According to Energy Star, energy efficiency is delivering the same (or more) services for less energy. This helps to protect the environment. The less energy we use, the less it takes to generate power plants and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. 

Practicing energy efficiency also:

  • Improves the air quality we breathe by reducing pollution. 
  • Helps the economy by saving consumers and businesses millions of dollars in energy costs. 
  • Reduces the energy bill up to 30 percent for many homeowners and businesses. 
  • Increases comfort levels indoors. 
  • Creates a healthier and safer indoor environment. 
  • Improves building durability. 

Still not convinced? Making your home more energy-efficient will help you save money. It costs less to power a house converted to be more energy-efficient. Now that we have you hooked on going green with your home, continue reading below to find out how MK Homes can help you build an energy-efficient home. 

HOW TO INCORPORATE ENERGY-EFFICIENCY IN YOUR DREAM HOME

Here are eight ways to incorporate energy-efficiency in your home: 

  1. Adjust your HVAC. Heating and cooling your home can add up to be one of the most significant expenses on your energy bill. Save money and energy at home by installing a ceiling fan and replacing the air conditioner. If you have an air conditioner, replace air filters in the AC unit and heaters periodically. You can also set the thermostats to the appropriate temperature. For instance, if no one is home or it is nighttime when you’re about to go to sleep, turn the heat down. Many programmable thermostats save money by heating and cooling automatically at certain times of the day – you can save up to $150 a year by doing this. Install a wood or pellet stove instead of a furnace. Lastly, pull your curtains over the windows to better insulate the room at night. 
  2. Consider a different type of water heater. Reduce your bills each month by choosing a more energy-efficient water heater. Tankless water heaters will directly heat water without the use of a storage tank. Demand-type water heaters, like tankless, provide hot water when needed. Tankless water heaters don’t produce the energy losses correlated with traditional storage water heaters. As a result, it saves on energy costs.
  3. Change out your light bulbs. Use new lighting technologies to reduce the energy use by 50 to 75 percent, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). According to Energy Star, you can save $45 each year by switching to more energy-efficient light bulbs. CFLs use 75 percent less energy and have a lifespan that is ten times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. LEDs last even longer than CFLs, consume less energy and do not contain mercury.
  4. Insulation matters. Proper insulation in your home will not only save you money, but it will make you feel cozy and comfortable. Also, your air quality in the home can improve while reducing utility bills. Leakage in your home will decrease comfort and increase energy savings. Plug the larger holes, and seal the smaller ones. Make sure you weatherize your home to better your air sealing, insulation, moisture control and ventilation. 
  5. Don’t forget the bathrooms. Shower-heads and toilets play a part in energy efficiency too. Conserve water by installing low-flow shower-heads, low-flow toilets, vacuum-assist toilets and/or dual-flush toilets. 
  6. Be smart with your electronics and appliances. You can purchase EnergyStar approved appliances and electronics. Refrigerators and freezers should not be next to any warm areas that allow for heat exposure. The exposure to heat forces the appliances to use more energy to remain cold. Also, computers account for approximately three percent of all energy consumption in the United States. Therefore, computers shouldn’t be left on when not in use. Save battery and energy and turn it off. Additionally, when the chargers are left plugged into the walls, they still consume electricity. When not connected to a device, make sure to unplug them. 
  7. Have you thought about adding more natural light? The illumination of natural light is cost-effective and saves energy. Install skylights, light shelves, clerestory windows and/or light tubes. 
  8. Cook wisely. A lot of energy is used when cooking. Convection ovens use 20 percent less electricity and are more efficient than conventional ovens due to the use of fans to force hot air to circulate evenly. Using lids on pots and pans will heat food quicker compared to leaving them uncovered. 

At MK Homes, we build each home to Energy Star 3 standards. Our homeowners see measurable savings on their energy costs and feel the difference in home quality. An Energy Star label means the building is an energy-efficient top performer that saves money without sacrificing performance. 

MAKING AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOME | HOW MK HOMES CAN HELP YOU

MK Homes has been exceeding the standard of custom home building for years. Our goal is to build an energy-efficient home to a higher standard with quality design and construction.

The founders of MK Homes, Matt and Kim Keith, started their custom home building business in 2014. We build our homes to a higher standard custom to you, while ensuring it is built to last the test of time. For your new home, we provide outstanding quality design, construction, energy efficiency and customization. 

From the beginning of the home building process to the very end, the MK Homes team will answer any of your questions and build you a home that fits you. 

If MK Homes sounds like the right fit for you, give us a call: 724-206-9741 or click here to fill out our form.