I mentioned in a previous post that we built a house 2 years ago utilizing several construction techniques that have helped us save 40% - 50% on our energy bills over other, traditionally built homes in our area.  The methods we used were easy to implement and provided a quick payback.  In an ongoing series of articles under the Construction category, I’ll discuss the methods used and why we chose them over others. I’ll also let you know the mistakes we made and how I would do things differently.  Simply, these methods work.  In just a couple of years, we have saved thousands of dollars in energy costs by utilizing these techniques.  If you’re thinking of building or remodeling a home in the future, please take the time to read this series of articles.

For now, here’s a list of the techniques we utilized while constructing our house.  I’ll address each technique in a separate article over the next few weeks and months.

1. California T’s and Corners
2. Reflective roof decking
3. Double paned, argon filled, low e windows
4. Spray foam insulation
5. Electric Heat Pump
6. High efficiency electric water heater
7. In-slab ductwork for HVAC
8. Compact fluorescent lights

Photo credit:  Darren Hester