"Homeowners can drastically reduce their monthly power bills by installing energy efficient appliances.
(PRWEB) August 29, 2014
A remarkable change has occurred in the last few years over what features homeowners are looking for when building or renovating their home. In the past, bigger was always better as floor sizes increased, multiple car garages were added, and the latest high-tech gadgets and appliances were installed. People wanted to live comfortably and were willing to pay for it. However, several factors have intersected that has changed the thinking on home construction and maintenance. The first is that more consumers want to renovate or build their home to be as environmentally friendly as possible. The second factor is the rising cost of energy. 2014 started off with the largest month-to-month spike in the cost of electricity in almost four years. Suddenly, having a cavernous home that is kept cool by constantly running air conditioning has become monstrously expensive. As a result, more and more homeowners are going green, but what exactly makes a home "green?"
An interesting fact unknown to most people is that residential buildings account for a full 20% of all the energy used in the United States and is also responsible for 20% of all the greenhouse emissions in the USA. As for a home being green, there are a number of features associated with such a qualification. A good starting point is to view the criteria of the Environmental Protection Agency and their Energy Star program. The Energy Star program is a voluntary program created by the EPA that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect the climate through the use of increased energy efficiency. When looking for a building contractor, you should always look for one that is an Energy Star builder, such as Devigne Developing of Colorado.
One method of making a home green is to build it in an environmentally friendly location. Building a home closer to a road or city reduces the resources needed to bring materials to the work site as well as reducing travel times for the homeowners. Another consideration is that power and sewer lines, as well as new roads, don't have to be placed where none currently exist. A great choice is to find an area that has a great deal of public transportation, has destinations within walking distance, and that has already been developed.
A lot of resources go into building a home and the choices one makes can have a tremendous impact upon how green it will be. You always want to use environmentally friendly building materials or use recycled materials. Care must be taken to use materials that are non-toxic. It seems that every few weeks, another news story crops up of some new danger or illness linked to toxic materials shipped into the country and placed into homes. Using a builder, such as Devigne Developing, that knows and has access to the proper materials to use is key in making a home that is not only green but also safe for you and your family.
An important consideration in making a home green is that of design. You want a home that is comfortable but not filled with wasted space because it's too large. Heating or cooling empty rooms is not only tremendously expensive, but it also puts a strain upon our limited natural resources. Plan ahead and consider what you're looking for in a home twenty or thirty years down the line. Take into account the fact that your children will grow up and eventually move out (if you're lucky) to start families of their own. Perhaps having a bathroom for each child is not the best decision when only you and your spouse will be living in the home in just a few years from now.
Probably the biggest factor in having a home considered green is that of energy efficiency. The less power used to run your home, the better for the environment and the better for your bank account. Proper non-toxic insulation can cut down drastically on heating and cooling costs. Make sure to install Energy Star rated appliances and lights. A tankless water heater is one such energy saving device as that water isn't constantly kept heated even though it's not being used. The amount of energy used by the refrigerator, washer and dryer, water heater, and dishwasher can be surprising to many homeowners. This consideration of conserving resources should also extent to water, such as using low-flow toilets as well as faucets and showerheads that reduce water usage. Jules DeVigne of Devigne Developing says, "Homeowners can drastically reduce their monthly power bills by installing energy efficient appliances. We work hand-in-hand with the customer to give them all the available options and show them how to be as eco-friendly as possible while saving them money in the long run."
A green home doesn't meant that you have to ignore comfort. If steps are taken to properly design, or renovate, a home so that it is energy efficient and takes advantage of the latest advances in insulation, windows, and appliances, the homeowner can enjoy their home in great comfort. The mantra used today is to be smarter when making choices for your home. Using a building contractor, such as Devigne Developing, that is experienced in creating eco-friendly homes is an absolute key. There's no need to have money literally go down the drain ou out that drafty window if you take care to make your home as environmentally sound as possible. Not only is it great for nature, but it's also great for your finances as well.
References:
1) http://cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/electricity-price-index-soars-new-record-start-2014-us-electricity
2) http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes/overview.htm
3) Quote from Jules DeVigne of Devigne Developing