Save on Energy Costs with These Energy-Saving Housing Options

When it comes to trying to save energy in your home, understanding the various terms to describe your energy-saving options can be confusing. Given the fact that some terms are erroneously used interchangeably, it is understandable why some homeowners are confused by the various options from which they have to choose. If you are interested in making your home more energy efficient, understanding these simple terms can be quite beneficial.

The Energy-Efficient Home

A home that is labeled as an energy-efficient home is one that uses less energy than the traditional home. Therefore, an energy-efficient home may have a number of areas where it can be improved upon in order to save even more energy.

An energy-efficient home can be created with the help of things such as solar-oriented construction, improved thermal envelopes, energy-efficient appliances and low-e windows. The most important distinction between an energy-efficient home and other types of homes that are designed to conserve energy is the fact that you do not have to give something up in order to save energy. Rather, you are simply using more efficient appliances and building materials in order to prevent energy from needlessly being wasted.

The Net Zero-Energy Home

A net zero-energy home is a home in which the amount of energy that is consumed is equal to the amount of energy that is produced. As such, there is no loss of energy or overproduction of energy. To have a net zero-energy home, the amount of energy that is produced must meet the needs of the household. This means the home must have a holistic design that takes a whole-house approach to reducing energy consumption and increasing efficiency. Just as with the energy-efficient home, the net zero-energy home should not cause any discomfort to the owner or require the sacrifice of services. One of the most common ways to create a net zero-energy home is to use rooftop solar panels.

The Net Zero-Energy-Ready Home

A net zero-energy-ready home is a home that has been outfitted with the property structural and technological supports to install energy-producing items such as solar panels. The primary difference between a net zero-energy home and a net zero-energy-ready home is that energy-producing technology has not actually been installed in the net zero-energy-ready home. With the proper structures in place, however, the homeowner can install the energy-producing technology with relative ease at a later date.

The Net Positive-Energy Home

A net positive-energy home is one that produces more energy than it uses. In this case, you might actually be able to receive credit from your utility company as you return the excess energy to the grid. With a net positive-energy home, you don’t just save money on your energy bill, you actually make money from the energy that you create.

If you are interested in purchasing a home in North Texas, contact our team of experienced and knowledgeable real estate agents. Whether you are looking for an energy-efficient home, a net positive-energy home or anything in between, we will be happy to help you find the Allen home that best suits your needs.

Check out these Allen homes priced from $250,000 to $350,000

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