Buying a home is a major step in each person’s life. And in order to find the perfect home, a thorough research needs to be done. And also a lot of things to take into consideration: how many bedrooms you want; is a garage, central air, pool, etc. needed. And if you are looking for a home that is energy-efficient, these questions can be easily answered.
If energy efficiency is something you require, your home buying endeavor could become more stressful. However, it is a great aspect to investigate, and it will definitely pay off in the long run. Homes that are energy-efficient save you money on a monthly basis, mainly from utility bills. For example, installing solar panels alone could eliminate the electric bill. Apart from cutting down on energy expenses, your investment in an energy-efficient house will also do the same to the carbon footprint of your home.
Following are a few of matters that need to be taken into consideration if you are on the lookout for an energy-efficient home.
1. EnerGuide rating
This is one of the most crucial things that you need to think about before buying your new home. The EnerGuide compares houses’ energy performance based on specific operation assumptions.
Simply put, it calculates the energy efficiency of a certain home. The scale varies from 0 to 100, 0 being a home with too high of an energy consumption, while 100 represents a house that requires no purchased energy. A house with a rating of no less than 80 is considered great in terms of energy efficiency.
2. New vs. Old
The chances of you finding an old house, built for energy efficiency, are pretty slim. Most residences are simply not constructed with energy efficiency in mind. They are rather ‘upgraded’ at a later stage. Most homes’ energy efficiency could be easily increased by 30% via some improvements. However, provided that you do not wish to perform such, you will need to look for a home that has been originally built for energy efficiency. On top of that, improving an old home will be way more costly.
3. Solar panels
Solar energy is a vital aspect everyone looking for energy efficiency must consider. Yes, buying a house with solar panels might turn out to be a bit more expensive, but it is definitely an investment that will pay off in the long run. These panels are capable of dramatically lowering the electricity bills. Homeowners that do use solar panels tend to decrease their electrical expenses by at least 50%. There are even such people who completely cut the electricity bill off the family budget. Provided that electricity prices are constantly going up, this is the smartest investment you can make. Just think about it: in not more than twenty years you can easily experiences a 200% return of this investment.
Solar panels are also known for their ability to reduce the carbon footprint of your household, thus helping for a greener environment. Households are one of the biggest sources of carbon dioxide, which attributes to global warming. Powering your home means using nuclear and coal energy. Sunlight, on the other hand, reduces the use of these sources of power. Because, after all, everybody knows that they are not inexhaustible.
4. Home insulation
Energy costs inevitably go up when it is time for you to heat or cool your home. However, effective insulation can easily help you reduce both costs and energy consumption. A properly insulated home manages to help the heat remain inside during winter and keeps it from getting in during summer. This will decrease the need of turning up the cooling or heating system. Those considering home insulation should familiarize themselves with the so called ‘R-value’. This is the thermal resistance of the home’s insulation. It depends on the insulation’s type, density, thickness, and where and how it is installed. Compressed insulation won’t give you full R-value. The R-value is increased by more insulation, and the home becomes more energy efficient the higher the R-value is.
5. Window tinting
This is another method of conserving energy in your home. Your house’s ability to neutralize the outside temperature determines how warm your home will be during winter and how cool in summer. The window tinting strategy is known to reduce the incoming heat. Certain models can reduce the temperature increase up to seven degrees. Just like the other power reducing methods, window tinting can save you a lot of money.
In order to achieve great energy efficiency in your home, consider all these options before the relocation into a new area. Try not to spare money when it is time for an investment of this sort, for it will all pay off in the long run, and you will only be happy about that choice of yours.
