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Today's Green Homes
What is it about today's homes that make them "greener" than those made just a few years ago? For one thing, today's new home designs have new innovations added to them that make them more efficient at energy savings than others. In fact, EnergyStar homes are becoming ever more popular and showing up in more places every year.
For an EnergyStar home to be qualified as such, it has to be at least 15% more energy efficient than a home built before 2004, and it also has to include energy saving features such that it's 20 to 30% more efficient than a standard residence.
Beginning with new construction, today's green homes incorporate some of the newest energy saving ideas. For example, today's insulation is not the old traditional fiberglass insulation used previously. Instead, it's made of recycled cellulose insulation that's better than fiberglass and also fills up wall spaces much better than fiberglass does. The cellulose insulation can be installed either in dry form or as a semi liquid that can be sprayed between walls. It also gives better thermal protection than standard installation does.
Power sources, too, offer choice. You're not limited to being connected to standard utility power grids, and instead can opt for installation of renewable energy sources, like wind, solar, or geothermal energy, depending on where your house is located. You can also combine these methods of power generation, such as solar and wind power, so that you get a more reliable energy source. You can incorporate these renewable energy sources into new construction and existing homes, too. These renewable energy source installations give you many advantages, including a reduction or elimination of utility bill expenses, and not having to worry about brown- or blackouts, as you would with traditional "on the grid" power hookups.
Alternative power sources are just one facet of green energy, though. High efficiency appliances are also part of the program, and cost roughly the same as other regular appliances. These can include appliances like refrigerators, washers and dryers, stoves, tankless water heaters, or high-efficiency heating and cooling systems. Power sources are interchangeable here, too. For example, if you are still connected to a traditional grid setup, you can use more energy-efficient, clean propane or natural gas as your power supply for those appliances.
For windows, there are many high efficiency windows with double panes. Some are infused with inert gases between the panes to help keep out harmful UV rays, and at the same time, keep heat and air conditioning from escaping. There are less expensive ways to save energy on windows, there are many types of film that can be applied directly to the window panes that provide the same protection.
There are many new techniques available to make your home more efficient right at the start, but the question many first time home builders ask is how much more does a green home cost to construct? The answer is that these homes can be up to 17% higher in initial cost to build, but the energy savings alone can pay for these extra costs.
Find out more about EnergyStar homes and appliances by doing some research on the Internet. Many of the materials such as the tankless water heaters or cellulose insulation, as well as others, can be bought at your local home improvement store, so that you don't have to pay for shipping. You can also go to many websites that provide "do-it-yourself" information on installing these items, as well as plans and kits for renewable energy source materials, too.
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