Home Modified to Become Energy Efficient
A home in Lake County, Florida shows just how smart design could make a home more energy-efficient. Paul Fallman, who shares a home in the town with his wife and two daughters, spends only an average of $180 a month for electric bill. What’s more impressive is his $25 bill for natural gas that powers his fireplace and two tankless water heaters.
As owner of Fallman Design & Construction, Fallman’s aim is to create a home that is able to manage the use of electricity as efficient as possible. He made use of a design that will make his home able to generate electricity during the winter months through solar power source but is shaded during months of intense heat. His design was made possible by making use of a solar-path study that analyzed the sun’s angle in the summer and winter months resulting to a design that effectively makes use of the sun’s power.
The home stands in 4,000 square feet land and contains three-garage and is situated in the historic Clermont Yacht Club. The house oversees Lake Minnehaha and was built to maximize its view. In the first floor of the house, you’ll find the living and dining room, the master suite, and the kitchen. The porches are screened and have functional roof overhangs which shade the house from the heat of the sun. The Low-E4, tinted, and argon filled windows were modified to serve to insulate the house as well. The second floor shares the same features with roof overhangs, covered balconies and tinted windows.
Fallman’s home is certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition. Before one can receive certification from the coalition, the house must meet specific requirement. The checking must be done by the organization’s authorized raters and certifiers. The latter performs around 10 checks before and after construction. It specifically examines the plumbing pipes and drainage areas including the doors and windows. The former will make several green tests to ensure that the home is air-tight. Tests include blower-door test, duct-blast test, and thermal-envelope test.
In order to make sure that the home meets the standard set by the coalition, it should meet the minimum score in the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) for energy efficiency. The acceptable score is 85 out of 100. Fallman’s home is rated 62. You can check your home’s Energy Star ratings by visiting energystar.gov.
Investments in making your home energy efficient might cost you from $3,000 to $5,000 on upgrades on equipments plus $2,000 to $3,000 if you’ll ever want to make it greener. Fallman said that initial investment will pay off in 5-10 years. The above improvements benefits home owners in a lot of ways. It makes you save water through the installation of yard’s drip irrigation, make a quieter and cool living space through insulation.
Green home consultations can also be utilized by existing homeowners allowing them to enjoy similiar savings per year by installing Energy Star certified appliances and by adding solar energy devices and implementing other sustainable living practices.
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