Energy Efficient Home Designs:
Planning for Low Costs

Energy efficient home designs are a great way to get a leg up on rising energy costs. The real way to save money is with a smart design that will allow you to have the most flexibility with the most versatility.



When most people think about designing a low energy home, they usually have visions of oddball, offbeat designs. This isn't the case today. Modern design techniques allow very energy efficient homes without sacrificing good looks.

Home plans can incorporate energy saving features in many of their systems. These can range from geothermal heating and cooling, to harnessing solar power for electricity.

There are many ways to be able to take advantage of a design in order to maximize its efficiency. This process should begin with the placement of the house to capture the right sunlight for its environment. This means capturing the heat of the winter sun while shading from the summer sun.

Building material selection is another way to look at saving energy. Various building techniques have become more and more popular in recent years due to their energy efficiencies.

One of these innovations is ICF or insulating concrete forms. This building technique incorporates the use of reinforced concrete surrounded by insulating foam which provides a strong and insulated shell for a home.

Other innovations such as blown-in insulation and high efficiency windows allow homeowners to be able to create a house that not only suits their budget, but also suits their needs.

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