Building a custom home is among the top 10 most exciting things. Imagine gradually building a place you call home, customized per your needs and requirements: the space, the rooms, the design, the furniture, everything reflecting your preferences. There has been an increased trend for energy-efficient homes in the past few years. This is good for the environment and proves to be a long-term investment. In this guide, we’ll tell you how to build an energy-efficient custom home. Moreover, we will also shed light on essential energy efficiency features every Texas home should have.
Initial Planning
To build an energy-efficient custom home, thorough planning is imperative. An architect and builder with experience building sustainable homes is essential. When you work with them, you’ll develop a plan which has the following.
Location
It is crucial to select a site that maximizes natural light. Location greatly matters as it helps in minimizing heat loss. Both of these help in making an energy-efficient home design. Additionally, a good location dramatically increases the aesthetic appeal of a house. A well-located house can help create a smaller carbon footprint and lower bills. It does this by limiting heat escape and harnessing sunlight.
Orientation
Home orientation dramatically helps in taking advantage of passive solar heating. Homeowners can regulate temperatures by aligning their houses to face the sun during the day. Please ensure your house is pointed towards the South instead of the North. This ensures that you don’t have to rely on HVAC systems and that each room stays temperate.
Layout
An open floor plan is essential to ensure natural airflow in your home. Natural air flow creates a comfortable environment, making the space feel bigger. Moreover, there is less need for artificial cooling and heating as rooms are connected. This allows the fresh air to flow more freely in the house. A state like Texas experiences hot summers, and having fresh air flowing throughout the house is crucial as a result.
Green Building Material
The materials that you choose for your custom home in Texas will go a long way. Sustainable, high-quality options are better for the environment. Moreover, these are more energy efficient and prove more durable. Here are some key materials every custom house in Texas should make use of.
Insulation
When selecting insulation options, choose materials that have higher R-values. The R-value tells us the material’s effectiveness in resisting the heat flow. Excellent insulation ensures that your house’s temperature stays balanced every season. This leads to high energy savings and also enhances your comfort.
Windows
Choose windows with low E-coatings, as they effectively reduce heat transfer. Energy-efficient windows also lower energy costs and ensure the temperature is stable indoors. A step further could be double or triple-pane windows. These create air layers that act as barriers against changes in temperature, helping with insulation. As mentioned before, this will be highly effective for Texas as temperature can reach up over 100°F in summers.
Roofing
Use reflective material on the roof to keep your home cool in warm months. Reflective materials are excellent at decreasing the need for air conditioning and are great at reducing utility bills.
Renewable Energy Sources
You can reduce your custom home’s carbon footprint by using renewable energy systems. Please consult with experts on what systems to use in your custom homes. We’ll list down two good options below.
Solar Panels
Who doesn’t know what solar panels can do these days? These are installed in designated areas on rooftops and can harness solar energy. With solar panels, you can convert sun’s energy into electricity. This electricity can be used to power your house, and this decreases the utility bills drastically. These come in a lot of sizes and qualities. You can research the market and see which is perfect for your home.
Wind Turbines
Another source of sustainable energy is small-scale wind turbines. You can convert kinetic energy into electricity using a wind turbine. This electricity can be used to power your custom home. These are great for houses that are situated in windy areas. States like Texas experience high wind currents, making them a great choice.
Education & Maintenance
It is also important to understand and maintain an energy-efficient home. You can focus on understanding the things mentioned below or hire someone to handle these tasks.
Operating Features & Systems
Please ensure that you have all operational instructions on hand so you can look at them for guidance. It is also important to have guides that contain step-by-step instructions. Troubleshooting tips are also important to help you out of messy situations.
Regular Maintenance Schedules
Regular maintenance is imperative to prolong the life of your custom home. Routine maintenance ensures that any upcoming issues are already dealt with. Follow the above steps to make the most out of energy efficient solutions for your custom home in Texas!
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