Energy efficient homes are the latest buzz in the real-estate world, and it’s no wonder. Energy efficient homes are cost efficient, environmentally friendly and a win-win solution. While there are multitudes of ways to make your home more energy efficient, the best and easiest way is to buy new! A new home built today is almost one-third more energy efficient than a home built 10 years ago. Homes have only been getting more efficient as time has progressed, so house-hunting for an energy-efficient home is easier than ever!

If you’re already a home-owner, we’ve got you covered with a multitude of tips to easily make your home energy and cost efficient. 

First and foremost, look for Energy Star appliances such as air conditioning, water heaters, windows, and skylights. The best part of making the switch over to Energy Star is the potential of receiving a tax credit of up to $500! 

Use your blinds effectively. Not only can keeping the sun out save you on air conditioning costs in the summer, but letting the sun in during the winter can also reduce your heating bill and reduce condensation. 

Be mindful of your outdoor aesthetic as well. Ecological decorations do more than make your house look nice from the outside: planting trees around your house to provide blockage from the sun can also save you money on air-conditioning costs during the summer. Another way to increase your outdoor aesthetic is by installing motion sensing porch lights. Not only do motion-sensing lights save energy due to not being on all the time, but it’s also a cost-efficient way to give you and your family peace of mind since they serve as a no-maintenance security system. 

There are so many more possibilities! Faucets have evolved to help home-owners save money on water bills. Water Sense plumbing fixtures are a wonderful new appliance that can save two times more water than regular faucets can. These fixtures use a maximum of 1.5 gallons per minute and have the potential to reduce a sink’s water flow by 30 percent compared to the flow of standard faucets that runs at 2.2 gallons per minute. This is great news for the environment as well as your bank account! 

Rather than worrying about what temperatures to constantly adjust your thermostat to, make the switch to a SMART Thermostat! Heating your house at a comfortable 69 degrees rather than a temperature upwards of 75 degrees can save you a significant amount of money. Adjusting temperatures with a SMART Thermostat makes saving money easy: you can adjust your temperature from your smartphone whether you are home or not. Read more about the benefits of SMART Thermostats here!

Stay informed on your air conditioning. Making use of your HVAC dampers and ensuring that your conditioned air is being distributed evenly and intelligently is huge for savings. Take that air monitoring a step further by also being mindful of air flow within and outside of your house. Buying with Gerstad Builders, who always make sure that all of the bases are covered when it comes to managing air flow in the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly way!

Making your home energy-efficient can be as simple as installing LED light bulbs or unplugging appliances that are not being used.  Most homes contain Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs, or CFLs. LED lights are an energy-efficient and cost-efficient alternative to CFLs. LED lights last longer, contain no mercury, and can range from bright, white light to soft, warm light. 

For more information on the energy efficient homes we offer, contact Gerstad Builders at (815) 385-4495 or visit our website.