Texas Energy Efficient Ideas For Your New Home

Whether your home is new construction of old – looking for these Texas energy saving ideas can save you thousands of dollars over the years. Certain things your home does not have already might be things you will want to change for energy efficiency and comfort.

Energy Star is a rating given to new home construction which means the home has gone through stringent requirements when it comes to receiving the energy efficiency rating.

Insulation, air sealing, window and door construction and sealing, along with appliances, lighting and ventilation systems are things that may be considered. Many building codes are including certain requirements for air sealing and insulation on new home construction in Texas, in an effort to save energy. By making sure these insulation and air sealing procedures are followed, you can be assured your new home is airtight and will keep the air in the house that you need for comfort and the outside elements where they belong. Make sure you check for air sealing tests on new home construction.

Thermal windows and doors are part of this equation, so if the house has passed air sealing, you don’t need to worry as much. You can have air sealing done on an existing home. By going through and sealing existing cracks and seams where drafts can come through, you can improve your energy bills dramatically.

Your ventilation system is another Texas energy savings component, and the newer HVAC systems are built for efficiency. Make sure you have the right size of unit for your home’s square footage or any energy savings will go out the window, and you will have hot and cold spots. A proper heating, ventilation and air conditioning system can save you up to 50% on your energy bill, versus older, inefficient ones.

Appliances are being made with energy saving features, as well. Energy efficient appliances can pay for themselves in a short period of time, through savings on your energy bill. Don’t forget to check your water heater for energy efficiency, too.

Your home’s lighting systems are important, and houses that are built to take advantage of natural lighting and natural heating or cooling may include skylights, tinted windows, shade trees, and have southern exposure.

Many homes are including solar panel systems to help generate power, and these can increase a home’s resale value and generate enough power for an entire house, depending on the size of the system.Also, using compact, fluorescent bulbs can offer cost savings, and outdoor lighting that uses solar power is a great way to save energy costs. They store the sunlight all day and use it each night. It used to be that ideas for energy efficiency involved turning your lights out when you weren’t using them and weather-stripping your windows and doors. While those are still good pieces of advice, you can realize larger energy savings that amount to more than 50% using these ideas.

Most new Texas home construction includes many energy efficiency features, but you may need to make conversations on older homes. Tax credits and utility rebates are available in many areas for many different types of systems and appliances. Now is a good time to take advantage of energy efficient ideas for your new home