Raleigh Relocation Information
How To Lower Home Energy Usage
Reduce Your HERS Score in Your New Home
Any home's energy usage can be "rated" by a certified third party Home Energy Rater. Whether you're buying new or buying an older home in a great location, a HERS score will help you understand how much energy your new home requires. 
What's a Good HERS Score?
A home build to standard construction methods has a HERS score of 100.
An ENERGY STAR home uses 15% less energy, and has a HERS score rating of 85 or lower.
What are some good ways to reduce home energy usage?
Here are some great ways to incorporate energy savings in to your new home.
HVAC Systems
1. Move ducts inside conditioned space.
This isn't always possible without adding more conditioned space to your home, but if conditioned air leaks out of your ducts (and it will), you don't want it disappearing!
Moving ducts inside conditioned space can reduce your home energy rating by up to 5 points.
2. Add a high efficiency furnace.
Moving from an 80% efficiency furnace to a 92% efficiency furnace can reduce your home energy rating by up to 6 points. However, moving from a 13 seer air conditioner to a 14 seer air conditioner will only reduce your rating by 1 point.
3. Add a radiant barrier in the attic.
Adding a radiant barrier like Techshield can reduce your attic temperature by up to 30 degrees in the summer. This will reduce your home energy rating by a couple of points (depending on the total amount of attic/roof space), and could cost as little as $500 or so.
Conditioned Crawl Space
Converting a standard crawl space to a conditioned crawl space will reduce your home energy rating by about 3 points. Not only that, indoor air will be healthier, and floors will work better - seasonal temperature changes can cause gapping and buckling, particularly with hardwood flooring. The crawl space can be one of the most common places for mold to grow.
Water Heating
1. Solar Hot Water
Adding a solar hot water heater can reduce your home energy score by up to 10 points - this is one of the most significant places to save energy.
2. Tankless Hot Water Heater
A tankless hot water heater can reduce your home energy rating by up to 6 points. Besides heating and cooling your home, providing hot water is one of the main places energy is needed for.
Interior Lighting
A home energy rater will count up to 90% of your fixtures towards the total home energy score. Replacing all those bulbs with efficient bulbs can get you up to 4 points.
Green Home Builders in North Carolina - Green Building Resources
Bayer MaterialScience High Performance Residential Program - Guaranteed Savings
Green Building - What's in a Green Home?
What Is Geothermal? Homes with Geothermal Heating and Cooling
Green Home Features Available in Raleigh
Finding Your New Home in the Raleigh Area
Stanton Homes makes it easy! We'll guide you through the entire process - select from thousands of different floor plans, and hundreds of different locations, with a focus on new custom homes in the upper $100s to the $500s. Custom design build options available too!
Call 919-278-8070 or visit www.StantonHomes.com to find out more about new homes in the Raleigh area today.
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Articles copyright Stanton Homes 2006-2011. Unauthorized use is not permitted. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any statements. Please note: all listing information per MLS, and current as of posting date. Information subject to change. Stanton Homes does not make claims to ownership of any lot listings, but can work with homebuyers to purchase available lots and build. Home plans to be approved on an individual basis, subject to neighborhood restrictive covenants and lot restrictions. Ask for further information regarding any community, lot or floor plan. Photos represent typical homes and details of each neighborhood, to help highlight different options available in the Raleigh/Triangle area. No claim of ownership is made to homes or land pictured.
Penny, once again thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Have a nice day and a Happy Holiday Season! Regards,
Frank - Home energy ratings are going to become more and more important. Thanks for stopping by!