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An Energy Efficient Home Can Save You Money
In the desert Southwest where warm sunny days are the norm, I the steps you take, whether in building a new home or purchasing and remodeling an existing home, will make a significant difference in cost to operate your home over time. Given that most people expect to occupy their home for an extended period of time, operating costs should be considered.
There are several types of construction, each with its energy saving benefits. The traditional wood frame structure requires insulation. The minimums are established by code, however you can choose a higher level of insulation, which is called an "R" rating. The higher the "R" rating, the better the level of insulation. Common in the Southwest are adobe and rammed earth building techniques. Each offers dense exterior wall mass and generally hold the heat in the winter and cooling in the summer. Recently, a newer technique called ICF, or insulated concrete form, provides for a poured concrete center core wall sandwiched between foam insulation then finished on the surfaces inside and out. These ICF, adobe, and rammed earth homes are slightly more expensive to build than a "stick" home, but do significantly improve the cost to operate a home.
The orientation of the house on its lot is a major consideration when building a new home or buying an existing home. Large windows on the south side of the house let the sunshine in during the winter and can be easily shaded during the hot summer months. Typically, placing the bedrooms to the north will make for cooler, more comfortable nights. Landscaping is a factor in shading a home. If you purchase an existing home with mature trees, you are in good shape. If you build or purchase a new home in a desert landscape then trees are not the immediate solution. In our area you see two types of southwest architecture. Pueblo style provides for straight walls and exposed windows. Spanish territorial provides for porch overhangs. These provide shade to windows. Finally, the number of windows you have and the side of the house they are on effect the amount of sunlight (and heat) that comes into your home. Low "E" windows reduce the amount of energy passing through the windows. The key is to block, or filter the sun's rays by shading from the exterior, either with an overhang, awning or trees. Once the sun's rays have passed through the windows, curtains or blinds may reduce the light but the heat is already inside the home. Be sure to discuss energy conserving features with your builder and/or Realtor® when purchasing your next home.
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