CAPE GIRARDEAU HOME HELPS SOLVE ENERGY CRUNCH

    DISTINCTIVE HOME SOLUTIONS PROVIDES A HOME TO HELP SOLVE RISING ENERY COSTS. RICK SAMPLE, PRESIDENT OF DISTINCTIVE HOME SOLUTIONS, A CAPE GIRARDEAU GENERAL CONTRACTOR SAYS “NEW HOME BUYERS SHOULD MAKE A  LIST OF ENERGY SAVING FEATURES OF THE  HOMES WHICH THEY ARE LOOKING AT BUYING.  WE PUT A LOT OF RESEARCH INTO THE QUALITY OF OUR PRODUCTS AND OUR SUBCONTRACOTRS WHO INSTALL THEM.  QUALITY PRODUCTS AND CONTRACTORS ARE ALWAYS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE WAY TO AN ENERGY EFFICIENT, AND WELL BUILT HOME.  FAMILIES WHO PURCHASE OUR HOMES BENEFIT FROM LOWER ENERGY COSTS FOR THE LIFE OF THE HOME WHICH CAN ADD UP TO BIG SAVINGS.”

        
    ONE OF THE OBVIOUS FEATURES SHOULD BE THE AMOUNT OF INSULATION IN THE WALLS AND ATTIC WHICH IS INDICATED BY R-FACTOR.  HOMEOWNERS SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER WHAT TYPE OF INSULATION AND HOW IT IS INSTALLED.  NATHAN DIRNBERGER, WITH CAPITOL INSULATION, RECOMMENDS BLOWN CELLULOSE INSULATION FOR THE WALLS AND ATTIC SPACES.  NATHAN SAYS, “BLOWN CELLULOSE IS RATED BETTER THAN BATT FIBERGLASS. IN ACTUAL RADIATION, CONDUCTION, AND CONVECTION R-VALUE TESTS INSIDE A 2 x 4 STUD FRAMED WALL CAVITY, R-13 BATTS WILL ONLY YIELD ABOUT R-8 OR R-9.  BLOWN CELLULOSE UNDER THE SAME TESTS WILL YIELD ABOUT R-15.  DHS USES THIS TYPE OF INSULATION IN ITS WALLS ALONG WITH A HIGHER R-FACTOR IN THE ATTIC.  R-38 IS THE INDUSTRY MINIMUM RECOMMENDATION WHILE DHS USE’S R-50 DENSITY OVER THE LIVING AREAS.” 

   
    A SECOND ITEM TO LOOK FOR IS WHAT ARE THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING UNITS ENERGY EFFICIENCY  RATINGS.  GREG PETERS, OWNER OF PETERS SUPPLY COMPANY SAYS TO LOOK FOR THE EFFICIENCY RATING OF THE FURNACE IN PERCENTAGES AND THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT EFFICIENCY IN SEER RATING.  GREG PETERS SAYS, “A HEATING UNIT THAT CARRIES A 92% OR BETTER EFFICIENCY RATING AND AN A/C UNIT THAT CARRIES A 13 SEER RATING OR BETTER IS BEST.  MOST MANUFACTURERS CARRY SEVERAL DIFFERENT LINES WITH LOWER RATINGS.  DHS ALWAYS USES THESE HIGHER EFFICIENCY UNITS IN THEIR HOMES.”

     OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WHEN COMPARING HOMES SHOULD BE THE LIGHT FIXTURES AND APPLIANCES.  ASK THE BUILDER IF THEY ARE ENERGY STAR RATED AND CARRY THIS SEAL OF APPROVAL.  ALSO, ASK THE BUILDER ABOUT THE WINDOWS AND OTHER BUILDING PRODUCTS SUCH AS SIDING. FOR EXAMPLE, DHS USES  STRUCTURED FOAM BACKED SIDING.  JEFF LUKEFAHR, PRESIDENT OF LUKEFAHR SIDING SAYS, “THIS IS ONE WAY TO BETTER INSULATE AND SOUND PROOF EXTERIOR WALLS.  THIS PRODUCT HAS A  FOAM BACKING TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL R-FACTOR OF 4.0, WHICH IS 4 TIMES MORE EFFICIENT THAN TRADITIONAL SIDING.  IT IS ENERGY STAR RATED AND ALSO CARRIES THE GOOD HOUSE KEEPING SEAL.  IT IS THE BEST SIDING ON THE MARKET.”  THE HOT WATER HEATER IS ALSO ANOTHER GOOD PLACE TO CONSERVE ENERGY.  LOOK FOR A HIGH EFFICIENCY GAS OR ELECTRIC UNIT.  THIS TYPE OF UNIT IS ALSO SAFER THAN TRADITIONAL MODELS.  LIKE THE HIGH EFFICIENCY GAS FURNACES, THE GAS WATER HEATERS USE PVC PIPE TO EXHAUST FUMES INSTEAD OF THE TRADITIONAL GALVANIZED STACK PIPE.

   FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO LOWER YOU UTILITY BILLS CONTACT US.