One of the main advantages of having a new home built is that it gives you a chance to have features added by contractors like restoration companies Colorado Springs that will help lower its everyday operating costs. While home builders are already encouraged to make newly constructed homes as energy efficient as possible, increasing your new home’s energy efficiency rating will not add too much more to your budget, and the costs will be offset by your energy savings.
Design for Good Air Flow
When you discuss your home’s design with the builders, ask that it is designed in such a way that your home is cross ventilated. This allows air to blow through your home and cool it down quickly after the sun has set in the evening or when the weather is cooler, such as during the spring and fall months. Along with cooling down your house, good cross ventilation will allow fresh air to blow through your home, creating a healthier atmosphere and ridding your house of mustiness after it has been closed up all winter.
Install Ceiling Fans
Have ceiling fans installed throughout your house in every bedroom, in the living room, and in the dining room. They will help keep your home cooler in the summer by circulating cooler air throughout the house, and warmer in the winter by dragging warm air down from the ceiling and circulating it. On average, ceiling fans only cost about two cents per hour to run as compared to 52 cents per hour for an air conditioner. In addition, running the ceiling fans will help make your AC more efficient because they help circulate the air better.
Insulation Is Key
The ceiling of your home should be well insulated to keep the hot air outside during the summer months and to trap the heat inside during the winter. Since the roof of your home gets the full effect of the sun during the hot summer months, an uninsulated ceiling will absorb the heat and make your air conditioner work harder to keep your house cool. It will also allow warm air, which naturally rises, to escape your home, making the heat kick on more often. To reduce your energy bills and keep your AC and heat from being overworked, make sure to insulate the ceiling, and have a whirly bird installed on the roof to help reduce heat build-up in the attic.
Reduce Sun Exposure
Consider extending the eaves or using awnings on the windows on the sunny side of your house to keep the sun from beaming in through the glass. The direct sunlight will heat up your home and make your AC work harder, which will increase your energy bill. You can also use reflective materials on the windows or drapes to block the sun’s rays.
The home builders in Canterbury can design your new home so it is more energy-efficient, which will save money on its operating costs.