Incorporating sustainable amenities in your custom home is a great way to save money while helping the environment. Homebuyers are looking for appliances that get the job done without breaking the bank on monthly bills, and there are plenty of ways to utilize energy savings in your custom home. Legion Custom Home Builders understands the desire for eco-friendly living, and we are here to work with you to build a custom green dream home.
Energy Star Appliances
Did you know energy star appliances are up to 40% more efficient? Switching to Energy Star Certified appliances is one of the best ways to save money in your home. You’ll also have the advantage of longer-lasting appliances as certain Energy Star products can live up to 25 times longer than their standard counterparts. Energy Star boasts that their program “stands alone as the most successful voluntary energy conservation movement in history”. From refrigerators to air purifiers, Energy Star is the smart way to go if you are looking to save energy and protect the environment.
Some of the top Energy Star products are refrigerators, as well as washer and dryer sets, which are also three of the most-used appliances in your home! You can find immediate savings by switching from your old refrigerator to an Energy Star certified fridge, as appliances over 10 years old can be costing you more than $110 per year. Better insulation and compressors help Energy Star refrigerators keep your groceries cool without running up your electricity bill each month.
Washers and dryers combine to consume the third largest amount of energy in your home, next to your water heater and HVAC system. Compared to a conventional washer, choosing an Energy Star certified clothes washer will cut energy consumption by 25% and water usage by 33%. This can translate to as much as 6 gallons of water per load! Both electric and gas clothes dryers can be a burden on your monthly bills, so consider an Energy Star certified heat pump dryer. These dryers cycle in ambient air to heat clothes and can save you 20-60% on energy usage.
Energy-Efficient Lighting
By installing light fixtures that have earned the Energy Star you are not only saving money, you are also protecting the environment from harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Utilizing these options distributes light more efficiently and effectively which in turn brings quality and also cutting-edge lighting design into your home.
The light bulbs you use in your fixtures also make a huge difference in your home’s energy consumption and effect on the environment. Energy Star certified light bulbs not only use up to 90% less energy than standard bulbs, they cost less to operate and result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions. These energy and cost-efficient bulbs can also last 15-25 times longer than the standard bulbs in your home.
Consider Solar Panels
Solar energy is about as natural as it gets, it is not only sustainable but also renewable. Solar energy helps to slow and stop global warming by not emitting harmful pollutions into our air. Plus, it can save you thousands of dollars in energy bills (especially in very sunny regions)!
According to Project Sunroof, the average home in Houston will reach an estimated savings of $3,000 after 20 years of utilizing solar panels. The Project Sunroof Data Explorer report from May 2018 also states that if all viable solar installations were implemented in the Houston area, almost nine million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions would be avoided. That equates to almost two million passenger vehicles being taken off the road for a full year!
Saving money and helping the environment are two things that don’t normally go hand in hand, but in the case of home building they do! Legion Custom Home Builders is committed to building a home that you are proud and excited to reside in. For more information about the different energy-efficient amenities we offer, visit our website or give us a call at (281) 914-3080.