Energy Efficiency Has Even More Benefits

Energy efficiency has more benefits than previously thought and is becoming incorporated into more and more local building codes every year. Many home builders have resisted this change; citing added costs that would push the prices of their homes out of reach for many buyers. The truth is, "green" building techniques and materials CAN be used in new homes with the long-term benefit to the homeowner greatly outweighing the added cost.

Energy Star Certified homes save a homeowner a MINIMUM of 15% on their utility bills. Many people save even more. Properly sealed air conditioning ductwork means less than 5% lost air moving through than the average 20-30% lost. Low VOC paints, direct vent fireplaces, and high-efficiency exhaust fans contribute to indoor air quality. As homes have become more and more airtight over the years, the quality of the air indoors has become more and more important.

Even if you don't particularly care about the environment, the treehuggers, or your carbon footprint, you can still get behind saving money on your utility bills.

Some homebuilders have gotten way ahead of the curve and have begun to revamp their homes for more energy efficiency; realizing the benefits to homeowners and to the environment even though building codes do not yet require them to do so. I know of at least one builder who builds incredibly energy-efficient Certified Green homes without even adding to their prices. Yes, this would be The Jones Company, LLC, right here in Nashville. Of course! :)

The following are excerpts from a Washington Post article by Katherine Salant - find the full article in the list on the left on my blog page:

"When builders are required to increase the energy efficiency of new houses, the owners will benefit from lower utility bills. Low-income homeowners, the group most vulnerable to foreclosure, will fare especially well because utilities are a big part of the total budget. A house that uses less energy is more affordable to more households, but this is not the position that has been taken by the home building industry............"

"Bill Fay, at the behest of the Alliance to Save Energy, organized the Energy Efficient Code Coalition, an eclectic mix that now has 55 members, including think tanks, affordable-housing advocates, utility companies, home-building related businesses and environmental organizations not generally associated with housing, such as the Sierra Club. This group said that to assess affordability for households with modest incomes, more than the sale price and financing must be considered. The other costs of home ownership, including maintenance and utilities, are even more critical......."

"Nationwide, the number two cause of foreclosures is utility bills," said Cliff Majersik of the Institute for Market Transformation, a think tank that follows building code issues......"

"Research has shown that owners of Energy Star Homes, which are more energy efficient, have an 11 percent lower default rate when compared to owners of nearly identical houses in the same location," he added....."

"Electric utilities also weighed in on home energy efficiency. Although this group would seem to benefit from homeowners using more energy, the opposite is true, said Steve Rosenstock of the Edison Electric Institute. Many of the institute's members are in states that have set ambitious goals for reducing total energy use in 10 or 15years. One way to meet this challenge is to make buildings more energy-efficient...."