What is the process of building a custom home? Would you also like your home to be eco-friendly, in addition to meeting your lifestyle dreams? It would be comforting to ask for a sustainable design that can compensate for the larger carbon footprint that a custom-built home typically has. You may be environmentally aware and like the concept of “green” construction. You may be interested in the financial benefits of energy-efficient buildings.
Home buyers today are not hesitant. An eco-friendly building is not an option anymore, but a requirement for custom home buyers.
What you can do to make sure your new custom home is built as sustainably and environmentally friendly as possible
Ask your building team about their energy audit process
He says it’s crucial to let your architect and builder know from the start that you are committed to building an environmental-friendly house. What exactly is an eco-friendly house? What should you request? What products, construction systems, and features can you use to achieve this goal? How can you assess the eco-friendliness of your prospective builder?
If a builder offers an energy audit, it is a good indication that they are eco-friendly. A custom home builder, for example, makes use of an independent company to test each home’s performance at three stages of construction. The studies detect and repair air leaks. He says that these tests cost around $1,200 for each house.
A computer-simulated home is subjected to a pre-construction energy efficiency test.
The pre-drywall test is used to evaluate the airtightness, ventilation capability, and safety of combustion in the home.
The performance test examines the mechanical system and air leakage integrity in doors, windows, as well as the attic insulation.
You can pay for your own energy audit on your house before drywalling and point out any problem areas.
You can ask about the products and materials used in your home.
You can ask to see an average monthly energy bill from the builder’s typical homes
Asking for the energy bill of one of the typical homes built by a local Myrtle Beach custom home builder can be a quick way to evaluate their sustainability. Ask one of the builders’ customers what their last six-month energy bill was.
Other Questions You Should Ask Your Custom Home Builder
In addition to energy efficiency, eco-friendly homes also include indoor air quality control, sustainable building products, and practices. Ask your architect or builder the following questions to evaluate their abilities in this area.
Will your custom home design be compact or sprawling (the latter will reduce the interior heat loss of the home and its environmental impact). Will the home be oriented in a way to maximize daylighting and passive solar heat? Windows that are within 30 degrees of the true south? Will the designer/builder reduce passive solar heat gain by summer by adding trees to windows, awnings or large roof overhangs?
What is the R-value and thickness of the insulation? Do they use double walls or 2″x6″ construction? Does the construction work on sealing all openings, penetrations, and cracks in walls and roofing and using spray foam insulation to reduce air leakage? Will the hot water pipes in your home be insulated or not?
Will “cool” roofing products (such as white tiles, slate, terracotta, or special membranes), be specified in order to reduce cooling costs and reflect the energy of the sun during summer?
Does the design include energy-efficient ENERGY STAR Windows, high-efficiency doors with weather stripping and LED or CFL lighting, and energy-efficient appliances?
Are plans calling for a high-efficiency HVAC with programmable temperature control, natural ventilation, heat transfer, heat recovery ventilation or air-source heat pumps? Exist any options to use alternative or renewable sources of energy?
Has the water consumption been reduced? There are Low-flow fixtures and an Energy Star washer. The water heater – is it sized correctly? The builder can provide a tankless heater, a gray water irrigation system, or gutters/drains that collect rainwater for landscaping. Has the builder considered xeriscaping? (a technique of landscaping that uses native plants, rocks, and other materials to reduce water consumption)
The custom built home will use sustainable building materials that are less energy-intensive, durable, and less maintenance-intensive. Low VOC materials are specified for cabinets, carpeting, and glues, as well as paint.
Eco-friendly homes: Top features
Windows are the most sustainable feature of any home. Ensure you choose a high-quality ENERGY STAR® rated window for your climate zone.
HVAC: You need to have an efficient HVAC system. This includes using variable-speed blowers, sealing ductwork and upgrading filters.
Insulation is another critical component. Combination of foam, blanket insulation blown into place and caulk/seal.
Call Dawol Homes now if you need help in building your dream home.
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Dawol Homes
9404 Hwy 17 Bypass,
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
(843) 294-2859
Dawol Homes Sales Office
3100 Dick Pond Rd # E
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
843-294-2859
We build homes in: Cypress River Plantation, Waterway Palms, Waterbridge, Murrells Inlet, Collins Creek, Bellwood Landing, Carolina Forest, Plantation Lakes, North Myrtle Beach, Socastee, Surfside Beach, Pawleys Island, Litchfield Plantation