Nothing takes the joy out of new homeownership as much as the reality of paying for it. By taking a few energy-saving steps now, you can prevent sticker shock when your utility bill arrives. If you are building, this is your ideal opportunity to introduce these energy-efficient elements into your home.

1. Layer Insulation
Insulation is one component of your home's building envelope, which includes the structure and materials that make a barrier between the interior and the elements outside. Doors, windows, exterior walls, and insulation all work together to keep buildings warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Along with weatherizing, proper insulation will improve your home’s ability to maintain comfort, while using less energy.

Insulation is available in batts, blankets, rigid board, and loose fill. Batts or blankets are used on attic floors, to insulate first-story floors, or to insulate exterior walls. Rigid boards can be added to basement walls, exposed foundations, and exterior walls. Loose-fill can be blown or poured into existing walls or attics. As an added eco-benefit, cellulose loose-fill insulation is made from recycled materials.

2. Window Wisdom
The same thing that makes windows wonderful—they’re your opening to the world—is the same thing that unfortunately, makes them responsible for an energy loss that accounts for as much as 10% to 25% of your heating bill, according to the US Department of Energy.

The good news is that energy-efficient windows can recoup savings over time. Look for double pane windows with the Energy Star® label and low NFRC U-factors.

3. Think Thermostat
For best efficiency and a comfortable environment, Georgia Power recommends setting your thermostat at 70° F or lower for heating, and 78° F or higher for cooling. Each degree above 70° F can increase heating costs by 1-3%, and each degree below 78° F can increase cooling costs by 3-5%, or more.

Georgia Power also states that by setting the thermostat back (for heating) or up (for cooling) when the home is empty for several hours, you can save as much as 10% on your annual energy bill. It is a common misconception that it takes more energy to re-heat/re-cool a home than is saved by adjusting the thermostat for occupancy.

4. Duct Check
Heating and cooling air ducts located in unconditioned areas should be insulated. Insulating your ducts can reduce energy bills and improve comfort. You can save as much as 20% or more on your energy bill by sealing leaks in your duct system.

5. Energy Efficient Appliances
In the average U.S. home, appliances are responsible for about 20% of the energy bill. All major appliances come with that familiar yellow & black Energy Guide label that indicates the energy efficiency. These labels provide an estimated annual operating cost for the appliance, which you can use to compare models as you shop. As with windows, look for the Energy Star® label, which is only awarded to appliances that significantly exceed the minimum national efficiency standards.

These are the top five things to consider when building or remodeling an energy efficient home. You can reap even more energy savings by implementing efficient lighting, landscaping, weather stripping, ventilation, and water heater insulation.

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You may not realize it, but you spend a lot of time trafficking the surfaces of your home. Whether making kitchen runs during commercial breaks or tumbling around with the kids, your floors get quite a workout. When building your home, the floors deserve just as much attention as other areas. Here are a few ideas that are as friendly to design as they are to the environment.


Marvelous Marmoleum (photo courtesy of Forbo Flooring)
Imagine a floor that’s not just environmentally friendly, but actually healthy. Although it may be new to most consumers, Marmoleum has been around for over 100 years. Marmoleum is a non-textile floor covering made primarily from natural, raw materials like linseed oil, rosins, and wood flour pressed onto a natural jute backing. The makers say its performance is enhanced over time because exposure to air hardens and increases its durability while maintaining comfort.

As if the environmental benefits weren’t enough, Marmoleum is available in 150 colors, providing a wealth of design choices too. Consider the insets and borders (photo) for even more allergy-friendly custom designs. www.themarmoleumstore.com

Wonderful Woods
Hardwood flooring has long been a popular choice by homebuyers that want a sophisticated yet easy-to-maintain flooring solution. But, just because it’s wood, doesn’t mean it’s eco-friendly.

Today, there are a number of wood flooring suppliers that ensure their wood is procured from non-destructive forestry sources. EcoTimber specializes in wood products from forests that are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. They also offer reclaimed wood from old buildings, warehouses, bridges, and other structures.

Also growing in popularity are wood alternatives such as bamboo and palm. Because bamboo is a grass, it is a renewable, sustainable resource that is harvested every six years, without damaging the ecological system of renewal. Bamboo is available as solid or engineered and comes in varying shades. www.ecotimber.com

Glorious Glass
Perhaps one of the more unique healthy-flooring options available today is glass. While still used primarily for commercial applications, recycled glass can make a lasting impression in any setting.

Beer and wine bottles no longer take up landfill space. Instead, companies like American Terrazzo, use post-consumer recycled glass to create sustainable, economical flooring and countertops. American Terrazzo invented EnviroGLAS in response to a challenge from the City of Plano to help alleviate the overabundance of discarded consumer glass. Their product has been used in projects for the Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport. EnviroGLAS uses 100 percent post consumer glass, while other companies use smaller percentages of reclaimed glass to create tiles of varying sizes and opacity that can be used on the floor, on countertops, or on walls. All are available in an array of colors and American Terrazzo will color match to your swatch. www.americanterrazzo.com

Creative Cork (photo courtesy of Expanko)
Go ahead and pop the cork! Cork is a great flooring option because it’s naturally resilient, insulating, and durable. Its rich appearance also makes for a warm walking surface that’s easy on the joints.

Cork is a naturally renewable resource, harvested by hand from the bark of the cork oak tree, without causing harm to the tree. After harvest, the bark continues to regenerate as it readies for the next harvest.

Cork is so wonderfully flexible that it can be made to simulate the appearance of hardwood or tile, and applied in traditional patterns like parquet, mosaic, or checkerboard. Expanko, a leader in the cork-flooring industry offers patterns, borders, traditional cork, floating cork, or a cork-rubber blend that provides expanded color choices for even more custom design options. http://www.expanko.com

For more information, check out these resources:

It’s a well-worn adage that part of the “American Dream” is to own a home. Fluctuating markets make it easy at times, and more difficult at others as the often-prohibitive expense of buying a newly built home can complicate the buying process and frustrate the buyers.

One way to get around this dilemma is to purchase a manufactured, or factory-built home. Manufactured housing offers great savings over traditional homes, plus the added benefit of construction convenience.

Here’s your guide to buying a Manufactured Home.

Not What You Might Think
The first thing you need to do is, change your mind. Manufactured homes are not mobile homes! What they are is a type of factory-built housing, which means it’s constructed entirely in a factory and transported to a residential site.

These are homes built according to a federal building code administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (commonly known as the HUD Code) went into effect June 15, 1976. It's the only federally regulated national building code.

The federal standards regulate manufactured housing design and construction, strength and durability, transportability, fire resistance, energy efficiency and quality. The government also sets standards for heating, plumbing, air-conditioning, thermal and electrical systems. On-site additions, such as garages, decks, and porches, must be built to local, state or regional building codes.

Cost-Effective
The purchase price for a new manufactured home ranges from under $20,000 for a single-section home with basic features to prices in excess of $100,000 for a deluxe multi-section home. Factory-built homes cost, on average, about 10 to 35 percent less than site built homes (excluding cost of land), even with custom upgrades, according to the Manufactured Housing Institute.

You can find financing just as you would for a traditional home. Financing terms are flexible, with 30-year and 15-year term mortgages. Plus, you can get into a factory-built home with a lower down payment.

Completely Customizable
Ranch. Colonial. Cape Cod. You name it. The style options are nearly as endless as with traditionally built homes. Most people can't even tell the difference between a factory-built home and its traditional neighbor. Interior design features include skylights, fireplaces, whirlpools, and built-ins. Exterior features such as bay windows, gable fronts, patios, decks, and steps make the differences even less perceptible.

Perhaps even more appealing than available amenities is the ability to place your new home on your own land. Meaning, you truly can create the home of your dreams without having to sacrifice lot size for home size, or vice versa.

Manufactured homes offer sophistication and technological advances with excellent pricing and convenience for both the first-time or luxury homebuyer. So go ahead, fulfill your dream.

For more information, check out these resources: