Compare House Builders
Getting a brand-new house will be among your single most significant financial investments you will make, and as such, your brand-new home's energy effectiveness ought to be one of your main issues. Now may be a great time to take full advantage of a sluggish real estate market, low interest rates and homebuilders that aspire to add incentives, allowances and especially, energy efficient upgrades.
Homebuilders today are offering several types of energy effective features in their houses', this allows homebuilders to get approved for the EPA's Energy Star designation. Energy Star ratings are given out by an independent 3rd party and these findings are based upon that particular homebuilder's items, materials, and overall building methods.
New homes with this Energy Star classification must be given careful factor to consider when you are attempting to narrow down your brand-new home selection process. Bear in mind that not all homebuilders construct their houses the same way, so you must begin your queries regarding the specifics of the homebuilder's energy performance functions and compare which will provide you with biggest benefits for your financial investment.
Framing that Counts
The type of framing is an excellent beginning, 2x4 or 2x6 outside building for instance, allows you to figure out the R-value or insulation thickness of the walls. You might likewise want to ask regarding whether the builder's new homes have any exterior plywood wall sheeting as part of their construction, as it boosts the home structurally and adds to the houses R-value.
Outside finishes such as siding or stucco, for example, do really little in the way of Residential window tinting increasing the home's energy performance. Depending on your house contractor, another option you must highly consider is thermo resistant roof sheathing, this item can greatly decrease the summertime heat in your attic (30 degrees cooler on average). With a distinction of a couple of dollars a sheet, (5/8") this roofing system sheathing should be a standard in the building of your house.
Air Conditioning and Heating that Conserves You Cash
The a/c & heating system is single biggest customer of electrical power and gas in a house. That is why the performance of the A/C system is so extremely essential. The air conditioning system is measured by a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency ratio) ranking and is offered a coefficient or number, the higher the number the more effective the unit transforms electrical energy into cool air for your home. For instance: brand-new Energy Star homes need to have a SEER rating of 14, which is enhanced over the basic SEER 12 or 13, from years past.
There are presently updated a/c on the market that have a SEER ranking of as much as 23. These systems run at various speeds, which allow them to provide you an even higher effectiveness. However keep in mind, no matter what SEER ranked a/c unit you have, if your house isn't properly insulated you won't be able to make the most of the air conditioning system's full capacity.
Energy Efficient Windows makes a Difference
If minimizing your heating & cooling expenses interest you, then having windows with a great R-value is necessary to your house's overall energy performance.
When comparing various windows with other homebuilders, here are a couple of things to consider; there are 2 R-values to consider for your windows: one, for the glass itself (normally determined at the center of the window) and one for the entire system, consisting of the frame.
The higher the R-value a window has, the lower the U-value needs to be. The rate of heat loss is shown in regards to the U-factor (U-value) of a window's assembly. The lower the U-factor, the higher a window's resistance to heat flow and the much better it's insulating properties.
Your windows need to have a low Solar Heat Coefficient ranking also, which means the amount of sunshine passing through a window as heat, the lower the number, the more effective the window. In addition, a home builder that has an Energy Star medallion on his model homes need to offer windows with LOW e tinting as a standard.
A Well Insulated House is the Key
Your research needs to also consist of the R-value of the duct work and the attic also. Normal duct has in between an R-value between 4 to 8, this is the minimum, R-12 or much better is suggested. Attic insulation is also an essential issue as to your house's energy effectiveness.
The standard on new homes is normally R-30 or 38, whether it is Batt or blown insulation will depend upon your home contractor. Many contractors use an option to upgrade the attic insulation from R-30 (requirement) to an R-45 or in many cases R-60. Remember, when asking or working out insulation upgrades, it is among the most inexpensive items for a homebuilder to set up and the charge should be really minimal, if at all.
If your brand-new house is going to be a two story, your homebuilder ought to use an option to insulate the downstairs ceiling. You ought to highly consider this choice, especially if your new home has two or more A/C systems (up & downstairs). It significantly minimizes your downstairs conditioned air from escaping through the ceiling, as well as developing a great from the upstairs.
The garage is one location of the house that is greatly ignored by many homebuyers and home builders alike when it concerns energy efficiency. Although it is hardly ever inhabited, it is still a part of your house and should be safeguarded from the elements, specifically if there are bed rooms or a living room above. An upgraded R-60 insulation in the ceiling is highly recommended. Insulating the outside walls and an insulated garage door can help in reducing the temperature variations from the garage and the rest of your house.
Quality You can Feel
Seeing your brand-new home being built can be a psychological time. You will discover the urge for constant participation in your home's building and construction. Many brand-new house contractors comprehend this urge and give you an opportunity to carefully examine the inner workings of your new home, by scheduling what is called a "frame or option" walk-through.
This is where you will find the walls still exposed, and you will able to plainly see the internal mechanics of your brand-new house (electrical circuitry, recessed lighting, rough pipes, duct & venting. This is the phase of construction right before the insulation is to be installed.
This walk-through enables you an opportunity to meet with contractor's agents and evaluate your house's progress, building and construction methods, quality, along with, reviewing the setup of the alternatives you may have acquired, such as: electrical (additional outlets, recessed lighting & placements, and so on) cable television, pipes and additional spaces or conversions (except insulation).
This walk-through is very casual, although for some maybe confusing, so if you would feel more comfortable you may welcome a certified "third party" or buddy to join you.
At this moment you should closely analyze the quality of building and express any issues you may have, such as: the condition of the stud walls (twisted or bowed, if any), the sealing of all draft stops and wall fire blocking (8'above bottom plate). Make sure that all the penetrations (water & waste piping, duct and electrical wiring is completely sealed, either with foam or batt insulation. You should likewise inspect the gap in between the frame of your windows & outside doors and the stud wall are appropriately sealed or insulated, this will greatly reduce cooling and heating loss after drywall is set up.
If your new home is to be a two story, the nearby walls of the home and the garage should be draft stopped above the ceiling line to the bottom of the 2nd floor. Shutting out this air from aerating into the living location from the garage is important since, one, it prevents fire from spreading out from the garage to very first floor ceiling of your house, and two, the garage is normally not air conditioned.
For that reason the ceiling above undergoes radical changes in temperature and venting this air into the remainder of the home is costly to the energy performance of your new house. This type of draft stopping might be carried out easily by your builder at the time the house is first being framed. But these measures are not needed, (unless structural engineered) by many municipal building codes throughout the country, therefore it is rarely done by homebuilders.
At this stage in construction you will likewise discover that the outside vapor barrier or in the "south west", the stucco lathing must have been installed. You must analyze this material thoroughly, (from the within), and mention any rips or tears that may have occurred. The bottom of this product, at the sill plate, should also be sealed with foam insulation or caulk, this will avoid outdoors hot & cold air vapor from penetrating the wall cavity.
