We all know we should become more energy efficient. This saves your family money and has a significant positive impact on our environment. No matter what your motivation, buying a newly built Energy Star qualified new home helps ensure great energy savings.
What exactly is an Energy Star new house? Are all new houses “green” and good for the environment? How can I know whether the new house that I’m buying is really energy efficient?
The U.S. government has laid out requirements as to what constitutes an Energy Star rated house. This is relevant because terms such as “green” have no clear definition. Is a homebuilder claiming to be green simply because he used energy-efficient lighting? Is it really “green” just because the house has insulation? While are good things, it does not make your home “green.”
To be confident that your new home you’re looking at is truly energy efficient, look for the official “Energy Star” certification that is only awarded to certain qualified houses.
Government guidelines at www.energystar.gov, identify the criteria a home should meet to become Energy Star qualified:
First, the new house must make use of quality insulation that is both properly installed and inspected. Insulation should be used in the floors, walls and attics to ensure consistent temperatures throughout the new home. This will drastically lower energy use and provide greater comfort in your house as it maintains constant temperatures.
Second, the home should be built with air tight construction and well fitted duct work. Small holes and cracks can cause cold air in and warm air to escape, greatly reducing the energy savings of your new home. A gap no bigger than a quarter can be a problem.
Next, the new house should make use of high efficiency windows with protective coatings and superior window frames. The goal here is to keep the cold out in the winter and to keep the heat out in the summer. A good UV coating on the windows also prevents fading of furniture, carpets and paint in your house.
Next, Energy Star rated appliances should be used in the home. These appliances use less gas, oil and electricity and produce reduce waste compared to their non-rated counterparts.
Next, Energy Star rated appliances should be used in the new house, including lighting fixtures, compact fluorescent bulbs, fans, appliances, refrigerators, air conditioners, dishwashers and washing machines. The more energy efficient appliances you have, the greater your savings will be.
Finally, Energy Star builders can go through a third-party verification process to assure that the homes built meet these standards. This is done to ensure that builders are kept honest and are delivering on their energy-efficient promises.
Craig Axelrod is one of the executives with Emmy Homes. Emmy is which is one of Long Island’s premier real estate developers. Emmy’s Commack development features luxury homes in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for more information.
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