Saratoga builders

We all know we should become more energy efficient. This saves your family money and has a huge impact on our environment. Regardless of your reason, purchasing a newly built Energy Star qualified new house helps guarantee great energy savings.

What precisely is an Energy Star house? Are all new houses "green" and good for the environment? How do I know whether the new house that I'm buying is really energy efficient?

The U.S. government has laid out requirements as to what qualifies as an Energy Star rated new home. This is relevant because buzz words such as "green" are vague. Is a housebuilder claiming to be green simply because he used energy-efficient light bulbs? Is it really "green" just because the house has insulation? While are good things, it does not make your new house "green."

To be sure that your new home you're looking at is really energy friendly, look for the official "Energy Star" certification that is only awarded to qualified home.

Government rules at www.energystar.gov, identify the criteria a home should meet to become Energy Star qualified:

First, the house must make use of quality insulation that is both installed and inspected correctly. Insulation should be used in the floors, walls and attics to ensure level temperatures throughout the home. This can drastically lower energy use and provide greater comfort in your new home as it maintains even temperatures.

Second, the structure should be built with tight construction and well fitted duct work. Small holes and cracks can cause cold air in and warm air to escape, significantly reducing the energy savings of your new home. A gap the size of a quarter can be a problem.

Next, the home should employ high efficiency windows with protective coatings and superior window frames. The goal here is to keep the cold out in the winter and to keep the warm air out in the summer. High quality UV coating on the windows also prevents fading of furniture, carpets and paint in your house.

Next, Energy Star rated appliances should be used in the new house. These appliances use less electricity, oil and natural gas, and produce much less waste compared to their non-rated counterparts.

Fifth, Energy Star rated appliances should be used in the new house, including lighting fixtures, compact fluorescent bulbs, fans, appliances, refrigerators, air conditioners, dishwashers and washing machines. The more energy efficient appliances you have, the greater your savings will be.

Finally, Energy Star builders can go through a third-party verification process to verify that the homes built attain these standards. This helps ensure that builders are kept honest and are delivering on their energy-efficient promises.

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Craig Axelrod is one of the partners with Emmy Homes. Emmy is which is one of Long Island's top real estate builders. Emmy's Commack real estate features new construction in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for information.

Saratoga builders: new homes

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