A new construction home is like a blank canvas. You can get to work like an artist, creating the structure of it, adding different shapes, and integrating various genres to paint the ultimate masterpiece. It may take a while for each of your individual strokes to come together, but the end result will be a work of art that you can admire for the rest of your life.
This is one of the main advantages of building a new home from scratch, instead of looking for used homes, rental homes, or luxury townhomes for sale. In addition to the stylistic benefits of new home construction, there are practical perks as well. Home buyers are increasingly trying to find ways to reduced their energy costs and infuse their home with smart technology. One of the most common changes that many home owners make is swapping out their old HVAC system for newer, more energy efficient equipment. The new systems can be automated, and also require less energy to generate heat and air for a home.
But this is just the beginning. Many new home builders have begun installing solar panels on the roof to utilize solar energy for electricity. This comes at the helm of U.S. energy output levels reaching their all time highest, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that as of 2011, the total electricity consumption in the U.S. was 15 greater than it was about 60 years ago. Furthermore, U.S. energy consumption is the highest in the world. The use of solar panels, highly effective thermal insulation, and a quality ventilation system can be the key to saving hundreds of dollars on energy every year. This type of system is slightly more complicated to install in older homes, and nearly impossible in townhomes for sale.
This concept can also be applied to household appliances, like dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers. The average dishwasher uses about 15 gallons of water and uses up approximately 467 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy per year. An energy efficient one from Energy Star aims at reducing this number to 190 kWh/year. A washing machine uses close to 50 gallons of water and uses about 9 kWh per load, while a dryer consumes 75 kWh per load. When you look at these numbers, and add them to numerous other electric appliances in your house, it is no surprise that monthly energy bills continue to rise.
To help curb these costs, smart design is also becoming popular. While townhomes for sale and older homes will already have their wiring set, a new home can be wired to integrate the latest technology before the drywall is put up. Home automation systems help to integrate several different electric and water systems into one unit. These systems are easier to install in new home builds because installers can wire the entire house pre-drywall, without having to cut through walls and send wires through multiple wall cavities. The advantage of a home automation system is that all your lights, sprinkler systems, electronic devices and your home security system can be timed and monitored from one place. This reduces the chances of accidentally leaving your lights on or forgetting to turn off the coffee maker, which adds to your electricity bill.
With a new construction home, you have more possibilities than you can imagine. You can create a smart, energy efficient home that is both aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective. Read more here.
