NAHB Research Center.

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BuilderBooks.com offers a variety of green building publications online. To view or purchase these publications, click here.
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