Choosing energy-smart products
When building your new home, don't forget about the importance of energy-conserving products like furnaces, air conditioners and appliances.
Builders enlist help from energy raters and performance consultants to create the most energy-efficient house plans. This process starts with the framing, by looking for gaps and holes which occur due to wood not being uniform.
In phase two, they check insulation to ensure there is enough and that all the walls and the attic are properly covered.
In the final phase, devices are used to perform a multitude of tests to measure the energy efficiency of the house before the homeowner closes on their new home. Many energy-efficiency problems can be fixed by the builder before the closing date.
In this video: See how involving an energy rater during the planning phase ensures an energy efficient outcome for a new home.
When building your new home, don't forget about the importance of energy-conserving products like furnaces, air conditioners and appliances.
Check out a new neighborhood concept and see how one builder is changing the way homes are built with a goal to use zero energy.
Structural insulated panels, also called SIPs, foam-core panels or stress-skin panels, are significantly more airtight than stud walls.
Habitat for Humanity is an organization that provides simple, sturdy homes. Learn how energy efficiency is a key factor in building these homes.
You have energy efficient and sustainable options when it comes to framing your new home.
New, energy-efficient homes need new solutions to circulate and ventilate the air inside the home.
A century-old barn gets the ultimate makeover - with lots of energy-smart technology.
Before you break ground on a new house, give your utility companies a call. They can help you avoid unnecessary expenses and construction delays.