Discover how energy-efficient building materials and smart home design can support sustainable living.
More durable roof coverings such as steel and fiber cement reduce the frequency of roof replacement. Lighter colors absorb less heat, reducing cooling costs in warm climates. Now, solar roofing products integrate asphalt shingles, standing-seam metal roofing, and slate or concrete tiles.
Oriented strand board (OSB) is an engineered wood product that does not require large trees for its manufacture. It is resource efficient, enhances durability, and is used to sheathe roofs and walls in 75% of new homes.
Vinyl siding on exterior walls saves money on installation and maintenance; fiber-cement siding is termite- and water-resistant and also warrantied to last about 50 years.
In addition to natural wood, flooring choices include low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) carpets for better indoor air quality, laminates that successfully mimic scarce hardwood, and linoleum, a natural product making a design comeback.
Foundations should be as well insulated as the living space walls for efficient home energy use and enhanced comfort, particularly if the basement is used as a family room or bedroom.
Recycled plastic lumber and wood composite materials reduce reliance on chemically treated lumber and durable hardwood for decks, porches, trim, and fencing.
Increasing the amount and R-value of insulation is a cost-effective way to save energy and help reduce heating and cooling bills, which account for at least half of energy use in the home. Sprayed insulation made of foam, cellulose, or wool is an alternative to traditional glass fiber batting.
Factory-built components, including trusses and pre-hung doors, allow more efficient use of raw materials, making the most out of every piece of lumber. These products eliminate the need to cut wood at the job site, further reducing waste.
Energy-efficient windows incorporating advanced technologies like low-emittance (low-E) glass coatings, gas filler between layers, and composite framing materials keep heat inside in the winter and outside in the summer.
Incorporating passive solar design features like large, south-facing windows helps heat the home in the winter and allows for increased natural daylighting.
Covered entries at exterior doors help to prevent water intrusion, reducing maintenance and enhancing durability.
Selecting more efficient, correctly sized heating, cooling, and water heating equipment saves money. Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand at a preset temperature rather than storing it, which reduces or eliminates standby losses. Geothermal heat pumps work with the Earth's renewable energy and can also heat water. Link here for our equipment products page or contact us through our contacts page.
The energy efficiency of refrigerators and freezers has tripled over the last three decades because they have more insulation, advanced compressors, better door seals, and more accurate temperature controls. Front-loading washers use about 40% less water and half the energy of conventional models. Energy Star®-rated appliances save an average of 30% over standard models. Learn more on our Energy Star® page.
New toilets have redesigned bowls and tanks that use less water but function more efficiently than first-generation low-flow models. Some use pumps for supplementary water pressure. Advanced shower and sink faucet aerators provide the same flow regardless of pressure to reduce water use and the energy required to heat it.
Tree preservation reduces landscaping and future energy costs and helps provide winter windbreaks or summer shade. Additional landscaping improves the environment even more: one tree can filter 60 pounds of pollutants from the air each year.
Xeriscaping, or using native plants, significantly reduces the need for watering, fertilizers, and herbicides.
The growing marketplace for green building depends on you, the homeowner.
Everything seems to be “going green” these days—from cars to companies to coffee. However, sometimes it can be hard to tell what that really means, especially when it comes to your current or future home.
Building green means incorporating environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the home building and land development process to minimize environmental impact. During the design, construction, and operation of a home, energy and water efficiency, lot development, resource-efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality, and homeowner maintenance should all be considered. Although we cannot entirely avoid affecting the environment when a house is built, green building can work toward minimizing that environmental impact.
The concept of green building isn't new—our great-grandparents built climate-appropriate homes using locally available materials. Today's green homes incorporate not only climatic considerations but also are resource and energy efficient, safer for occupants, and often less expensive to maintain.
For more information from the National Association of Home Builders—National Green Program, log on to www.nahbgreen.org/index.aspx. Learn more about what goes into a green home and what some benefits are, including financial incentives. The photo gallery features green homes of all shapes, designs, and sizes.
Whether you're planning a new home or looking for ways to improve energy efficiency, Total Comfort Systems can help you choose solutions that enhance comfort and performance.
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