Local Energy-saving Technologies and Building Materials

So, you’ve found the land to build your new home, you’ve picked out the plans, and you’re ready to work with your builder. It’s time to start considering A LOT of options, one of which is what can you do to make your build not only economical but also green-friendly? Synergy has worked with a number of eco-friendly builders and architects across the Valley and can offer some tips as to how to begin making your new construction as sustainable as possible. In most cases, your architect will be well-aware of what to do in any and all of these situations, but it never hurts to have a little knowledge in your back pocket and know what they’re talking about. Here are some of the best ideas when building an eco-friendly home.

1. Be sure to pack in the insulation in the walls and ceilings of your new home. This is pretty obvious but it makes a big difference when keeping hot and cold where they belong in your home throughout the seasons. This will drastically save on energy costs and make the house more comfortable year-round.

2. Double glazed windows are a must when considering Las Vegas’ hot summers and cool winter nights. In between the panes of these windows is argon, an inert gas that offers an additional layer of protection from the elements attempting to enter or exit your home. The energy savings from these double or sometimes triple-paned windows are measurable in your monthly energy bill.

3. Be sure your home is pointed in the right direction to take advantage of the sun as much as possible. Solar panels are a must and orienting your home’s footprint can maximize solar input while also keeping the hottest part of the day not flooding your home. Your architect will know what they’re talking about when it comes to this one.

4. When the walls start going up be sure to use non-toxic sustainable building materials instead of unsustainable woods from massive logging operations. Woods like bamboo and hemp are more sustainable and contain no chemicals as some traditional woods do. In addition to wood and flooring, all-natural, sustainable drywall, insulation, and paints can also be found in order to keep chemicals out of your new home.

5. As previously mentioned, a solar array is an excellent way to make your home more energy-efficient, but what about a small scale wind turbine if your house is going to sit on a breezy lot? Not only can it be a whimsical aspect of a backyard garden, but a windmill can also be another source of electricity to reduce electric bills and make your home a little more on the green side.

6. Selecting landscaping that requires little attention is another measure one can take when considering the way one’s new home interacts with its environment. Instead of putting in a lush green lawn, consider putting in native plants and shrubbery that require little to no care and hardly any watering. You can work with a landscape architect on this one. They’ll help find just the right plants to make your yard look great and be sustainable over the years. It will not only save your water bill but will also make it so there is no drain on the already stressed aquifer.

7. This one is just obvious. Choose energy-saving or ENERGY STAR® rated appliances. High-efficiency appliances of any kind will reduce your carbon footprint and save you money, it’s as simple as that. Since we live in such an arid climate, using less water is as important as ever, so choosing an energy-saving washing machine or dishwasher can make a big difference in the electricity and water we use in our everyday lives.

Design your home with sustainable materials that will sustain your life as well. Maybe you might want to grow the family or expand your living space. Be sure to take into account the future of your home. After all, you might plan on spending some time there for the foreseeable future and you should probably think about what that may entail. So be sure to design for the life you have AND the life you want.