Top 6 Secrets of High Performance Homes

Key Benefits of Energy-Efficient Homes

Various unique features make high performance homes stand out from the crowd.

Here are some of the fundamental attributes of high performance homes.

1. High Performance Homes Conserve Energy

These homes employ green building practices that enhance the homes’ air tightness.  During construction, there are many holes cut out for all sorts of pipes.  All holes are sealed properly in critical areas to prevent air infiltration.

The heating and air conditioning systems are sized using special software that calculates the tonnage necessary for the home based on certain parameters using ASREA’s Manual J calculations.  These parameters include the home’s orientation, energy values of the windows, type of insulation on the exterior walls, type of insulation in the attic space, use of radiant barrier roof decking.

These homes have high efficiency windows and ENERGY STAR appliances.  The use of windows in the east and west walls of the house are minimized or eliminated completely to prevent the heat from the sun penetrating into the house through the windows.

2. High Performance Homes Conserve Water

The use of low-flow toilets, automatic or low-flow faucets, tank-less water heaters, low-flow showerheads, zoned irrigation system, and rain sensors are examples of water-conserving techniques used in high performance homes.

3. High Performance Homes Are More Durable

Prior to setting the windows and bricks, a house wrap is set on the exterior wall.  This step is very important because the house wrap serves as an air barrier and extends the life of the exterior wood sheathing.

There are other products that are foam-based sheathing, which also serve as a drainage plane, where the water can drain down and away from the house when it penetrates through the exterior cladding, such as brick, stucco or siding.

4. High Performance Homes Are Healthier and More Comfortable

Because these homes are airtight, there is a mechanism embedded into the air distribution system that pulls in fresh air from the outside into the house.  This helps the home dehumidify properly, thus eliminating draftiness and making the home feel comfortable for its occupants.

A constant temperature throughout the home is one of the things that homeowners enjoy most about these types of homes.

5. High Performance Homes are Less Stressful on the Environment

These homes produce less carbon emissions into the atmosphere.  This helps keep the air that we breathe cleaner.

6. High Performance Homes Don’t Have to Be Expensive or Ugly

Green-built homes are affordable and do not have to cost an arm and a leg to build.  A good builder will provide you with various choices to help meet your budget goals while taking advantage of building a quality energy-efficient home.  Eco homes are not ugly or wacky looking.  All sorts of styles of homes can be green-built.

Green-built homes save your health, your money and the planet!

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