Energy efficiency is an important part of building a sustainable and eco-friendly home. It helps save money and improves your family’s health.

Energy efficient homes also increase your comfort in extreme temperatures by minimizing drafts and air leaks. They reduce heating and cooling costs by using quality insulation, windows and doors.

1. Insulate

Insulation provides resistance to heat flow, which reduces heating and cooling costs. It also improves comfort.

Insulating your home during construction helps to keep your house at a comfortable temperature by reducing the amount of energy needed to maintain it. This helps you to lower your utility bills, and will increase your home’s overall value if you decide to sell it.

The insulation in your home should be installed to recommended R-values, which indicate the level of thermal resistance of a material. The higher the R-value, the more effective it will be at reducing heat flow.

Most building codes require that all walls and roofs be insulated, and you can check the requirements in Table 1. You may need to use a more expensive type of insulation if you are trying to meet high-performance building standards such as R-2000 or Passive House.

2. Install LED Lighting

One of the best ways to make your home energy efficient is to replace traditional lighting with LED lighting. These lights are very efficient, last longer and cost less to run than their traditional counterparts.

LED bulbs also offer a wide range of options for brightness and light appearance. They can be used in table and floor lamps, wall sconces, outdoor floodlights, flat panels and recessed lighting systems.

While they have a higher initial investment than other types of lighting, they often recoup the costs over time. The savings on energy costs, maintenance costs and replacement costs are significant.

3. Use Natural Light

Natural light can play a key role in reducing energy consumption in your home during construction. This includes the amount of heat and air conditioning used, lowering your energy bill.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, natural light can save a building 20 percent to 50 percent in energy costs when implemented with other energy-saving features.

It has also been shown to help improve the mood of occupants, increase productivity and positively impact health.

While it may seem hard to incorporate natural light into your home during construction, there are a few tricks you can use. These include increasing the size of your doorways and windows, using glass-partitioned walls and doors and incorporating light colors into the design.

4. Increase Airflow

One of the simplest ways to save money and energy during construction is by increasing airflow. This is especially important during hot, muggy summers when a home can become extremely uncomfortable due to poor airflow.

You can do this by opening windows and doors to let the air circulate throughout your home. This will also help lower humidity levels and keep your family healthy and comfortable.

Another way to increase airflow is by unblocking and cleaning vents. Furnace vents should not be obstructed by furniture or debris, and registers should be regularly vacuumed to remove any dust buildup.

By making your home energy efficient, you can reduce your utility bills and the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. This can have a big impact on the planet and our future. It can also improve your health and help prevent respiratory illnesses such as asthma and lung cancer.

5. Insulate Ceilings & Walls

Insulating your ceilings and walls is one of the most important things you can do to make your home more energy efficient. It keeps heated or conditioned air from escaping during the winter, and helps keep cool air in during the summer.

Several places in your home should be insulated during construction, including attic joists and exterior walls. It’s also a good idea to insulate other areas where heat or cold could escape, such as the ductwork of your heating and cooling system.

During construction, you should also check the studs in your ceiling and walls. If you’re building in accordance with the Model Energy Code, this should be a no-brainer.

6. Use Energy Efficient Appliances

Energy efficient appliances are one of the most important ways to save on your energy bills and reduce carbon footprint. They are also effective in reducing your water bill.

In the United States, many utilities offer rebates for energy-efficient technologies like fuel-efficient air conditioners and LED light bulbs. These incentives can help correct market and behavioral failures, encouraging consumers to select more efficient products without having to pay more upfront.

Another important factor to consider when choosing energy-efficient appliances is the size of the appliance. Larger models typically use more energy than smaller ones.

7. Install Renewable Energy Systems

Using renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, wind turbines and geothermal heating, can significantly increase your home’s efficiency. These systems can reduce your energy bills and help to combat climate change by generating clean power.

In addition, these systems strengthen the local economy by creating jobs in construction, manufacturing, design and repair. These jobs are technical and often pay a high hourly wage.

As we know, solar and wind energy are gaining popularity as clean-energy sources. These renewable energies are displacing fossil fuels and contributing to the global effort to fight climate change.

8. Install Energy Efficient Windows & Doors

Energy efficient windows and doors are a great way to increase your home’s energy efficiency while also increasing its value. They can save you money on monthly energy bills and help your house sell more quickly if you ever decide to sell it.

The best way to find an energy efficient window is to look for one that has an Energy Star certification. This will ensure that your new window has been tested to be energy efficient and meets all of the standards for U-factor, visible transmittance and air leakage.

The best energy efficient windows are typically made of double or triple-pane glass. This insulating glass prevents heated or cooled air from escaping your home. This improves your heating and cooling systems’ performance and helps reduce your electric bills. If you have the extra budget, we suggest going further and hiring Reading roofers to install an environmental-friendly roof for your home.

9. Install Energy Efficient Doors

One of the simplest and most cost effective ways to increase your home’s energy efficiency is by installing energy efficient doors. Replacing older, less energy efficient doors with new ENERGY STAR qualified door systems will help you reduce your energy bill and qualify for a tax credit of up to 30% of the cost of the new system.

To be energy efficient, doors should be made with a variety of superior materials and technology that work together to minimize heat flow and air leakage. These materials include the door slab, frame, insulation and weatherstripping.

In addition, you can increase your energy efficiency by selecting low-emissivity glass coatings that reflect summer heat and winter cold and block harmful UV rays to prevent damage to wood finishes and fabrics. A door with these features is an investment that pays off over time, lowering your energy bills while preserving the natural beauty of your home.

10. Install Energy Efficient Insulation

One of the most cost-effective ways to make your home energy efficient during construction is to install insulation. This is a crucial step because it will ensure that your house stays comfortable throughout the year and lowers your energy bills.

Insulation also reduces energy consumption which in turn decreases pollution (particulate matter, VOCs, CEs, NOX, SOX, carbon monoxide, mercury etc). It also helps increase the performance of air conditioning and heating equipment.

When it comes to new homes, many builders participate in the Energy Star Program to help promote energy-efficient homes. This requires them to include the recommended levels of insulation during the initial construction process.