Eco-friendly and energy-efficient homes are growing in popularity as contractors plan for sustainability from the beginning and more consumers are aware of and invested in their energy use. Energy-efficient homes work to reduce energy consumption and waste in a number of ways.
Your home’s build can have a major impact on its overall efficiency. For example, open-concept rooms have more space to heat and cool, which can put a strain on your heating and cooling system. Similarly, high ceilings, poor insulation, or outdated windows can all make it difficult for your home to maintain its temperature and require more energy to keep things comfortable.
Your appliances and installed features can make or break your energy efficiency, too. Next to heating and cooling, water heaters and clothes dryers use the most energy in a home. Modern tankless water heaters can significantly reduce energy consumption by only heating water as you need it instead of pre-heating gallons of water that goes unused. You’ll also want to install Energy Star appliances that are certified to meet efficiency standards.
There are plenty of ways you can save energy and money by making your home more energy-efficient. Learn more about the home features that impact your energy consumption and tips to be more efficient with this guide from Homebuyer.