New Construction Energy Efficiency Check List-Series Part 2 of 2, Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections, would like to help you and your family with some key questions to ask a builder, if the home is truely energy efficient. Whether it be a new construction home that has already been built in a community, that you are looking at to buy or a home that you are having built. If you are having a home built you'll want to think about having a Phase Costruction Inspection. And to have a Home Inspection of any home that is already built, be it new or an older home.
Questions to ask:
Is the home's building envelope is properly sealed and has it been tested for air leakage? The average home has hundreds of very small holes through out, which heated and cooled air from the inside can escape to the outdoors. Those same holes can also let moisture, insects, dust and pollen enter your home. A tightly sealed and properly ventilated home, that has been verified on-site by a Home Energy Auditer, will not only reduce your energy bills, and will improve the home's indoor air quality.
New Construction Energy Efficiency Check List-Series Part 2 of 2
Is the home's heating and cooling (HVAC) equipment highly efficient and is properly sized for the home? Furnaces rated at 90 AFUE and air conditioners rated 12 SEER or higher qualifys for a Energy Star label. This equipment is going to save you and your family money, and most often they come with a longer warrantie, and usually they require less maintenance. And another thing, when a home is built with energy efficient windows, optimal insulation, and the building envelope is properly sealed construction, smaller HVAC equipment can be used and can in turn effectively maintain comfort and will last longer.
Is the home's ductwork tightly sealed, sufficiently insulated, and has been tested for air leakage? Tightly sealed ductwork is crucial to the energy efficiency of a home. Typical ductwork leak 20 to 30 % of the air that is forced through them, which in turn wast 20 to 30% of your hard earned money that you spend on heating and cooling your home. So with proper sealing and insulation, that has been verified on-site by a Home Energy Auditer, will substantially reduce the home's ductwork leaks.
I Dale Baker owner of Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections, would like to recommend that you have the Home Builder sign off on these questions: _____________________________
Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections
PO Box 570
Charlestown, New Hampshire 03603
Office: 603-826-4207
Cell: 603-477-8072
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Post 681 - 6 Feb. 2010
Disclaimer: Any of the information herein may come from various sources, some of which may not be reliable and may change without any kind of notice. Dale Baker does not guarantee or is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog and the information provided is without any kind of warranties, either express or implied. The information on this blog represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments left by others may not express the views of the author. Dale Baker Owner: Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections. Copyright 2010 By Dale Baker-all rights reserved.
All Photos and Graphics used are the property and Copyright 1980 - 2010 by Baker Home Energy Audit and Commercial Properties Inspections.
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Thank You Mighty Kindly for visiting my little ole Blogging homestead!
You're sure the most important person in the world to me! Come back often, and bring your family and friends! This here little ole blogging homestead was first started by me back in May 2007
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Dale in New Hampshire
Posted at: Localism.com/neighbor/bakerhome
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Very nice Dale. Gotta make sure we are sealed up to save that energy.
Howdy and Mornen there Ian
I appreciate you coming by to sit and visit for a bit, and its my pleasure to read and write a reply to the comment. You have left on this blog post, here at my little ole New Hampshire Blogging Homestead.
Thank you kindly!!! We do write and post here in the ActiveRain community, with the hope that our blog posts will help the public. whether they are in our own area, or they are across the Country.
Dale,
This is such a timely post for everyone with the high cost of energy! Thanks again for giving us something to think about with the construction and condition of our homes.
Dale, this is truly great information and you're right we don't often think about these questions.
Only an expert would bring up these points and they are greatly appreciated. My parents will be purchasing a new home in the next couple of years and I will be passing on this information to them. Thanks!
Dale....Really nice post. Thanks for this good information.
To: Dale Baler - With energy and electric bills going up folks sure do need to take a look around to see if there are ways to save money. This is the coldest winter we have had in a long time and just thought to myself I wish I had been in a heat pump when I had my last unit installed five years ago. Usually our winters are mild. Of course they are nothing like you have in Claremond, New Hampshire.
Howdy and Evenen there Judi, Janice, Morgan, Carra
I really appreciate each and everyone of ya stopping by to sit and visit for a bit, and its a pleasure to read and write a reply back to the comments. That y'all have been so kind to leave on this blog post, here at my little ole New Hampshire Blogging Homestead, my friends
Judi - with the high cost of living the folks all over the Country are faced with every day. I just feel they should also know there is a light of hope, and there are ways to save some of the money they work so hard to make.
Janice - Thank you kindly!!! The only true way to find out about things, is to ask questions. When folks are looking at homes, they really have so much on their minds that some times they forget to ask some questions.
Morgan - Thank you for such a kind compliment!!!, I do not look upon my sefl as an expert. Just as someone that does their best to help others. I'm glad you found this check list to be helpful, and I hope your parents will also.
Carra - Thank you kindly!!! and your welcom.
Howdy and Evenen there Carl and Ceil
Its always a pleasure to have y'all stop by to sit and visit for a spill, and to read and write a reply back to the comments. Y'all leave on the many blog posts, that are here at my little ole New Hampshire Bloggine Homestead, my friends
Carl - I'm sure sorry for missing your comment when you first left it. Your mighty right are needing way to save on all their energy bills. Heat pumps sure are nice units to have installed in a home.