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Building a new home allows you to incorporate the latest technological advancements into your home, and that includes the latest energy-related innovations. If you’re building a new home, consider these five ways to make a home more energy-efficient. Including one or several of them in your new home will be good for the environment — and will likely have benefits for you too.
1. Upgrade the Insulation
Homebuilders today can use several types and grades of insulation in a home, and many of these are much more effective than what has been used in the past. Upgrading to high-end insulation isn’t a change that you’ll see in the home, but it’s one that you’ll feel.
Good insulation will help maintain a consistent temperature throughout the day and night, and it’ll reduce drafts in the house. You’ll also save on utility bills any time you turn on the heat or air conditioner. Most times, the savings that you realize over the life span of your home could exceed the added cost of higher-end insulation.
2. Upgrade to High-Efficiency Windows
After insulation, the next major energy-related item to consider upgrading is your new home’s windows. A significant amount of heat transfer occurs through windows and installing high-efficiency windows can lessen how much heat or coolness transfers through the glass. This is another upgrade that can provide substantial utility bill savings over time.
3. Install a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat affords precise control of your home’s HVAC system even when you’re not at home. The thermostat can increase comfort, heating or cooling your home just before you arrive. It can also help you save energy by managing the exact temperature settings in your home. Installing a smart thermostat is easy when the HVAC system is being put in.
4. Consider Solar Panels
For the ultimate in energy efficiency, consider having solar panels installed on your new home’s roof or in a nearby yard. Your home won’t only be using green electricity, but it’ll be generating that electricity itself. Should you generate more solar electricity than you need, you can often sell it back to the utility company in your region.
Your homebuilder may not install solar panels themselves, but they’ll likely know of and work with a specialized contractor who does. The contractor can give you a precise overview of what solar panels will do for your home, given your home’s particular location, size and other factors.
5. Consider EV Charging
To extend your energy-efficient efforts beyond the home itself, consider having your homebuilder work with a contractor who installs EV (Electric Vehicle) charging stations. An EV charging station will let you quickly recharge an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle, and you may qualify for a substantial tax credit if you have a station installed.
While this work is most often done when someone purchases an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle, it might make sense to install a charging station when you’re building a new home, even if you don’t yet have a compatible car. You’ll need a station if you purchase an electric vehicle soon, and it may be less costly to install a station during a home’s construction than afterward.
Make Your New Home Energy Efficient
Homes are becoming more energy-efficient every day, and there are many ways to make your new home more efficient. Take advantage of some of these ideas, and both the environment and you will reap the benefits.
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