Using Energy Efficient Materials in the Building of Your New Home

Recent developments in the home design and building industries have enabled new home builders to reduce the energy consumption of their new homes by up to half of the consumption of the standard home.

In order to keep costs down, the home builder and home owner can work together to find cost savings that can be put towards the purchase of more expensive items. An example is that by purchasing a lower priced, higher efficiency heating system the home owner can save hundreds or thousands of dollars which can be used towards the purchase of the most effective energy saving doors and windows.

In order to ensure the effectiveness of the smaller heating system, the home plans may require small modifications in order to improve airflow and heat circulation. Air conditioning needs should also be addressed when revisiting the home plans for necessary modifications.

One possible type of heating system that may be considered, particularly in larger homes being constructed, is zone heating. The goal of zone heating systems is to take your home, divide it into zones and to install separate heat controls or even separate heating systems for each zone of the home. This allows the homeowner greater control over the climate of their home, while reducing energy consumption as specific areas of the house are targeted for heating and cooling. Most likely, this will result in some changes to purchased home plans. However, the changes will be minimal and more than likely affect the placement of HVAC ductwork, rather than the actual structure of the design.

One additional technique in reducing energy consumption of HVAC systems is to use the new type of ducting that is round and around 8 inches in diameter. This presents heat loss, and is cheaper to manufacture and install than the old standard types of ducting.

The type of insulation and the placement of that insulation is another item to be considered when improving energy efficiency in your new home. A good builder will be able to review your plans and make suggestions for types and placement of insulating materials. You should investigate the options for insulation, as new advanced materials which are lower in cost than older, heavier materials, are coming into use every year.

Many builders are now replacing the standard insulation techniques by using polyisocyanurate rigid foam sheathing on the outside of a new home. More than likely, there will not be changes required to your home design plans in order to use this new material.

New framing systems are available for home builders. Your building plans most likely include framing instructions for 2x4 studs, placed the standard sixteen inches apart. It has been suggested that 2x6 studs be used, placed twenty four inches apart in order to allow for greater insulation.

This home building article by:
Michelle McClory with BuildingPlans.com

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