Happy Energy Efficiency Day 2024!

As we celebrate Energy Efficiency Day this year, it’s important to consider just how impactful of an issue energy efficiency in our homes is. According to recent studies, energy efficiency is one of the most important factors buyers consider in a home, both due to the environmental impacts that it has as well as the financial benefits of using less energy to sustain your home. And for buyers looking for the most energy-efficient options for their new home, a new-construction home will typically offer the best options. But what is it about new construction homes that makes them so much more efficient than homes built 15-20 years ago? It’s a combination of more energy-efficient appliances, better building materials, and an increased level of knowledge on how to build homes efficiently.

While the technology to make homes more energy efficient has undoubtedly improved over the last few years, the fact that it has also become more affordable to put into homes has allowed builders like Gemcraft Homes to make these technologies accessible to all our new home buyers. Energy Star appliances, high-grade insulation, double pane windows, and intelligently designed HVAC systems can not only allow your home to be more energy efficient but also reduce your energy bills drastically while increasing the air quality in your home. With the continually rising costs of electricity and other traditional energy sources, it’s easy to see why energy efficiency in homes is such an important and multifaceted issue, and one that new construction homes are uniquely equipped to handle.

But what is it about new construction homes specifically that makes them so much more energy efficient than older homes? While part of the answer is that building codes are more demanding in terms of efficiency than they were 20 years ago, there’s a lot more to it than that. Energy costs, whether referring to electricity, natural gas, propane, or oil, have skyrocketed over the last 15-20 years, prompting a heavy focus on energy-efficient appliances, smarter building practices, and upgraded raw building materials. On a national average, homeowners of newly constructed homes pay over $500 less a year on energy costs compared to similarly sized older homes. And with the lower usage of energy, new construction homes are also significantly more environmentally responsible compared to older homes.

As for the specific improvements that new construction homes have that make them more energy efficient, the first upgrade comes in the form of the way new homes are insulated and moisture-proofed. Aside from the insulation being of a higher rating, builders have discovered many of the ways in which air leaks out of homes, allowing for improvements in how efficiently new homes can be heated and cooled. Home appliances have also vastly improved over the last decade, with refrigerators, washers, dryers, and HVAC systems being the primary benefactors of increased efficiency. Some home builders, Gemcraft Homes included, have even begun to incorporate smart devices into homes to further control energy usage and prevent wasteful energy use. Our smart thermostats, for example, can be programmed to run on a schedule, so that heating and cooling units are less active at night while homeowners are sleeping, as well as during the day when they might be at work and school. New construction homes can also come with smart outlets and electrical appliances that can be controlled via an app on the homeowner’s phone or tablet, meaning that even if they step out, they can ensure that no lights or appliances are being ‘energy vampires’ and using unnecessary energy when they aren’t home.

At Gemcraft Homes, we’re committed to delivering the best in new construction homes to all our homebuyers. All of our homes feature thoughtfully designed floorplans that allow for good airflow and heating/cooling distribution, double-pane windows that can lower energy costs by up to 50% compared to their older, single-paned counterparts, and Energy Star appliances and lighting options that can further make homes more efficient. This combines to provide our homebuyers with a beautiful and efficient home.

Our team is ready to assist you in finding the perfect home —so you can start living the life you’ve always dreamed of. For more information about our available quick move-in homes, contact us today at (800) 291-7436 or fill out our online form.