While the idea of energy efficiency may be top of the mind when buying a vehicle, many homeowners are still getting used to the idea of energy efficiency in their homes. Just like today’s top vehicles, such as Tesla’s Model 3, energy efficient homes can actually be a model of efficiency and performance.
Keep reading to learn how energy efficient homes are starting to become the gold standard of new home remodeling and design on the North Shore.
What is energy efficient home remodeling?
It’s simple! Energy efficient home remodeling focuses on wasting less energy and being more environmentally friendly, without sacrificing on the quality or performance of your home.
Generally, this is achieved through materials and features in your home, as well as building practices that help your home retain temperature stability and have a more efficient use of energy.
Why make your home energy efficient?
Lower bills
One of the largest benefits of an energy efficient home is that your energy bill goes down significantly.
Particularly here on the North Shore, heating bills can skyrocket with old homes that are not built to be energy efficient. But with modern insulation and materials, these bills can be greatly reduced! And it doesn’t stop with heating bills. Modern appliances and systems can actually save you money in the long run given their efficiency without sacrificing on performance.
More comfortable home
One of the ways in which remodelers like Godfrey Design-Build achieves energy efficiency is through more air-tight homes and efficient HVAC systems. In addition to saving energy and lowering your bill, these benefits will also make your home more comfortable.
These systems and airtight structures make your home less drafty, efficiently adjust the temperature, and keep your home at a comfortable temperature for as long as you need.
Better for the environment
Energy efficient homes aren’t just good for your comfort and wallet, but the earth, too! Since you’re using less energy to power and heat your home, your home will require less burning of fossil fuels to operate.
This makes your home much more sustainable environmentally and limits its carbon footprint. While it may not be on top of everyone’s mind, every little bit counts when it comes to climate change. Energy efficient home remodeling is also much less wasteful, which is always a bonus!
Modern performance
While in the past, words like “sustainable” and “energy efficient” were often associated with low-flow showerheads and lesser-performing appliances, that is no longer the case. Today’s green materials and energy efficient appliances are every bit as high quality as any appliance out there.
In fact, many manufacturers have made energy efficiency a priority, with their highest-end models being the ones that are the most energy efficient. This means that you can have your cake and eat it too. A beautiful home that saves you money, performs great, and is good for the environment. What’s not to love?
Ideas for an energy efficient home remodel
New windows and doors
One of the key ways to make a home energy efficient is through modern windows and doors that keep your home airtight.
While old windows are made from single pane glass, new windows are made from double (or even triple) pane glass. Your home won’t lose heat (or in the summer, air conditioning). This ensures comfort, but also stability in your home’s temperature.
More efficient HVAC and water systems
One of the most important ways to make your home energy efficient is through efficient HVAC and water heating systems. Old HVAC systems do not run efficiently and take more energy to effectively heat or cool your home. By using a smart thermostat, you can ensure that your system is only running when it needs to, keeping costs and energy use down while making home temperature management easier than before.
A popular energy efficient remodeling solution that many homeowners love are tankless water heaters, which produce hot water on demand. Instead of keeping a tank of hot water at all times, these hot water heaters heat the water only when you need it.
Energy Star appliances
Appliances are one of the biggest users of energy in your home. Energy Star certified appliances help lower energy consumption while still giving you the high performance that you’ve come to expect from modern appliances.
Energy Star certified appliances use up to 50% less energy than standard appliances and meet strict EPA energy-efficient specifications. Given their quality, there is truly no reason to not invest in Energy Star certified appliances.
Materials and appliances that will last
One of the biggest things when it comes to sustainability in home building is the use of materials. It takes a lot of energy to produce and distribute the countertops, flooring, and everything else that goes into your home.
We always recommend using high-quality materials that will last you a long time and stand up to the rigors of day-to-day life. While this may not affect your energy use at the moment, high-quality materials will have to be replaced less frequently. This will save you money and be better for the environment in the long run, as you’ll buy once instead of having to replace the materials or those parts of your home down the line.
Work with a home remodeler who takes energy efficiency seriously
At Godfrey Design-Build, we believe strongly that energy efficient remodeling is the future. We always work to institute these energy efficient practices when we build homes to ensure a modern experience for our clients.
Why do we do this? In addition to being good for the environment, we also think that it leads to better homes. When we meet to discuss your home remodel, we’ll discuss how the materials and features you choose will affect your home’s efficiency, comfort, and performance.
Contact us today to get started on your energy efficient home remodeling project.