Designing a custom home is the perfect time to integrate some energy-saving design ideas. An energy-efficient home is a great way to save both money and environmental resources in the long run. Unlike a pre-built home, you can start from the ground up without the need for an energy audit of expensive remodeling. Today, we’re going to talk about a few ways that you can design energy efficiency into your new custom home.
Building Orientation
Work with your designer to get information about your land’s sun, wind, and light exposure throughout the year. With that information, consider the layout of your home’s rooms and the overall layout of the home. In the Northern Hemisphere, where we live, think about making the entrance of your home face south. This will help your home gain heat in the summer while keeping it from getting too hot in the winter.
Tankless Water Heaters
Rather than keeping water hot all the time, heat water up as you need it. A tankless water heater starts heating up water when the hot water is needed. That detail means you’re saving energy almost every time water is used in the house. However, tankless water heaters can cost more than a traditional water heater. Be prepared to do the math to see how long it will take to reap the rewards.
Low-flow Water Fixtures
In addition to using a tankless water heater, think about installing all how-flow appliances. These include showerheads, toilets, sinks, as well as washing machines and dishwashers. With each low-flow option you choose, you’ll save water and therefore energy. If you aren’t sure what’s best, talk to your designer as well as a plumber to see what balance works for you. In some cases, you can get fixtures that can create high pressure with less water. This could be a perfect balance!
High-Quality Windows
When designing your custom home to be energy-saving, make sure that you choose windows with a U-factor and Low-e appropriate for the climate that you live in. In addition to the right windows, make sure that you are using the right insulation and sealing to keep energy from leaking right out of your home. Proper sealing around all your windows, doors, vents, and ducts can significantly lower your cooling costs.
Solar Systems
If you’re looking for an immediate way to reduce your electricity bill, then look into solar panels. By using the power of the sun, you don’t have to worry about what the energy company would charge as you won’t be relying on them at all. However, the cost of solar panels can be large. It’s important to do an energy-saving calculation to see when you will see ROI from using the solar option.
If you are looking to design an energy-saving custom home, then Wiltrack might be your best option. We offer custom home design and build and can tailor our design to your needs.
