Four Ways We Build More Energy Efficient Homes

When you build a new home, the devil is in the details: finishes, trim, accents. But another detail that you may not be thinking of is energy efficiency. It pays to remember: energy efficiency can save you many thousands of dollars over the lifetime of your home! It also may qualify you for a 3-year Heating and Cooling Energy Usage Limited Guarantee from Duke Energy.

Energy efficiency is one of the most important considerations when designing a home, and requires a deep understanding of architecture and technology. Absolute’s homes use four primary techniques to improve their energy efficiency.

Insulation

Insulation is the spongy pink or yellow stuff inside the walls of your home (and, usually, the crawlspace.) It’s typically fiberglass and may feature a paper backing, also called “faced” insulation. Insulation impedes conductive heat flow, or how heat flows through materials. It also provides protection against convection, heat moving through the air.

Absolute always uses as much insulation as possible to reduce this flow of heat, and use cutting-edge technologies like spray-foam insulation when possible.

2×6 Framing

Speaking of insulation, how you build a home affects your ability to insulate it. Most buildings use 2×4” framing, meaning that the studs making up the walls are 2 inches deep and 4 inches wide. At Absolute, many of our builds use 2×6” studs instead.

There is a slight cost increase in using 2×6 studs, and the extra two inches of space may not seem like much. But when added up among all the walls in your home, you gain 69% more insulation, which can represent massive energy savings over the lifespan of the home. It also helps with sound insulation.

HVAC Duct Performance

Ductwork is critical for good HVAC performance. When energy costs were lower than they are now, ductwork was one of the most popular areas for homebuilders to cut costs. Our techniques can yield up to 20% greater ductwork efficiency through careful routing, better insulated ducts, and proper vent positioning.

High-Efficiency Windows

According to the Department of Energy, windows are responsible for 25-30% of residential heating and cooling. When building a new home, it’s best to choose Energy Star-certified windows, identified by an R-value of 3 or higher. High-end windows can achieve up to R-10!

Whenever possible, Absolute uses energy efficient windows in all homes that we build.

Looking to build a new custom home in the Triangle? Let Absolute Construction get your dream off the ground! Contact us today and let’s get started.