As North American households face heating bills averaging at
least 30 % higher than last year; the connection between
household energy use and energy prices is evident to everyone.
Energy efficiency remains the quickest, cheapest, cleanest way
to help you lower your home energy bills, extend the nations
energy supplies, bring down energy costs and fatten your wallet.
Energy efficiency shouldn't be a headache - in fact, it can be
very rewarding. Not only is increasing the energy efficiency of
your home a step toward better use of fuel and less pollution,
it also offers you greater security and independence, lower
energy bills and makes your home a more comfortable place to
live.
Retrofitting energy efficiency can be expensive, but when you
build a new house, it is relatively easy and cheap to make it
energy efficient.
The task is achieved by marrying several of the latest
technologies and developments in home construction.
The development and increasing use of Insulated Concrete Forms
in construction is one of the main breakthroughs in high energy
efficiency in new homes.
These "Forms" are Styrofoam (EPS) blocks that get filled with
steel reinforced concrete and form the shape of the building.
They double the insulation value, triple the sound resistance
and quadruple the strength of the building.
Another important component in energy efficient homes is Radiant
Floor Heating; which the industry claims will alone save you 20%
on your annual heating bill. Not to mention that it gives you
unprecedented comfort during those cold and long winter nights.
Add to this a High Efficiency Tank-Less Water Heater that can
heat your whole house while giving you an endless stream of hot
water; and the picture gets a little clearer.
Complete the package with a Heat Recovery Ventilator connected
to a sophisticated "Earth Energy" system that uses a series of
underground pipes in order to pre-condition the incoming air.
This simple solution preheats your incoming air in the winter
and pre-warms it in the summer.
Combine these four energy efficient breakthroughs and the result
is a home that will slash at least 50% of your home heating
bills as well as be your castle in a very real sense of the word.
A home that stands up to fire, noise, sun, wind, rain, snow,
bugs, mould and inevitable Acts of God like, earthquakes and
hurricanes;
A home that is safer, stronger and healthier than any other home
you have ever seen; The only question left to answer is how much
does it all cost? Your initial investment for this type of home
is a little more ( approximately 10% more compared to
conventionally built home) or considerably less when you think
of long term costs, not only for you and your family but also
for the planet we live on.
The "payback period" in fuel and maintenance would be between
five to seven years but considering the alternative of keeping
the status quo during predictions of a looming energy crisis, it
is a very reasonable and logical solution.
When buying your new home, consciously choose to make informed
decisions concerning the future of you and your family. A little
bit of effort and common sense can go a long way in making your
home more energy efficient and paying you dividends for years to
come.
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