Sustainable home building is important to home buyers, and it's becoming more important all the time. With the green movement picking up momentum, it's becoming very common for home buyers seeking new luxury properties to use all the latest sustainable technologies to build their house.
Cool Roofing Material
Dark colored roofing material can absorb a lot of energy from the sun. This can lead to excessive heat on the rooftop and can increase the temperature in the attic as well. This causes the rest of the house to heat up, which can reduce the efficiency of the HVAC system. The hotter the attic is, the warmer the rest of the home will be and the harder the air conditioner must work in order to cool down the home.
Cool roofing materials are light in color, so they absorb much less energy from the sun. In fact, cool roofing materials can help the roof stay about fifty degrees cooler on a normal summer day. Cool roofing materials also help insulate the attic, so they help protect the home from hot and cold temperatures outside.
Recycled Insulation Materials
A long time ago, older homes were insulated with a variety of recycled and natural materials, including corn cobs and newspapers. Today, insulation is commonly made from fiberglass and synthetic materials.
Homeowners who want to get back to a more traditional way of doing things can do so by turning to recycled and natural materials once again. Some of the most common green insulation used in modern homes includes recycled denim and wool. In fact, wool is reputed to be an excellent insulator because it is non-flammable and mold resistant.
Solar Panels
Solar panels have made huge advancements in recent years. It's common for homes with solar panels to get nearly all of their power from their solar panels. In addition to solar panels, there are many ways that homeowners can harness the power of the sun to make their home more sustainable. For example, some homeowners will build their homes in a material that can absorb heat from the sun, thus heating the house well after the sun goes down. In addition, it's common for homeowners with pools to install solar heaters to keep their pool water warm.
Smart Technology
Smart technology can run a home, make it more secure and increase its efficiency. There are many different types of smart technology, so home buyers can pick the type of technology that most appeals to them. Some smart technologies that can increase a home's efficiency include:
- Smart blinds. Smart blinds can be programmed to open and close as needed to allow more or less sunlight into the home.
- Smart thermostat. A smart thermostat can be programmed to learn a homeowner's habits, to ensure that the home is always kept the right temperature for the homeowner.
- Smart lights. Like a smart thermostat, smart lights can learn a homeowner's habits, to light the house only as needed.
Many smart devices can be controlled via smartphone or via an app on a tablet, which makes it easier for the homeowner to track how much energy they're using. Apps also make it easy to turn off home systems remotely when they're not needed.
ENERGY STAR® Appliances
The US ENERGY STAR® program helps homeowners save energy by testing and rating energy efficient appliances. Homeowners who want to save the most money possible on their utility bills can get their start by installing ENERGY STAR® rated appliances.
Grid-aware appliances are also a new concept that are quickly taking hold in homes across the United States. Grid-aware appliances are designed to maintain energy efficiency by monitoring their own energy usage and making adjustments as needed. Some grid-aware appliances even communicate with one another, to keep the entire household functioning with energy efficiency.
Trending Natural Materials
Some natural materials are gaining popularity in new construction homes all the time. Common examples of trending natural materials that homeowners turn to when building sustainable new homes include:
- Cork. Cork is a sustainable flooring material made from the bark of a tree.
- Bamboo. Bamboo mimics the looks of hardwood flooring material, but is made from a grass that can grow to full maturity in only 5 to 7 years.
These trending natural materials can help homeowners have a natural home interior.
Work With a Reputable Home Builder
When building a sustainable Shrewsbury Township home with the most modern sustainable technologies, it's important to work with a home builder who has experience with green building technologies. If you're a homeowner who would like to build an energy-efficient house, contact a reputable home builder in your area.
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