| Energy! This 6 letter word has easily become one of | | | | thousands of dollars a year on your electrical bill and |
| the most popular words in the world as oil prices, gas | | | | produce a more enjoyable living experience for you |
| prices and energy prices have sky-rocketed! As I | | | | and the other occupants of your Dream Home. |
| write this, oil is over $140 a barrel, gas prices where I | | | | The next energy saving feature to consider is the |
| live are hovering at $4.00 a gallon and electricity rates | | | | insulation system you will use. Recently there have |
| are roughly $.19 kwh. Now more than ever people | | | | been several foam based products that have grown |
| are looking for ways to cut or slash their energy | | | | increasingly popular due to their ability to create an air |
| costs! | | | | tight building envelope. This is great for those |
| Back in late 2004 when I was designing (14) semi | | | | climates that have extremely fierce winters and |
| custom patio homes, I felt very strongly about | | | | moderate summers but for humid climates like |
| energy efficiency and I knew that one day real soon, | | | | Houston, Texas where I live, these products can |
| everyone would be concerned about energy | | | | create HUGE problems because of mold issues! If you |
| efficiency! During this time, way before it was | | | | live in the Midwest or upper East coast then these |
| popular, I was building my homes with radiant | | | | foam products will work great and by themselves |
| barriers, energy efficient cooling systems and | | | | they will cut your heating & cooling costs in half! |
| managed water systems. At that time these | | | | However if you are like me and live in the |
| technologies were viewed as expensive alternatives | | | | Southwest, I suggest using a batted fiberglass |
| to the standard construction procedures and | | | | solution in most cases with facing on the side that |
| products generally offered by builders, but the | | | | faces the sheetrock and a blown-in insulation for your |
| sentiment has now changed. These once overlooked | | | | attic applications. I usually suggest that you use a |
| technologies are quickly becoming the standard. | | | | razor and cut lines in the facing before covering them |
| With this increased attention on energy efficiency, | | | | up with sheetrock to allow the walls to breathe. This |
| the real question is how can you build an energy | | | | one minor step prevents mold growth as it allows air |
| efficient home without busting your budget! Most | | | | to freely move through the walls prohibiting moisture. |
| builders and contractors are charging premiums for | | | | My next recommendation has become commonplace |
| outfitting homes with energy efficient products and it | | | | in the homes of the finer custom homebuilders and in |
| is seems that overnight a whole new cottage | | | | many cases is offered as an upgrade by the tract |
| industry has been created offering a host of high | | | | homebuilders and that is radiant barriers! Quite simply, |
| dollar energy saving solutions! Despite the glossy | | | | a radiant barrier is the foil like surface that is on the |
| brochures, impressive sales presentations and overly | | | | underside of the plywood-like material that you see in |
| accommodating sales representatives I think some of | | | | your attic that your roof is nailed to. The purpose of |
| these products are overkill and their claims of costs | | | | the radiant barrier is to prevent the heat from the |
| savings in many cases are exaggerated at best! | | | | sun from coming into the home via the roof. |
| So what is an Owner Builder to do? For starters, the | | | | Usually a radiant barrier blocks as much as 50% of |
| first step in properly planning the construction of an | | | | the suns ultraviolet rays thereby reducing your attic |
| energy efficient home is to consider what your | | | | temperature by as much as 30% or more in some |
| overall budget is for the home you are building and | | | | applications. This feature is not very costly and |
| within that budget how much (as a percentage) are | | | | usually costs $30.00 - $35.00 per 4x8 sheet in |
| you willing to invest in reducing your energy costs. In | | | | comparison to the non radiant barrier sheets which |
| many cases, this figure could be as high as 10% | | | | generally cost $23.00 - $28.00 per 4x8 sheet. Again, |
| however the average is anywhere from 5-8.5% of | | | | this small investment will produce huge gains via the |
| the overall cost of the home. | | | | lower energy bills and increased comfort and quality |
| The first thing you want to consider is the climate | | | | of lifestyle it will afford you and your family. |
| for the area you are building in and the building | | | | This next energy saving feature is one of my |
| envelope materials. Most homes throughout the | | | | favorite of all features and that is the tank-less |
| United States consist of brick, Hardi-plank© | | | | water heater! Can you believe it, a water heater the |
| siding and/or concrete. Concrete is green and energy | | | | size of a shoe box! These have got to be one of the |
| efficient however it can be costly and there are | | | | coolest products on the market and besides the |
| several additional factors to consider such as lead | | | | energy savings they provide, you will also like that |
| times, renting pump trucks and higher labor costs. | | | | they produce an endless flow of hot water! |
| With that said, in places like Florida due to hurricanes | | | | Tank-less water heaters are rapidly gaining steam |
| concrete homes are the standard in many cases so | | | | (pun intended) in the custom home market despite |
| there are exceptions. Brick on the other hand is a | | | | being reasonably higher than your standard water |
| low maintenance product that offers several energy | | | | heater, but it's a worthy investment to say the least! |
| saving benefits when installed properly. Ideally you | | | | Our last energy saving product is a Mana-Bloc© |
| want an exterior product that will insulate your home | | | | managed plumbing system. This plumbing system will |
| from the forces of nature and contribute to your | | | | save you money on your water bill as it will reduce |
| overall plan of lower energy costs. | | | | the amount of water waste and it allows you to |
| The next step in building an energy efficient home is | | | | manage every single water feature in your home. So |
| outfitting your home with the proper sized heating | | | | if you have a hot water leak in your half bath, you |
| & cooling system AND choosing a qualified | | | | can cut off the hot water in that area without |
| reputable contractor to install it. To ensure you have | | | | affecting the cold water or any other water feature |
| the right sized system, I suggest you invest in a | | | | in the home. In addition to that you don't have to |
| Manual J analysis on your home plans. This analysis will | | | | worry about water leaking until you get the leak |
| give detailed suggestions on the type and size of | | | | repaired which prevents water damage and mold! |
| heating & cooling system for your home based | | | | These managed systems truly represent the future |
| on its size and location. The small investment you | | | | of home efficiency products with their ability to |
| make in performing this analysis will produce huge | | | | customize and manage every aspect of your water |
| dividends in energy savings and reduced maintenance | | | | consumption and provide a better overall quality of |
| expenses. | | | | lifestyle for the end user! |
| Another important thing during this stage of planning | | | | I can assure you that if you follow the steps outlined |
| is to have an Electrical Technician design an electrical | | | | here and strongly consider the products and |
| plan for your home. This electrical plan will insure that | | | | procedures outlined you will cut your energy costs by |
| you have the proper amount of outlets throughout | | | | half (or more) in your Custom Dream Home! As |
| the home and it will insure they have the proper | | | | energy prices continue to rise, this strategic energy |
| voltage to ensure that you never overload a circuit | | | | planning and thinking regarding building a home will |
| or exert unnecessary pressure on any part of your | | | | become a standard procedure for Owner Builders and |
| electrical system. These (2) steps by themselves will | | | | home buyers altogether. |
| produce a home that will save you hundreds if not | | | | |