When building a home, you may be mainly focused on the design, but looks aren’t everything. There are a few important factors to keep in mind early on that will ensure that you have a comfortable home that also saves you money every day.
Yes, you can have both brains and beauty, and this article lays out how to get it.
Tight Construction
Tight construction means a well-sealed, well-built home that helps you better regulate temperature. Your HVAC system won’t have to work hard to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, which will save you a significant amount of money every month.
Tight construction also helps keep out pests like rodents and insects and reduces noise from outside and between rooms inside the house. All these benefits combined result in a more comfortable home.
High-Performance Windows
High-performance windows are key elements of tight construction. They are usually more expensive than standard windows, but they make up for the initial investment in several ways.
One is by blocking heat transfer, helping you reduce heating and cooling costs overall.
Another way is by flooding your home in natural light, reducing your need for electric lighting during the day. With more views of the outdoors, you also improve your mental health and sense of well-being, all while increasing the resale value of your home. Owners love natural light.
Quality Insulation
Quality insulation is a vital element for comfort and efficiency. Properly insulated walls and ceilings keep heat from escaping in the winter and cool air from escaping in the summer, making your home more comfortable year-round while reducing the amount of energy that you use.
Good Ventilation
Proper ventilation is essential to cool your home, remove moisture, and reduce indoor air pollution. For a maximum cooling effect, your ventilation can work with your tight construction to channel air effectively within the home.
Without intelligent ventilation, your home may experience moisture buildup that can lead to mold and mildew, which can be expensive to fix and damage your and your family’s health. Ventilation also helps fight other airborne diseases by replacing contaminated air with fresh air.
Low-Maintenance Materials
When choosing materials for your home, look for ones that are durable and easy to maintain and clean. For example, hardwood floors are more durable than carpet and require less maintenance. Vinyl and tile flooring helps combat water spillage issues. Quartz countertops are also low maintenance and long lasting.
A builder with extensive experience in your area can suggest materials that hold up best. Keeping simple-to-maintain solutions in mind during the design-and-budget process ensures that your new home is beautiful and easy to keep that way. They can also be more cost effective than traditional options.
Quality Roofing
The roof is your first layer of defense against weather, so choose roofing material that can withstand severe weather conditions in your area and last a long time. This way, you can avoid the cost and hassle of frequent replacement.
Storage
Storage can be in the form of kitchen cabinets, closet cabinets, and built-in cabinets in a garage, attic, or basement. When it comes to storage, you can never have enough, but it’s easy to forget this issue when designing a home. Take it into serious consideration. You can even increase the value of your property when you do.
Energy-Efficient Appliances
Appliances are a significant element of any home, as they make our lives easier and more comfortable, but they also use a large amount of energy. To save money and reduce your carbon footprint, look for ENERGY STAR®-certified appliances. These use less energy than standard models, saving you money on your utility bills. They also help the environment, making them a win-win.
Solar Power
Solar power is a clean, renewable energy source that gives you yet another way to save money on your utility bills. By converting sunlight into electricity, the panels can be used to power your home, and unused energy can be stored for a rainy day or sold back to the local energy grid for added savings.
Non-toxic Building Materials
When choosing materials for your home, look for ones that are non-toxic and environmentally friendly. For example, bamboo is a sustainable material that doesn’t give off harmful chemicals. You can also use low-toxicity wall paint and wood from regrowth trees. Each non-toxic element that you add creates a healthier indoor environment for you and your family.
Water-Saving Fixtures
This may make you fear that you won’t get the amount of water that you want, but it’s worth taking seriously. As water shortages are becoming more common across the country and the globe, homeowners saving water allows for more water for farms and more water storage for any future droughts, and it will lower overall water costs. On a personal level, by simply using less water, you will save money on your standard water bill. Although you may have slightly less power in your pipes, you will feel good about it, and in many cases, you won’t even notice the change.
Outdoor Comfort
An appealing and comfortable outdoor environment increases the value of your home while providing scenery both indoors and outdoors that will greatly improve your living experience. Focusing on the outdoors can also create more usable square footage around your home at far less cost than for indoor space.
The nicer the outdoor space is, the more the family will use it, decreasing the need for expensive air conditioning indoors. Create large, shaded outdoor spaces to help the whole family beat the heat in the summer. Add a few fruit trees for aesthetics.
Drought-Resistant Plants Wherever Possible
Acquire drought-resistant plants to reduce the amount of water that your lawn and garden need. Use plants that are native to your area, as they won’t require as much water to thrive.
There are many different types of drought-resistant plants, so you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. Be sure to consult with your contractor, local nursery, and landscape architect to find the best plant solutions for your area.
Smart Thermostats
You can save money on your energy bills by using a smart thermostat to regulate the temperature in your home. It can be controlled remotely, so you can ensure that your home is comfortable when you’re there and saves you money when you aren’t. These devices also have features like energy-saving schedules and sensors that can adjust the temperature based on whether anyone is home.
A Home That Can Grow With You
Keep in mind that your needs will change over time, so it is smart to build a home that can accommodate for changes. For example, if you plan to have children, make sure there’s enough space for a nursery or an extra bedroom. If you’re getting closer to retirement age, consider features like single-level living or wide doorways and hallways to accommodate a wheelchair or walker.
Looking and Feeling Good: That’s What It’s About
Building a home is a big investment, so make sure you choose features that will work for you now and in the future. By following these tips, you can build the perfect home for your needs and make life at home much more comfortable.
