A Luxurious Home Can Be Eco-Friendly

A home is more than just a building. It is the place where memories are created, and love and aspirations reside. Building your home is one of the most important projects you will work on. Before starting to work on your construction project, you need to come up with a plan to decrease the environmental impact of your new home. With an increased focus on sustainable living, homeowners now are more serious about reducing their carbon footprints than ever. Many people wrongly believe that luxury and sustainability cannot go hand in hand. Here are some eco-friendly features for today’s luxurious homes.

Install a Hot Water Recirculating Pump

Ever wondered why you have to wait for a few seconds before hot water starts coming out of your hot water faucet when you first turn it on? When a hot water faucet is turned off, the water is returned to the pipes where it gets cold. When you switch on the faucet the next time, the fresh hot water pushes the cold water. The more the distance the freshwater has to travel, the longer the wait time (and wastage).

A hot water recirculating pump addresses this problem by returning the hot water back to the hot water heater. Whenever you or someone else in your home open a faucet, the pump will instantly deliver hot water.

Use Structural Insulated Panels

Many general contractors recommend using SIPs in the timber frame construction. These panels look great and are also incredibly energy efficient. Structural insulated panels have six inches of Styrofoam sandwiched between natural pine paneling and plywood. If you are concerned about pine losing its natural color with time, apply a light wash stain to it.

Install Energy-Efficient Windows

Opt for high E factor windows made from wood. High E factor windows help maintain the internal temperature by conducting heat or cold from outside into your home.

Opt for Energy-Efficient Appliances

Over the last three decades, the share of residential electricity used by appliances in U.S. homes has nearly doubled. To contribute to sustainability, use front-loading washers and dryers that use a tumble-axis basket to lift and drop clothes into the basket. Look for appliances with Energy Star rating. Opt for washers with faster spin speeds designed to extract more water from clothes, thereby helping reduce dry time and energy use.

Be Mindful of the Lighting in Your Home

Lighting has come a long way. Earlier, homeowners had no other choice than to stick to inefficient filament bulbs. Over the years, the scenario has drastically changed. Today, homeowners have a range of energy-efficient lighting options to choose from. LED bulbs, halogen incandescents, and CFLs utilize advanced technologies designed to improve energy efficiency at home.

Looking for a home building company near you that can transform your vision for a luxurious and eco-friendly home into reality? Look no further than Holly Construction, Inc.. As an environmentally conscious company, we use eco-friendly, sustainable, and locally sourced building materials. To discuss your construction project, call us at (707) 541-0700.