The first and most important step in making your new home more energy
efficient is to choose a builder or contractor that has experience in
energy efficient home construction. Depending on your expectations,
it may be wise to seek out a builder that is a certified member of an
organization, such as
Green Built Michigan or
LEED. Once a builder or contractor is chosen, discuss your
concerns and expectations with your builder or contractor up front,
prior to the beginning of construction. Also consider alternatives
to the traditional frame wall construction, such as insulated concrete
form (ICF) walls, to eliminate the thermal bridging that would
otherwise occur between the inner and outer walls and improve your
thermal envelope.
Once the design of the home is complete, determine the type and quality
of exterior doors and windows that will be used. Windows experience
heat loss by heat transfer through the window structure itself and
also through infiltration, or air movement, through the moving parts
of the window. Energy Star
qualified windows should be considered
at minimum; the windows used on the Green House on Watson had an
overall U-Value (U = 1/R) of 0.21, which is 1/3 better than the
Energy Star guideline of 0.35. The same can be said for exterior
doors; the better the door is sealed, the less infiltration that
will occur.
In order to keep monthly utility bills to a minimum, it's also
essential to install energy efficient appliances, such as a range
or dishwasher, which meet or exceed Energy Star requirements.
This information can be found through your local retailer prior
to purchase. Compact fluorescent light bulbs should also be used
in place of the more common incandescent light bulb to cut back
on electrical energy expenses. A high efficiency HVAC system is
also a must for those looking for significant savings. While the
initial cost may be higher, the monthly utility savings will likely
offset this increased cost and lead to a short payback period.
Again, consider alternatives to the traditional forced-air furnace,
such as geothermal heat pumps, or
radiant floor heating, in which the floor itself is heated by a
fluid flowing through a series of pipes with no heat lost through
ductwork.
FIGURE 1: Energy reduction options for new home construction (copyright Heartland Builders LLC, used by permission).
The type of landscaping chosen for your new home can also influence
the energy efficiency of the home. Evergreen trees and shrubs can
be planted together on the windward side of your home to create a
windbreak, slowing the wind before it reaches your home and cutting
down on infiltration losses through windows and exterior doors.
As the trees and shrubs mature, their effectiveness as a windbreak
will continue to increase. Deciduous trees can be planted to block
solar heat from entering windows during the summer months, but allow
much of it to pass through during the winter months. They can also
be used to provide roof shading while also shading the ground and
pavement around your home, reducing heat radiation and cooling the
air before it reaches your walls or windows.
While the increased initial expenses of the above suggestions may
at first cause you to reconsider your quest to build an energy
efficient home, consider the long term benefits of an energy
efficient home. Aside from possible tax breaks, the reduced
utility payments will result in a relatively short payback period,
particularly as utilities such as natural gas continue to climb.
And don't discount your influence on the environment; after all,
every little bit helps.
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