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New Construction Tips
Financing Energy-Efficiency
Financing for your home energy-efficiency projects does not have to be provided by you alone. Energy-Efficient Mortgages (EEM) are available through both government-insured and conventional loan programs. These mortgages recognize that the homeowner's energy payments will be less for a more energy-efficient home, and therefore enable a buyer to borrow a larger sum to cover the up-front costs of improving the house's energy-efficiency.
Additional funding opportunities and information on energy-efficiency projects is available at:
Financing for your home energy-efficiency projects does not have to be provided by you alone. Energy-Efficient Mortgages (EEM) are available through both government-insured and conventional loan programs. These mortgages recognize that the homeowner's energy payments will be less for a more energy-efficient home, and therefore enable a buyer to borrow a larger sum to cover the up-front costs of improving the house's energy-efficiency.
Additional funding opportunities and information on energy-efficiency projects is available at:
- The Alliance to Save Energy Web site provides an overview of energy efficiency-financing and resources on Energy-Efficiency Home and Vehicle Tax Credits.
- The Financing an Energy-Efficient Home fact sheet from the Department of Energy features an overview of energy-efficient financing programs from mortgages to home improvement loans.
- Federal Tax Credits for Energy-Efficiency provides information from ENERGY STAR on federal tax credits for home improvements, efficient vehicles, solar energy systems and fuel cells.
- The Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program works with states and local governments to enable low-income families to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy-efficient.
- The Energy-Efficient Mortgage Program is one of many Federal Housing Authority programs that insure mortgage loans to encourage lenders to make mortgage credit available to borrowers, such as first-time homebuyers, who would not otherwise qualify for conventional loans on affordable terms.
- The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) web site offers state contact information for certified energy raters and lenders who know how to process energy-efficiency mortgages, a home energy rating systems primer and an overview of energy-efficient mortgages.
- The Federal Citizen Information Center site provides additional information on lenders.
Insulating a New House (Do It Right the First Time)
Many state or local building codes include minimum requirements for home insulation, so be sure that your new home or home addition meets these building codes. You may wish to install insulation beyond the minimum specified in such codes.
Builders participating in the ENERGY STAR program use third-party inspectors to not only ensure that the correct amount of insulation has been used, but also to ensure that it has been installed correctly. Now is also the time to make your home air tight. Special products and techniques are available to eliminate air leaks between the walls and floor and between the walls and ceiling. Encourage your builder to make all clearances around doors and windows as tight as possible and to properly caulk and seal all such joints.
The DOE Zip Code Insulation Calculator lets you enter your own insulation prices, energy costs, and heating and cooling system efficiencies.
Learn more at the Department of Energy
Many state or local building codes include minimum requirements for home insulation, so be sure that your new home or home addition meets these building codes. You may wish to install insulation beyond the minimum specified in such codes.
Builders participating in the ENERGY STAR program use third-party inspectors to not only ensure that the correct amount of insulation has been used, but also to ensure that it has been installed correctly. Now is also the time to make your home air tight. Special products and techniques are available to eliminate air leaks between the walls and floor and between the walls and ceiling. Encourage your builder to make all clearances around doors and windows as tight as possible and to properly caulk and seal all such joints.
The DOE Zip Code Insulation Calculator lets you enter your own insulation prices, energy costs, and heating and cooling system efficiencies.
Learn more at the Department of Energy
Salvaging Materials
Choosing salvaged, secondhand or antique furnishings, doors, trim, fixtures and other items that have been around the block a few times is often a smarter use of natural resources than buying new products. One caveat: Steer clear of single-pane windows, old toilets and used appliances that waste energy or water compared with their newly manufactured counterparts.
When remodeling, reuse as much as you can of the existing structure, trim, finishes and fixtures. If you hire a deconstruction outfit, ask if they’re a charitable organization — if so, you may be eligible for a sizable tax deduction for the value of the salvaged goods.
Learn more at the U.S. Green Building Council
Choosing salvaged, secondhand or antique furnishings, doors, trim, fixtures and other items that have been around the block a few times is often a smarter use of natural resources than buying new products. One caveat: Steer clear of single-pane windows, old toilets and used appliances that waste energy or water compared with their newly manufactured counterparts.
When remodeling, reuse as much as you can of the existing structure, trim, finishes and fixtures. If you hire a deconstruction outfit, ask if they’re a charitable organization — if so, you may be eligible for a sizable tax deduction for the value of the salvaged goods.
Learn more at the U.S. Green Building Council
Alternative Building Materials
Using premium materials that are more durable and construction practices that often exceed building code requirements will enhance your home's performance and reduce maintenance and replacement costs, thereby raising its overall value. Examples of such long-lasting materials and their applications include decking made from recycled plastic and wood fibers, durable tile or linoleum for floors, 50-year roofing materials, and fiber-cement siding. Materials like engineered wood products are encouraged because they efficiently make use of waste wood pieces, reducing environmental impacts of the wood industry. Recycled-content products productively use materials that would otherwise need to be hauled to landfills, and also reduce costs and impacts of producing products from virgin materials.
Learn more at Build It Green
Using premium materials that are more durable and construction practices that often exceed building code requirements will enhance your home's performance and reduce maintenance and replacement costs, thereby raising its overall value. Examples of such long-lasting materials and their applications include decking made from recycled plastic and wood fibers, durable tile or linoleum for floors, 50-year roofing materials, and fiber-cement siding. Materials like engineered wood products are encouraged because they efficiently make use of waste wood pieces, reducing environmental impacts of the wood industry. Recycled-content products productively use materials that would otherwise need to be hauled to landfills, and also reduce costs and impacts of producing products from virgin materials.
Learn more at Build It Green
Choosing The Right Window
The ENERGY STAR program qualifies specific windows based on efficiency of design. The ENERGY STAR website provides guidance on selecting the right windows for different geographic areas along with tax incentive information for installing energy-efficient windows. The Efficient Windows Collaborative operates a website that can help builders, designers, and consumers choose windows. It includes a tool that allows users to analyze energy costs and savings for windows with different ratings, and fact sheets with comparisons for each state.
Learn more about window ratings and how to choose the right window at Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Building Program.
The ENERGY STAR program qualifies specific windows based on efficiency of design. The ENERGY STAR website provides guidance on selecting the right windows for different geographic areas along with tax incentive information for installing energy-efficient windows. The Efficient Windows Collaborative operates a website that can help builders, designers, and consumers choose windows. It includes a tool that allows users to analyze energy costs and savings for windows with different ratings, and fact sheets with comparisons for each state.
Learn more about window ratings and how to choose the right window at Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Building Program.
Windows and Skylights
A new home provides the best opportunity for designing and orienting the home to take advantage of the sun's rays. Brighten up dark hallways, bathrooms and other spaces with tubular skylights. They let in daylight without the excess heat and are relatively easy and affordable to install. A well-oriented home admits low-angle winter sun to reduce heating bills and rejects overhead summer sun to reduce cooling bills.
Learn more at Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
A new home provides the best opportunity for designing and orienting the home to take advantage of the sun's rays. Brighten up dark hallways, bathrooms and other spaces with tubular skylights. They let in daylight without the excess heat and are relatively easy and affordable to install. A well-oriented home admits low-angle winter sun to reduce heating bills and rejects overhead summer sun to reduce cooling bills.
Learn more at Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Roofing
Roofs play a key role in protecting building occupants and interiors from outside weather conditions. The roof, insulation, and ventilation must all work together to keep the building free of moisture and provide protection from the sun. In fact, if designed correctly, roof overhangs can protect the buildings exterior walls from moisture and sun.
A number of roofing choices are available for high-performance buildings. New roof shingles on the market can produce electricity using solar technology and reflective roofing materials or coatings help send the heat back into the sky rather than into the building. You can also find recycled-content shingles available that look like slate or wood. Look for ENERGY STAR labeled roofing products; they reflect heat and can reduce peak cooling demand by 10 to 15 percent.
Learn more at Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Roofs play a key role in protecting building occupants and interiors from outside weather conditions. The roof, insulation, and ventilation must all work together to keep the building free of moisture and provide protection from the sun. In fact, if designed correctly, roof overhangs can protect the buildings exterior walls from moisture and sun.
A number of roofing choices are available for high-performance buildings. New roof shingles on the market can produce electricity using solar technology and reflective roofing materials or coatings help send the heat back into the sky rather than into the building. You can also find recycled-content shingles available that look like slate or wood. Look for ENERGY STAR labeled roofing products; they reflect heat and can reduce peak cooling demand by 10 to 15 percent.
Learn more at Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Green Roofs
Also called living roofs or vegetated roofs, green roofs are specially engineered with a waterproof membrane topped by a lightweight planting medium. Typically planted with native grasses, wildflowers or other climate-appropriate groundcovers, they slow the flow of stormwater off the roof, keep surrounding outside air temperatures cooler, insulate the home from noise, heat and cold, and may even extend the roof’s life.
Learn more at Green Roofs for a Healthy City
Also called living roofs or vegetated roofs, green roofs are specially engineered with a waterproof membrane topped by a lightweight planting medium. Typically planted with native grasses, wildflowers or other climate-appropriate groundcovers, they slow the flow of stormwater off the roof, keep surrounding outside air temperatures cooler, insulate the home from noise, heat and cold, and may even extend the roof’s life.
Learn more at Green Roofs for a Healthy City
Passive Solar
Passive solar refers to using the sun's warmth and light to help heat and illuminate a home. Passive solar homes are designed to take advantage of the sun's energy, reducing reliance on electricity or other types of energy for space or water heating. The design of a passive solar home uses the windows, walls, and floors to collect, store, and distribute the sun's energy. Passive solar design does not rely on mechanical or electrical equipment to function.
Although some climate areas are better suited for passive solar homes than others, elements of passive solar design can benefit homes regardless of location. The homeowner can capture maximum benefits from a passive solar approach when designing a new home. However, renovating or retrofitting an existing home can also provide an opportunity to incorporate selected principles of passive solar design.
Learn more at Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Passive solar refers to using the sun's warmth and light to help heat and illuminate a home. Passive solar homes are designed to take advantage of the sun's energy, reducing reliance on electricity or other types of energy for space or water heating. The design of a passive solar home uses the windows, walls, and floors to collect, store, and distribute the sun's energy. Passive solar design does not rely on mechanical or electrical equipment to function.
Although some climate areas are better suited for passive solar homes than others, elements of passive solar design can benefit homes regardless of location. The homeowner can capture maximum benefits from a passive solar approach when designing a new home. However, renovating or retrofitting an existing home can also provide an opportunity to incorporate selected principles of passive solar design.
Learn more at Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Active Solar
Another way of using solar energy is to convert sunlight directly into electricity by using a photovoltaic (PV) system. This active solar approach allows a home to generate some or all of its electricity on site. With a PV system connected to the utility grid, it is possible for the homeowner to sell excess electricity back to the utility. Home PV systems are becoming steadily more affordable, efficient, and durable.
Learn more at Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Another way of using solar energy is to convert sunlight directly into electricity by using a photovoltaic (PV) system. This active solar approach allows a home to generate some or all of its electricity on site. With a PV system connected to the utility grid, it is possible for the homeowner to sell excess electricity back to the utility. Home PV systems are becoming steadily more affordable, efficient, and durable.
Learn more at Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
The U.S. Green Building Council and LEED Certification
In the United States alone, buildings account for:
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices. USGBC is composed of more than 15,000 organizations from across the building industry that are working to advance structures that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. USGBC coordinates the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™, a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy-efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
Learn more at the U.S. Green Building Council
In the United States alone, buildings account for:
- 70% of electricity consumption,
- 39% of energy use,
- 39% of all carbon dioxide emissions,
- 40% of raw materials use,
- 30% of waste output
- 12% of potable water consumption.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices. USGBC is composed of more than 15,000 organizations from across the building industry that are working to advance structures that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. USGBC coordinates the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™, a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy-efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
Learn more at the U.S. Green Building Council
State and Local Incentives for Energy-Efficiency & Renewable Energy
The DSIRE website provides a fast and convenient method for accessing information about renewable energy and energy-efficiency incentives and regulatory policies administered by federal and state agencies, utilities, and local organizations. You can view incentive information in a variety of ways:
Learn more at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE)
The DSIRE website provides a fast and convenient method for accessing information about renewable energy and energy-efficiency incentives and regulatory policies administered by federal and state agencies, utilities, and local organizations. You can view incentive information in a variety of ways:
- Green Building Incentives
- Personal Tax Incentives
- Property Tax Incentives
- Sales Tax Incentives
- Rebate Programs
Learn more at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE)
