New Homes & Retrofit

Building a dream house or retrofitting your existing one? Take the opportunity to build in energy-efficiency from the start. The following are tips to consider in the planning and design stages of your smart, comfortable and energy-friendly home.

• Install an instantaneous (sometimes called "demand") hot water heater when building or replacing your present system.
• Investigate the use of solar domestic hot water systems if you have proper access to sunlight.
• Make your new home "super-insulated" with new low-E windows, and orient it to best take advantage of the sun's heat. Avoid planning large north-or west-facing windows.
• If heating with wood, look for woodstoves that have an efficiency greater than 50%.
• Plant trees in strategic locations. Certain trees planted in specific locations provide windbreak, which can reduce heating needs by 15%, while others can provide shade in the summer.