If October’s out-of-the ordinary snowstorm was any indication, this winter seems to be fast-approaching and promises to be a cold one. ‘Tis the season for homeowners to take to the indoors, dig their down jackets out of hiding, don their couches with warm throws, and groan at their rising energy bills. When in the market for a new home, it’s important to consider a home’s energy efficiency, as energy-efficient features can be significant money-savers. While resale homes might seem more attractive at first glance, underneath the surface, older homes don’t measure up to new building energy codes and end up costing you more in the long run. Since blustery drafts can prevent you from enjoying the comfort of your home and simultaneously lighten your wallet, consider the following when evaluating a home’s energy efficiency.
New construction boasts newer materials and meets modern energy codes. People are consistently striving for improvement, which results in the modernization of outdated materials. Recent building energy codes reflect these improvements, holding new construction to higher standards to meet the newest version of the energy codes and allow for reduced energy consumption. For example, new homes boast R38 insulation in the ceiling vs. the R30 insulation formerly required. These higher insulation values help prevent heat loss. Likewise, inside basement walls are now required to feature R10 insulation, whereas before, if homes had high-efficiency furnaces, their basement walls did not need to be insulated. Windows, another common source of heat loss, are now required to feature glass of a lower U value, or the amount of heat transmission, helping to save energy. New construction features these improved materials to meet the building codes that require them.
New construction allows you to be more involved and more knowledgeable. Aside from cutting into a wall during a home walk-through, prospective buyers will be left more or less in the dark on a resale’s structural makeup. When purchasing new construction, buyers have the opportunity to understand how their home is being built and the materials that are being used. Buyers can ask questions to ensure their home is free of drafts or that it’s being fully sheeted in plywood. With new construction, you have the opportunity to be included in the homebuilding process and more fully understand the energy costs associated with your home.
Much like purchasing a new car and benefitting from the modern advancements in fuel efficiency and safety enhancements, when you buy a newly constructed home that meets the newest energy codes, it will help ensure that you achieve efficiency, comfort and enjoyment without the added expense of having to update or replace costly or outdated features or find outrageous utility bills in your mailbox every month.
For further information on home energy codes, please visit http://www.energycodes.gov/residential.stm.
Tony Corbisiero is a Principal of Renaissance Properties, a New Jersey centered, multi-faceted luxury residential and commercial real estate development firm. For more information about Renaissance Properties, please visit www.renaissanceprop.com or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/renaissancepropertiesinc.