Monday, February 7, 2011

Energy Efficient Homes

Electricity is an essential part of our modern daily lives. In our homes, we use it for lighting, running appliances and electronics and for heating and cooling.

With home buyers getting more and more interested in preserving the environment, energy efficiency is widely becoming a conscious practice for them. The energy used in homes often comes from burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to global warming. So, the less energy used, the less air pollution generated.  Energy efficient homes are marked by a blue ENERGY STAR. These homes are not only eco-friendly, but they also have lower electricity bills.

Any home with three stories or less (i.e. single-family home, low-rise multi-family homes, log homes, etc.) can earn the ENERGY STAR label if it has been verified to meet Environmental Protection Agency or EPA's guidelines. For a home to qualify for the Energy Star, it must be 20-30% more efficient than standard homes.

Having Properly Installed Insulation, High Performance Windows, Tight Construction and Ducts and Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment results to even temperature throughout the house, reduced energy use and increased comfort.

Homes may also earn the Energy Star if they have Energy Star qualified products such as refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, lighting fixtures and others.

With energy efficient homes, the homeowner can save from $200-$400 in annual savings on utility bills.

Did you know that in Alaska alone, there are already 11,467 ENERGY STAR qualified homes built up to date? And the ENERGY STAR qualified homes built in 2010 are equivalent to eliminating emissions from 9 vehicles; saving 53,352 pounds of coal; planting 15 acres of trees; and saving the environment 104,634 pounds of Carbon Dioxide. (Information taken from www.energystar.gov)

The improved comfort, lower utility bills and improved durability can translate into higher resale value as compared to less energy efficient homes.  More often than not, energy efficient homes can be found in the newly constructed houses. Furthermore, newly built homes offer home warranties. Consequently, it is more beneficial for the home buyers to consider looking at newly developed properties.

For more details on how to make your home more energy efficient, please visit http://www.energystar.gov/.  If you want to save the environment with having low electricity bills, you may want to consider checking out http://hearthstonealaska.com/.


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