How to Find Energy Efficient Appliances for Green Homes

It is becoming more and more important that homeowners start investing in green technology where they can. Considering that so much of a home’s energy is used powering our electrical units, you may first want to look into energy efficient appliances for green homes if you are serious about cutting down those painful utility bills at the end of the month. There is a lot of advertising out there, however, claiming that such and such appliance is more efficient than another. This makes it difficult to distinguish the facts from the fiction.

Finding energy efficient appliances does not have to be so tough. Follow these tips instead from your green home building contractors in Scottsdale. Doing so will protect you from choosing faulty appliances later down the line.

Look for EnergyStar Appliances

You have no doubt heard about EnergyStar appliances, if nowhere else than on television advertisements, and for good reason. Being certified with an EnergyStar rating from the EPA is one of the best endorsements an appliance can receive. A voluntary energy conservation movement, EnergyStar has helped promote efficient appliances since 1992, and before you purchase any new appliances, you should check for an EnergyStar rating first.

It may be in your best interest to avoid non-rated appliances.

Review the EnergyGuide Label

If an appliance as been rated by EnergyStar, you should still review its EnergyGuide label to be sure you are choosing the right product for your home. As set by the US Department of Energy, the EnergyGuide label is essentially the record that a given product has been tested and approved for its energy efficiency.

The specific information you will find on an EnergyGuide will typically include: (1) the total amount of energy used by the appliance, (2) its energy use compared to similar products, and (3) an approximate list of annual operating costs, though your local utility rates and energy source will have more to say on that.

Keep Size in Mind (Sometimes Smaller is Better)

More often than not, using your intuition will help you when selecting the best green appliances. For example, consider the larger, bulkier appliances many of us are used to. In reality, a good number of these big units are not energy efficient at all, consuming massive amounts for relatively little extra output.

Sometimes a smaller appliance is better, and you should not shy away from these options because of preconceived ideas of what a good appliance should look like.

Contact Local Builders to Learn More

Making the switch to a green home requires a good deal of contribution on your part. Not only do you need to learn more about efficient practices but you also need to research new appliances and installations that can best fit your vision. You will want professional consultation during this time to ensure that you are making well-informed decisions.

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Contact the Net-Zero Energy home building experts at Peak One Builders & Restoration to learn more about creating a custom cutting-edge green home. Request a free estimate or call 480-378-0611 now!

Read related articles:

• How Do Sustainable Green Homes Affect the Environment?


• Geothermal Energy Home System for Green Living


• Best Windows for Energy Efficient Homes Built in Arizona

How to Find Energy Efficient Appliances for Green Homes

How Do Sustainable Green Homes Affect the Environment?

Responsible homeowners in today’s world need to understand that even the smallest lifestyle decisions can have major effects on the world around them. The environment has been particularly ravaged through the years due to unsafe and unregulated practices regarding trash and waste disposal. The energy we consume is also causing an irreparable dent in the planet’s natural resources, and eventually there will be nothing left. We, therefore, have to do what we can to protect the environment, and sustainable green homes might just be the answer.

Green homes are specialty constructions that are built to have a negligible impact on the environment. This sustainable housing boasts many eco-friendly elements, and if you have additional questions reach out to a custom energy efficient home building company in Scottsdale, but until then consider these benefits.

Green Homes Reduce Water Wasting

Especially if you live in a dry state such as Arizona, green homes are particularly beneficial in reducing the amount of water waste your home produces. This can be done a number of ways, though these three options are among the most common if you are trying to conserve water:

• EnergyStar Appliances: Incorporating EnergyStar appliances in your home is a great way to limit the amount of water that gets wasted. From dishwashers to clothes washers and everything in between, these eco-friendly appliances can turn a guzzler green overnight.


• Efficient Plumbing Systems: Green homes are especially known for their efficient plumbing systems, which can reduce the amount of water that goes into something as simple as a toilet flush.


• Landscape Watering: Instead of drowning your landscape to get rid of disease and weeds, green homes can utilize efficient irrigation systems to minimize runoff and overspray.

Green Homes Help Protect the Surrounding Ecosystem

Green homes are usually constructed to help a given homeowner reduce energy waste, but green homes are even more important to the surrounding ecosystem. With green homes, you do not have to worry about dangerous pollutants or non-biodegradable waste being produced by the home itself.

Moreover, some green homes are naturally resistant to pests based on construction style and the materials involved. In other words, instead of pumping harmful chemicals in and around the home, let the building take care of itself.

Green Homes Improve Air & Water Quality

By looking at your personal carbon footprint calculation, you might be shocked at just how much negative impact you are having on the environment, though you may quickly find that unclean and inefficient utilities have just as much of a negative impact on you. Fortunately, green homes can help alleviate these issues by improving your home’s air and water quality.

This can be done a number of ways based on the specifications of your project, but usually, green homes are outfitted with special tools to remove harmful chemicals or other organic compounds and organisms from the available water and air supply. Most green homes are specially designed to eliminate leading carcinogens, such as radon gas, from our homes.

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Contact the Net-Zero Energy home building experts at Peak One Builders & Restoration to learn more about creating a custom cutting-edge green home. Request a free estimate or call 480-378-0611 now!

Read related articles:

• Geothermal Energy Home System for Green Living


• Best Windows for Energy Efficient Homes Built in Arizona


• Are There Net-Zero Energy Building Restrictions in Arizona?

How Do Sustainable Green Homes Affect the Environment?

Best Windows for Energy Efficient Homes Built in Arizona

In our modern world, energy consumption levels throughout the nation are higher than ever, which makes energy efficient home building so important. Net-zero homes, in particular, can produce roughly as much energy as they take in, leading to much lower utility bills and expenses. However, reducing your carbon footprint does not necessary mean investing in an entirely new house. You can start on a much smaller scale by investigating the best windows for energy efficient homes.

Finding credible information for non-professionals can be difficult, but the following are just a few of the solid green window options you can choose to install on your home.

Sample Alpine High-Performance Products

Alpine High-Performance Products are an energy efficient option that can increase interior comfort while saving you a small bundle. Styled with a premium design, Alpine High-Performance Products are available in an insulated vinyl or fiberglass frame, and you can typically have them done in a variety of pre-finished colors.

Alpine High-Performance Products are also known for their durability, and with little maintenance, you can have a set of beautiful new windows that will last the lifetime of the home itself and prevent excess energy loss as well.

Try Marvin Integrity

Made from Ultrex fiberglass, Marvin Integrity windows compare favorably against vinyl, aluminum and other fiberglass composite materials. Ultrex is specifically made through a pultrusion process that equips the windows with enough endurance to withstand harsh elements for many years to come. Ultrex protects against chalking, chipping, peeling and fading, making it one of the best materials out there with the additional benefit being particularly felt in utility bill savings.

Discover Fibertec Windows

Fibertec produces a number of energy efficient windows that can cover both residential and commercial applications. Using pultruded fiberglass frames and strands, Fibertec windows are known for their thermal endurance and material strength.

Offering a versatile range of window and awning types, Fibertec is a good green choice for those trying to reduce their personal energy consumption.

Consider Accurate Dorwin

Using a pultruded fiberglass that is stronger than either PVC or wood, Accurate Dorwin windows are engineered to be some of the strongest on the market. Due to such incredible strength, these windows can use lower profile frames, resulting in some fantastic surfaces and views.

Like many other fiberglass windows, Accurate Dorwin is also resistant to a wide range of elements, and if you are going for a more self-sustaining home, these are the windows you will want to install.

Contact Professionals to Learn More

To feel the full benefit of an energy efficient home, you need to rely on a dedicated green company to handle the job. As an energy efficient home building company in Scottsdale, professionals are particularly qualified to direct most eco-friendly home improvement projects and new constructions. If you are serious about going green, consider reaching out to experts like these.

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Contact the Net-Zero Energy home building experts at Peak One Builders & Restoration to learn more about creating a custom cutting-edge green home. Request a free estimate or call 480-378-0611 now!

Read related articles:

• Are There Net-Zero Energy Building Restrictions in Arizona?


• How to Build a Zero Energy Home in Scottsdale [7 Tips]


• Where to Find Net-Zero Energy Home Building Tax Credits?

 

Best Windows for Energy Efficient Homes Built in Arizona

Are There Net-Zero Energy Building Restrictions in Arizona?

Building a green home is one of the best investments you could make as an environmentally conscious homeowner. Built to produce roughly as much energy as they consume, net-zero energy homes can drastically cut down on the high per capita energy consumption in the US. However, not just anyone can decide to build a net-zero home. Certain conditions and regulations must be met to break ground on a new green construction, and if you are not working with the right builders, you may quickly run afoul of some common net-zero energy building restrictions.

Before starting to build a new green home, you should keep the following points in mind to guide you. You should specifically do your best to satisfy each of these requirements well before you break ground on the project. Additionally, Arizona residents with further questions might want to get in touch with green home building contractors in Phoenix for more information.

Does the Land Need Rezoning?

Maintaining proper zoning is crucial to urban development. As cities expand out into the countryside, and population density continues to skyrocket, zoning helps local governments keep order over the land as well as effectively plan future developments. As a result, changing how a given plot of land is zoned is not always the easiest task.

Usually, this means contacting a local government developer’s office and filling out a lot of local, legal paperwork that you will probably have a hard enough time understanding. You might even need to pay certain fees. Then you have to wait to hear if the rezoning actually got approved. Of course, by not following this protocol, your green home could be shut down before you even turn on the lights, so be mindful of the land.

Are You Using Certified Net-Zero Builders?

Net-zero homes are great investments with plenty of associated benefits, though not just anyone can handle net-zero home constructions. Put simply, if you are not using a certified builder, you will likely get duped. The problem here is that many construction companies will claim to specialize in green homes when in fact they just happen to use recycled materials or can recommend efficient appliances.

Real certified builders come with official credentials and the work to back them up. Never be too shy to ask a home builder to see their certifications. If anything, this means that you are serious and committed to the project. The alternative is an overpriced home that accomplishes none of the eco-friendly tasks you set out for.

Do You Have the Required Building Permits?

Much like with zoning, obtaining the necessary permits actually to start construction on a new green home can be a downright chore. In addition to visiting some regional office and filling out page after page of illegible and incomprehensible paperwork, you will likely have to pay some fees and wait for what seems an eternity before hearing back on whether or not your permits were actually approved. Permits are then usually only issued after government inspectors have carefully reviewed your building plans to see that they are up to local code.

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Contact the Net-Zero Energy home building experts at Peak One Builders & Restoration to learn more about creating a custom cutting-edge green home. Request a free estimate or call 480-378-0611 now!

Read related articles:

• How to Build a Zero Energy Home in Scottsdale [7 Tips]


• Where to Find Net-Zero Energy Home Building Tax Credits?


• Choosing the Best and Highest R-Value Wall Insulation for AZ

Are There Net-Zero Energy Building Restrictions in Arizona?