Going green is good economics! For your home, wallet and the earth. Homeowners are consistently asking about energy-efficient homes in creating a safe, healthy and sustainable environment for their family. As a custom homebuilder, RS HOMES is continually implementing green technology to stay in the forefront of best building practices. Here are several tips to consider when creating your energy-efficient home!
Energy-star Appliances
Every appliance has two prices to consider; the purchase price and the price to operate the product. ENERGY STAR certified appliances help save money on operating costs by reducing energy use without sacrificing performance. Whether a refrigerator, dishwasher, cloths-washer or air purifier you can estimate yearly cost-savings before a purchase.
Heating & Cooling Your Home
As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. On new builds it is easy to make sound decisions on heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems. On renovation projects, we look at ways the air might be affecting your home. For instance, is your room always too cold or hot? Do you have humidity issues? …large amounts of dust?…proper maintenance or old equipment? Air temperature will largely affect the comfort levels in your home and will have a big impact on your utility bills.
Insulating Your Home
Insulation goes hand-in-hand with your heating and cooling systems. It is one of the most cost-effective ways to create a barrier from temperature lose in your walls, floors, ceilings and windows keeping your home cool in the summer and hot in the winter. Insulating will reduce your reliance on your cooling & heating systems, maintain your temperatures while reducing energy outputs and is an excellent solution for soundproofing!
Energy-efficient Lighting
Changing your light bulbs or lighting fixtures to LED is the simplest way to make an energy impact. When building, you also have the luxury of inviting natural sunlight into your space through larger windows, doors and skylights. There are many health and well-being benefits to natural light that our designers consider for the home.
Recycling Old Construction Material
As a builder, we are very conscious of recycling and donating all salvageable materials, products or appliances that can be re-used. Consider donating pieces to the furniture bank or organizations like Habitat for Humanity. Instead of landfills, you can feel good about giving materials a second life for other families to enjoy.
With constant upgrades and products to the market, we have only touched the surface of energy-efficiency and savings in your home. The Green Ontario Fund is a great source for Ontario Home Owners for energy-saving advice and to claim energy rebates available for upgrades to your home.
RS HOMES is a certified member of EnerQuality, ENERGY STAR® Qualified Homes. We are dedicated to offering leading-edge energy technology to reduce environmental impact, building healthy green homes and sustainable cost-savings to our homeowners.