Include these elements when building a sustainable home

When you contract someone to build a new home, you have the opportunity to make it as sustainable, eco-friendly and energy-efficient as possible. Not only are sustainable homes more cost-effective over the long term, but they also have a smaller environmental impact and can be more appealing to homebuyers when you’re ready to sell and move.

In fact, more than half of Realtors reported that consumers are interested in sustainability, according to the Realtors and Sustainability report from the National Association of Realtors. What’s more, 70 percent of Realtors have said that a home’s efficient use of energy is important to potential buyers.

The experts at Coleman heating and cooling offer some points to consider as you plan a sustainable home.

• Choose a builder who specializes in sustainable homes.

While virtually all homebuilders today will offer eco-friendly or energy-efficient features, sustainable home builders take a whole-house approach. Their plans should include more than just high-efficiency windows and appliances and lots of insulation. Sustainability planning should also incorporate elements such as the position of the home on its lot, the number and position of windows in the home, and shade and ventilation, among other considerations.

• Keep in mind that heating and cooling typically represent the largest portion of a home’s energy consumption.

When choosing an HVAC system for your sustainable home, choose an energyefficient option. For example, Coleman Echelon Variable Capacity Residential Systems use leading-edge technology to tune the system’s temperature settings and performance for optimum function, given exterior conditions.

• The orientation of your home on the lot can enhance heating and cooling efficiency.

For example, if you live in a colder region, placing your home with the

maximum number of windows facing south can allow natural light to help heat your home in the winter.

If you live in a warm climate, minimizing the number of windows on the west side of the home and planting shade trees on that side can help with cooling. Plant a tree that loses its leaves in the winter, and you can allow light to reach that side of the house when the weather is colder.

• The more compact a home is, the more energy-efficient it will be.

You don’t have to build a tiny home to achieve a more efficient design. A twostory home can be more compact and energy-efficient than a sprawling singlestory design.

• Insulation and air sealing can greatly improve a home’s energy efficiency.

Talk to your builder about the best kind of insulation for your needs, and learn about R value and how it affects the efficiency of insulation. Discuss how the builder seals potential air leaks in the home, paying close attention to windows, doors and spots where pipes or wires enter the home.

• Finally, a truly sustainable home is one that makes maximum use of recycled and recyclable materials.

Talk to your builder about the construction materials they will use. Are they sustainably sourced? Will they be able to be recycled someday down the road when they are no longer usable in your home?

The demand for sustainable homes is likely to continue growing, according to the NAR report. Choosing to build your new home with sustainable materials, systems and practices can ensure that you reap the rewards of a more environmentally friendly home now and in the future.