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Designing your own home is an incredible adventure. It's exhilarating, stressful, time-consuming, exciting, and exhausting…all at once. When we began the process (for the second time), there were many things on our “must have” list:
- Bedroom for each person
- Guest room
- Office space
- Homeschool area
- Great family kitchen
- Library
- Great layout
- Easy-care yard
- Playground
- Spacious garage
- Lots of storage
- Energy efficiency
If you read along with the home building process, you know there are plenty of difficulties and ups and downs along the way. Getting all the things you really want in one house can be an overwhelming task (if a luxurious one).
One of the biggest reasons we chose our unusual lightweight foamed concrete construction was to meet our energy efficient requirements. In addition, we got highly insulated windows. Those things have done wonders to keep our costs down. Last summer, while we were still building and before the AC was installed, the home stayed remarkably cool. All the subcontractors commented on how pleasant it was to do finish work in the home because it wasn't an oven inside!
There are so many things you can do to improve the energy efficiency in your home. Unfortunately, most of us aren't experts in the field. Even without that expertise, you can get access to the information through a home energy audit. The audit process is simple. You enter your zip code and select a certified professional in your area. They will provide you with a whole house solution to help you reduce your heating/cooling costs and save money.
The Home Energy Team also has lots of free home energy efficiency tips for you. And if you're interested in joining their team of home insulation contractors, contact them directly!
With a few easy changes, you can save energy and cash by making your home more efficient.
Alison Moore Smith is a 61-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from BYU in 1987. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 40 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons. She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.
I think to build the right and the proper light base as it will give you more opportunities to develop and create different light in different rooms.
Getting a home energy audit is a great idea – my sister just decided to design her own home, but she doesn’t know the first thing about energy conservation so she asked me for advice… But I don’t either! I’ll definitely pass this info along.
When I was building my current house, I hired a professional who was responsible for everything and only in such a way I had such any results
I read lots of article about this one but it seems your post is very informative and will define. One thing is thus CFL vs. LED has a great different! Right? Thus, LED is most efficient in terms of energy consumption?
That’s interesting! the hardest part is when you will design a spacious house. You will end up buying more furniture just to make it look like full. There are online course for home and interior designing and energy efficiency is tackled in there. In my case, the most important thing I’ve learn is install double glazing windows for better insulation.
Well, we have certainly done our share of furniture shopping, Jane!
Hi Alison,
I love decorating our home too but I admit I’m not an expert on home energy efficiency. I could surely use those free tips you shared. I’d love to apply even the simplest way on how to save energy at home. 🙂
May I add that using LEDs cost more but it actually saves your budget in the long run.
we may invest a little bit big on using LED lights but, they will last for a long run.. and you will save as much as you invest too…