Today’s new construction projects, such as new home developments on Long Island, now offer the “green” choice: Energy Star rated houses. Energy Star new construction homes are new homes that meet certain stringent government guidelines regarding energy efficiency.
To be an Energy Star efficient house, these new homes must meet these criteria set by the government at www.energystar.gov:
1. Efficient Insulation 2. High-Performance Windows 3. Tight Construction 4. Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment 5. Efficient Appliances 6. Third-Party Verification
What precisely is an Energy Star rating and why is it the green choice?
We’ll talk about green . Unfortunately, the term is thrown around so often that many companies claim many products are “green” just because they cause less harm to the environment than another product. When we talk about green, we’re discussing a significant reduction of pollutants or a positive conservation of energy.
When it comes to new houses, the main green impact is energy savings. Electricity and heat can be conserved in a number of ways, reducing the requirements for fossil fuels. Electricity, while clean when used, still needs to be produced. Generally, it is produced by coal or other fossil fuels with tremendous negative environmental impact. By reducing the electric demand, you effectively reduce the amount of toxic fuel that needs to be burned. By doing certain things in your house, you can greatly reduce the electric demand.
First, you want to use high quality insulation in new homes. Make use of enough insulation to adequately protect your house from the environment. Ideally, you should insulate your basement, walls, floor and attic to help maintain an even inside temperature. The steadier the temperature inside, the less often your heat will kick on, using energy to stabilize the temperature.
Next, think about your windows. With new homes, you can use more efficient windows that reduce breezes, insulate outside cold air and help block out UV light (which can fade fabrics, paint and carpets, requiring you to replace them sooner).
Solid construction is critical. Small cracks and holes can create significant drafts that can allow heat to escape in the winter and air conditioning to escape in the summer. When this happens, your air conditioning and heating need to work overtime to compensate. Fixing these leaks will significantly reduce your energy expenses. With new homes, tight construction, especially around ducts and pipes leading outside, you will see a major savings.
Finally, as you choose a builder, for example www.EmmyHomes.com on Long Island, be sure the houses have a verification of their Energy Star rating. This helps protect you to ensure that you receive the energy savings that you expect from your new construction.
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