Why Do We Need to Build Energy Efficient New Homes?

Wasting energy not only hurts your wallet, but also the planet. Homes use energy from fuels such as oil, coal, and electricity which add toxins to the air and water, contributes to global warming, and increases habitat loss. With the unstable oil and gas markets, many people are looking for ways to cut down on energy costs. Fortunately, new homes are being built to increase energy efficiency and lower energy costs.

There are many benefits to building energy efficient new homes that include:

Reduced Costs: An energy efficient new home is constructed to keep heat from escaping so you are not running the furnace 24 hours a day. Many mortgage companies offer incentives to people building energy efficient new homes. There are also federal tax incentives for building these new homes.

Sound Investment: Each year more people are looking for these kinds of homes. Building an energy efficient new home now will increase the future value of the home.

Peace of Mind: Building an energy efficient new home allows homeowners to enjoy their home knowing they are meeting energy efficiency guidelines.

Fewer Pollutants: It is estimated that 16 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are generated from the energy used in houses nationwide. When you use less energy, you decrease the amount of pollutants being released in the environment. This will lead to less of an impact on global warming.

Improved Air Quality: Cold drafts blowing through the home can be uncomfortable and increase the risk of sickness. An energy efficient new home ensures air tightness keeping the home cozy. These new homes also protect against cold, heat, drafts, and moisture. Not only does an energy-efficient new home improve indoor air quality, it keeps temperatures consistent.

Eco Friendly New Homes

General features of an energy efficient new home include: Engineered Lumber: Build a new home using lumber from trees that are identified as a renewable species because they grow fast and help protect the environment.

Roofing: Selecting durable roofing materials such as cement reduces the amount of regular roofing waste entering landfills.

Improved Insulation: Better quality insulation that is properly installed in attics, walls, ceilings, and floors, will decrease energy use and reduce energy costs.

Energy-Efficient Windows: Manufactured and installed windows using new technologies that include protective coatings and improved frames. These windows ensure that heat stays outside during the summer and inside during the winter. Energy efficient windows also block damaging ultraviolet sunlight.

Energy Efficient Doors: Installing improved seals around doors and patio doors will stop cold air flowing into homes or warm air escaping.

Energy Efficient Heating and Cooling systems: Furnaces, heat pumps, and thermostats that are energy efficient allow new homes to use less energy and save money. Heating and cooling systems are quieter and reduce indoor humidity.

Solar Heat: A number of new energy efficient homes are designed to benefit from solar heat coming through larger windows

Ducts: Sealing the heating and cooling duct systems reduces drafts, moisture, and dust. Tight ducts will ensure that the proper amount of warm or cool air is reaching every room.

Energy Efficient appliances: Modern and energy efficient appliances allow you to save money while using less energy. Appliances include ovens, dish washers, washer and dryer machines, and refrigerators...etc.

Low-Flow Faucets, Shower Heads, and Toilets: Decreases water use and reduces hydro fees

Air Filtration Systems: Installing energy efficient air filtration systems is healthy for the family and saves money.

New Homes Designed Smarter

Whether your home energy comes from oil, gas, or coal, it has a direct impact on the environment and your wallet. These energy sources contribute to global warming, habitat loss, and increases toxins in our air and water. By building an energy efficient new home, you can do your part to help the planet while lowering your energy costs.

Ontario's home building company specializing in new homes buildings. Visit us to learn more: London Ontario Home.

Editor's Note: Article provided by Amy_Nutt

Green Home Building

Shea Homes Superiology - Green New Homes Building

SheaHomes.com has launched the new Superiology portal featuring copy and video content related to the "green" new homes building. Quick facts videos highlight the different products, methods and more that go into building quality new homes.

Energy Wiser New Homes

How would you like to lower your utility bills? Purchasing a brand-new Shea home is one of the quickest ways to accomplish that. That’s because we adhere to the most current energy-efficient construction standards, and our homes feature numerous items that help reduce your daily
energy costs and increase the long-term efficiency of your home. They include energy-saving heating and air-conditioning systems, Energy Star® appliances at most communities, insulated water heaters and dual-pane windows with low-E glass.

These carefully selected features will ensure that you are able to reap the benefits of living energy-efficiently. And the savings you will enjoy will also increase your buying power, enabling you to buy a larger, more luxurious home than you ever imagined.

Eco-Friendlier New Homes

Do you know what your carbon footprint is? It is the measure of the impact your everyday activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. Because of the materials it takes to build it and the energy it takes to light it and heat it, your home is one of the biggest
contributors to your carbon footprint.

At Shea Homes, we consider it our responsibility to look out for the environment while providing you with a home that is sensitive to our global ecology. That’s why we strive wherever possible to use wood products from sustainable forests, recycle construction materials and incorporate water-conserving appliances and fixtures into our homes. We are proud that our homes will not only help reduce your carbon footprint, but also benefit generations to come by helping reduce America’s carbon footprint.

Designed Smarter New Homes

The minute you step into a Shea home, you can tell that it just feels right, and you can see the attention to detail. That’s because our design process begins with you. We go to great lengths to understand your needs and preferences, and they are the basis of our floor plan design philosophy. They determine the function, flow and livability of our homes and inspire
the creation of specialty spaces that enhance your lifestyle. And with our Five-Sided Architecture(TM), your Shea home will look distinctly different from the ones next door and down the street. We also believe that home design extends beyond your front door, which is why we apply the same approach to community design. The result is a home and community that meet your needs and offer a place of comfort, inspiration and exceptional living.

Built Better New Homes

Building homes is the very core of our business, and that’s why we constantly strive to do it better than anyone else. Experience builds a better home. The Shea family of companies has been in the construction business for more than 125 years, so we know what it takes to build a
home that will last and provide you with many years of satisfaction. From well-designed and built foundations to durable fire-resistant roofs, our homes feature the latest components and the most advanced building methods available. Throughout the construction process, we and our
TradePartnersSM conduct multi-point quality reviews to ensure that every detail meets our exacting standards. As a result, you can be assured of enjoying the lasting value and peace of mind that come from owning a home of superior quality.

Happier New Homes

We don’t just promise customer satisfaction, we deliver it, and we have the awards to prove it. We have been nationally recognized by J.D. Power and Associates, which has consistently ranked Shea Homes highest in customer satisfaction with home builders.

Beginning with your first visit, our friendly Community Representatives are focused on getting to know you and providing you with a comfortable home-buying experience. Then the professionals at our sister company, Shea Mortgage, will make sure you receive the most favorable financing options, and our conscientious Field Managers will work with you in an
interactive construction process to ensure that your home is built to our quality standards and yours. In addition, the experienced interior designers at our Shea Design Studio will help you create the home you imagined. The entire home-buying process at Shea Homes is designed
with one thing in mind: your happiness.

Healthier New Homes

We know that today, your quest for a healthy lifestyle is more important than ever. We also know that it doesn’t stop with eating right and exercising. There are many things we come in contact with in our everyday lives that can have an adverse effect on our health. That’s why we strive to incorporate the highest standards of product performance and safety into our homes. For example, we use low-VOC paints, pollutant-free carpet adhesives and state-of-the-art air conditioning systems to help keep the air you breathe at home as free of harmful agents as possible. Your health is as important to us as it is to you, as demonstrated by the many fine price-included features that we offer.

Safer New Homes

Home is the place where you’re supposed to feel safer than anywhere else, and we’re doing everything we can to make sure that you do. Our concern for your well being begins with the safety criteria we use in the development and building of our homes, and it continues with an array of safety features built into our homes. They include smoke detectors to warn you of fire, tempered glass that is less likely to harm you if it breaks, GFI electrical outlets that are designed to protect you from electrical shock and sloped porches and garage floors that provide proper drainage and reduce the chances of personal injury. These and many other safety components add up to one essential feature: your peace of mind.