| Building from the Ground Up When Thinking about | | | | envelope home, which could eliminate your whole |
| Energy Efficiency | | | | run of the mill heating system, if designed |
| Are you considering purchasing a lot to build a | | | | properly. So that might be a factor when looking |
| home on or do you own an existing home that | | | | for a lot to build your energy efficient home on. |
| you wish were more energy efficient? Here are | | | | These are all factors when thinking green or just |
| some ideas for saving energy and money: | | | | having a very energy efficient home. Lot size |
| Here are some things to think about when you | | | | may be a factor when determining energy |
| are considering building an energy efficient home | | | | efficiency. If your lot size permits, you could |
| or perhaps already own an existing home, possibly | | | | design a geothermal system which can be very |
| with a walk out basement, which will not be the | | | | efficient when building a new home. An existing |
| most efficient when it comes to utilities. There | | | | pond can be used for a geothermal system. |
| are options if you do have a walkout basement. | | | | Geothermal could also be built into an existing |
| Solar or reflective mirrors could offer | | | | home. Maybe you need a new furnace or air |
| supplements to heating even if your basement | | | | conditioner. Rather than purchasing a less energy |
| windows are opposite the sun. You could use | | | | efficient type of heating/cooling product, buy a |
| reflective mirrors in combination with a pipe which | | | | Heat Pump instead and build a geothermal system. |
| has oil or water running through it or a Heliostat | | | | The total cost may exceed your budget for the |
| to reflect the suns rays into your house and have | | | | appliance that you are replacing, but you will save |
| something as simple as cement blocks painted | | | | in the long run on your utility bills. Another option |
| black to absorb the heat. Radiant Heat is very | | | | would be to use incinerators to heat your home |
| energy efficient and a great way to offset the | | | | by burning all your waste. |
| loss of heat if you have or are thinking of building | | | | All these ideas can be taken into account and you |
| a walkout basement. Radiant heat can be used | | | | can build for less than buying plus you will save |
| with any heat source including wood, wood pellet, | | | | money on your utility bills if you build for |
| corn, and multi-fuel stoves; boilers, on demand | | | | efficiency. Also, if you are building, consider acting |
| water heaters, heat pumps, incinerators and solar. | | | | as General Contractor and you could see savings |
| There are several different options to whatever | | | | of about $10,000. You also have the freedom of |
| type of lot you choose. Building an earth house is | | | | designing exactly what you want. Don't let time |
| an option if the lot you have is not ideal for | | | | be a factor, get what you want. If you have time |
| building an energy efficient home. You could simply | | | | to read this article you will have time to be your |
| heat the Earth home with a wood heater and | | | | own General Contractor. Every lot and home has |
| blower. Another option would be to build an | | | | its own situation. |