Things to Consider When Buying An Energy Efficient Home
Buying an energy efficient home can greatly help reduce the amount a homeowner must pay in utilities. Besides the money-saving possibilities, an energy efficient home can truly help the environment.
People who turn to homes of this type are benefiting and future generations will benefit as well as this practice becomes more typical. There are different building standards for energy efficient homes including Passivhaus, Net Zero, and LEED.
Passivhaus
Passivhaus is the most specific and extreme version of energy efficiency that will be discussed. With this type of building standard, energy consumption can be cut up to 90 percent. This will give the homeowner many benefits inside the home. Including a more comfortable home to live in, almost no cost in utilities, less noise, and better quality of air.
These buildings are made in a way that does not focus on using energy systems. Instead, the building is made to not need something like an HVAC system. The walls and floors will be insulated. Any windows or doorways will not leak any air. With the right positioning of the house, the sun can warm the house naturally.
Net Zero
Net zero is a step down from Passivhaus. This strategy is used to reduce the amount of energy consumption in a home which will also help to lower the amount of carbon emissions the home produces. With many homes using net zero energy the need for fossil fuels would drop.
A home that uses net zero energy will produce all of the energy it needs to run. Sometimes homes are so efficient that they produce more than they need which makes it become grid positive. These houses may be able to sell it to an energy company or receive a credit towards any energy bills that they may incur later.
Typically, these homes are run by wind turbines, photovoltaic panels or even both. These systems are not a cheap way to obtain energy. The upfront cost of these systems can cause some people to back away from their energy efficient dreams. However, the amount that can be saved with these systems can outweigh this hefty cost.
LEED
LEED is a much more recognized standard for energy efficiency in the United States. It is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. This standard uses points to determine how energy efficient a home is and then gives them a rating based on these points. There are four levels starting with Silver, Gold, and finally Platinum.
There are many different ways to obtain points in the LEED system. Lighting, toilets, flooring, appliances, and much more are all put into factor when determining the LEED rating. It is less concentrated on creating a home that is completely free of the grid and more concentrated on allowing people to make small changes to their home to move up levels.
All of these building standards are a great way to determine what type of energy efficient home is being purchased. Unfortunately, many people with an energy efficient home will not officially get certified as it costs money. These standards are a great stepping point to learn more about the types of efficiency that can be worked towards in a residential area.