Foreclosure How To Buy

Energy Star New Homes in Commack

We all know we should become more energy efficient. This saves money on utility bills and has a tremendous positive impact on our environment. No matter what your reason, purchasing a newly built Energy Star qualified home helps guarantee great energy efficiency.

What precisely is an Energy Star home? Are all new houses “green” and good for the planet? How do I know whether the new home that I’m purchaseing is really energy efficient?

The federal government has laid out requirements as to what constitutes an Energy Star rated home. This is critical because terms such as “green” have no clear definition. Is a new homebuilder claiming to be green simply because he used energy-efficient light bulbs? Is it really “green” just because the house has insulation? While are good things, it does not make your home “green.”

To be sure that your new home you’re looking at is actually energy efficient, look for the official “Energy Star” certification that is only awarded to qualified home.

Government guidelines at www.energystar.gov, identify the criteria a house should meet to become Energy Star qualified:

First, the new home must make use of quality insulation that is both properly installed and inspected. Insulation should be used in the floors, walls and attics to ensure level temperatures throughout the home. This can significantly lower energy use and provide increased comfort in your home as it maintains even temperatures.

Second, the structure should be constructed with tight construction and well fitting duct work. Small cracks and holes can allow cold air in and warm air to escape, greatly reducing the efficiency of your new house. An opening the size of a quarter can be disastrous.

Third, the new house should employ high efficiency windows with protective coatings and superior window frames. The goal here is to prevent cold air from coming in in the winter and to keep the heat out in the summer. High quality UV coating on the windows also prevents fading of furniture, carpets and paint in your new house.

Fourth, only Energy Star appliances should be used in the house. These appliances use less gas, oil and electricity and produce reduce waste compared to their non-rated counterparts.

Next, Energy Star rated appliances should be used in the new house, including compact fluorescent bulbs, fans, lighting fixtures, appliances, air conditioning, refrigeration, dishwashers and washing machines. The more energy efficient appliances you have, the greater your savings will be.

Finally, Energy Star builders can go through a third-party verification process to verify that the new homes built meet these standards. This is done to ensure that builders are reputable and are delivering on their energy-efficient promises.

Craig Axelrod is one of the senior developers with Emmy Homes. Emmy is one of LI’s top real estate developers. Emmy’s Commack real estate features new construction in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for information.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!