New Home Buyers Look to Save Energy
“New Home Buyers Look to Save Energy”
– Priscilla Marquez
The home building sector is starting to experience some effects as a result of recent record-high oil prices. According to a recent poll by the American Institute of Architects, prospective homeowners’ top need for their new residence is that it be as energy-efficient as feasible. In the poll, members of the AIA were asked to compare the demands made of new homes now with those made in earlier years. They discovered that 54% of respondents said they desired a method for assisting with energy management in their homes. From the previous year, when just 38% of respondents provided that response, there has been a huge increase. The fact that not a single respondent claimed that demand for that kind of system has decreased may be the most striking statistic. There are two different classifications of these energy management systems: high-tech and low-tech. The widely used high-tech systems fundamentally use “smart-house” technology and make use of a network of computers and sensors to regulate and keep track of the home’s energy consumption. The different computer systems can alert inhabitants if a window is left open in an empty room and can automatically lower the thermostat when the house is vacant. They can also inform occupants if there is a leak that allows heat to escape from any place in the house.
But demand is increasing across the board, not only for high-tech solutions. The popularity of low-tech, fundamental alterations to home construction and design is rising as well. Simple modifications like adding more insulation (up 45 percent from last year) and using tankless water heaters to prevent heat loss during storage have become standard. The demand for energy-efficient appliances and double-pane windows is increasing.
People are also willing to back up their claims, according to the AIA survey. According to the findings, the typical home builder would be willing to spend an extra $5,000 to make their house more energy efficient.
To encourage the inclusion of these components in a new home, some jurisdictions offer discounts or tax credits to home builders that adhere to energy conservation rules.
The trend of creating more energy-efficient homes appears to be here to stay as long as heating oil and natural gas prices remain at or very close to peaks. People are finally realizing that investing a little more money now can result in substantial energy savings over the following several decades.
