Today we’re coming to you live from one of the brand-new model townhomes at Highview Townes here in Greenville to talk about the benefits of having an energy-efficient home.
First, the best way to measure a home’s energy efficiency is by looking at its Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rating. For example, the average new construction home typically rates at 100% on the HERS scale. Any home that rates at or below 100% is thought to have good energy efficiency.
Your home’s windows, wall insulation, and appliances are the three areas that primarily determine its energy efficiency. For instance, single-pane windows from homes that were built 30 or more years ago (and even double-pane windows from homes built just 20 years ago) won’t be nearly as energy-efficient as the windows in today’s homes.
When it comes to appliances, your HVAC unit is an item that can act as either one of the biggest energy wasters or savers in your home. And as far as insulation goes, most homes have a radiant barrier that runs underneath the roof and reflects thermal radiation and reduces heat transfer.
What’s the difference in terms of energy efficiency between an older resale home and a new construction home built today? The latter can save you 3500 kilowatts of energy per year. To put that into perspective, that’s enough energy to power a TV for 11 years. It’s also enough to power your coffee maker for 32 years!
In terms of how that can affect your wallet, just know that the home we’re standing in right now could save you $100 per month in utility costs. People always say homes aren’t built like they used to be, and they’re right—building codes are a lot stricter now when it comes to energy efficiency than they were 20 years ago. Windows, insulation, and appliances are required to be installed at a much higher energy-efficient standard.
If you have any questions about how to make your home more energy efficient or you’d like to talk more about how energy-efficient homes can save you money, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be glad to help you.