Commack Real Estate & Energy Star Homes

by Craig Axelrod
August 3, 2009

If you're looking to purchase a new home, you're looking at the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and the size of the family room. The location, property and community are important to you. But how much time did you spend thinking about energy?

New construction houses, such as new real estate in Commack New York, tend to be far more energy efficient than older homes . Older houses simply were not designed to be energy efficient.

When you search for a new house, you should search for an Energy Star rated home . In general, Energy Star houses are 30% more efficient than older houses . This energy efficiency will keep you warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer and save you money every month on your bills.

Many of the Energy Star features are accomplished by the builder during the construction process. High quality insulation, for example, keeps out drafts and aids your house retain heat in the winter time. An attention to detail in avoiding gaps and cracks in the framing, walls and ceilings, will make a tremendous difference. A space of just 1/4 inch to the outside will cause your house to leak air like a balloon with a tiny hole. An airtight construction is very important.

In addition to the construction, appliance choices can have a direct effect on your electric costs. You should choose energy Star rated appliances, including the fridge, dishwasher, oven, microwave, washer and dryer. If your house includes air-conditioning, you should only select one with a top energy Star rating.

On the heating side, you'll want a system with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency Rating of 90 or better. On the cooling side, your air conditioning system should have a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating of 12+ to be Energy Star efficient.

Other features will also help the efficiency in your house include digital thermostats with timers, outdoor lighting with timers or light sensors, room switches with motion sensors and similar features to aid ensure that you are not wasting electricity. Of course, you could try to remember to turn off the lights, but having technology aid you in case you forget will save you money and lower waste.

When it comes time to resell your home, energy-efficient houses are more attractive. One of the great upsides of new construction, such as the Emmy homes project in Commack NY, is that if you resell in four or nine years, you will be offering an efficient home as opposed to an older home which is less efficient. This can not only increase the resale price but also the ease of selling your home.