High Tech Homes Construction

Energy Savings Projections …
The government requires them for your car, why don’t you demand them for your home?

Most consumers today would agree that when we’re shopping for a new vehicle we consider several important features such as:

Sales Price – How much will it cost to buy this vehicle?

Mileage – How many miles per gallon can I expect to get from this vehicle, and how much will it cost to operate it?

Comfort & Safety – Will this vehicle be comfortable to ride in … meeting the functional needs of the family, and be safe transportation?

photo courtesy of epa.gov

Insurance & Maintenance – How much additional expense will there be to insure and maintain this vehicle as compared to another model?

Environmental Impact – Does this vehicle positively or negatively impact the environment?

Rebates & Incentives – Does the manufacturer offer any special rebates or incentives for this make & model over another?

At High Tech Homes Construction the comment we hear most often from our clients is, “Because of the high cost fuel, the cost to buy gas for my car each month is almost as high as the cost to heat and cool my home!” And the sad truth is that the gap between these two amounts is rapidly narrowing. But there are ways to hedge against these costs.

Fact is, the same factors and features we consider when buying a new car should be the same as those we consider when building a new home, and select the heating and cooling systems. When we apply the same consideration to the home’s functionality and costs the questions are (or should be) the same:

Sales Price – How much will it cost to enhance the construction of this home and its heating and cooling system from an energy efficiency standpoint at time of construction?

Fact: The cost to upgrade to more energy efficient construction and mechanical systems is generally only 5-15% greater than that of a traditionally built home, and that additional cost is included in your home’s mortgage - which offers a significant tax advantage.

Heating & Cooling Costs – How much will it cost to heat and cool this home once built, and how can I make sure it’s affordable?

Fact: An addition to dramatically reduced monthly energy bills, many insurance companies offer reduced insurance rates on enhanced construction types such as ICF (insulated concrete forms), and roof systems that represent lower risk of loss from fire. Consumers need to check with their insurance agent and underwriters for specific information.

Environmental Impact – By building a highly efficient home what is the extent of the favorable impact on the earth Vs a traditional home?

Fact: Building a highly efficient structure dramatically reduces the size of the HVAC system required to heat and cool the home – in some cases by as much as half or better. Because significantly less energy is required, less fuel is being burned, and translates into less harmful emissions into the atmosphere. This is where “green” really takes on a whole new meaning.

Rebates & Incentives – Are there rebates offered by the manufacturers of the highly efficient materials and systems I might choose for my home? And what are some of the incentives I can expect if I opt for highly efficient construction Vs traditional?

Fact: While the cost of many of the highly efficient construction materials are indeed higher (as mentioned above), there are still a number of ways in which opting for these enhanced products save you money. For example, building of ICF significantly reduces the time to construct, which in turn saves you on the high interest rates charged on your construction loan period. Another factor is that you’re home’s mortgage interest is still a fixed tax benefit as opposed to rapidly increasing energy rates. Bottom line … include the enhanced construction expense into your mortgage rather than being prey to the rising and volatile cost of utility rates.

Truth is … just as the “sticker” on that new vehicle’s window lists the Miles Per Gallon and other features, an Energy Savings Projection can be determined on nearly every construction element of your new home. That information is found by performing a Manual J Load Calculation and taking it one step further to compare each of the structural elements to arrive at the maximum efficiency possible for your new home’s monthly operating costs. Simply put, you can determine and influence the monthly heating and cooling costs of your new home in advance. And High Tech Homes Construction can show you how to do just that.