5 Reasons You Should Build an Energy-Efficient Custom Home in Cincinnati, OH

Building an energy-efficient home is a smart investment that can save you money, increase the value of your home, improve your quality of life, and help the environment for many years to come. With lower energy costs and decreased greenhouse gas emissions, the planet—and your budget—will thank you.

Check out these five reasons why you should consider building an energy-efficient custom home.

1. ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOMES SAVE MONEY

An energy-efficient home can drastically reduce your overall energy bills by using less energy to heat and cool your home. More efficient appliances, better-sealed windows and doors, and proper insulation throughout will also reduce energy needs. This can translate to savings of hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year.

If you choose to install a solar energy system for your custom home, you can expect to depend less on local utilities and energy services. As prices for electricity from the grid and natural gas fluctuate, your energy costs will remain low.

Technology like smart thermostats can bring your home’s efficiency to an even higher level. Smart thermostats are able to detect cold spots in your home and direct heat specifically to those spaces. They can also be programmed to adjust to your schedule without having to remember to manually adjust the temperature before you leave home.

2. ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOMES ARE MORE COMFORTABLE

In Cincinnati, we experience all four seasons and can enjoy all the amazing activities that come along with each of them—from Oktoberfest and colorful foliage in the fall to summer entertainment and concerts near the Ohio River. No matter what season is your favorite in Cincy, energy-efficient homes will offer more comfort and reliability compared to average homes.

As the temperatures and humidity levels rise and fall, energy-efficient homes are designed to keep you comfortable using less energy. More advanced insulation and waterproofing materials during construction will prevent heat loss during the winter and heat gain during the summer. Energy-efficient windows and doors will prevent air leakage and reduce your energy bills. No more feeling like you need to run the heat or air-conditioning at full blast!

Some custom home designs can be both energy efficient and luxurious–like in-floor radiant heating, smart shower features, automatic shades and window treatments, smart lighting, and more.

3. ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOMES REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

Energy-efficient homes require less energy usage than the average home, meaning your home would produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions that are damaging the globe. By reducing your carbon footprint, you become less reliant on fossil fuels and help to combat climate change. For many people, knowing that you are doing your part to save energy and create a more sustainable future brings serious peace of mind.

4. ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOMES OFFER FINANCIAL PERKS

Thanks to recent U.S. legislation, financial incentives, and tax credits are available and could significantly reduce the build cost for your energy-efficient custom home. Ohio residents can qualify for rebates that could lower the cost for a number of energy-efficient home design choices, such as:

• Solar power system and energy storage
• Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station
• Energy-efficient windows and doors
• Energy-efficient appliances, equipment, and building methods
• Heat pumps, insulation, ventilation, and other energy-efficient measures

These incentives aim to make energy efficiency more cost-effective for builders and homeowners alike, though the overall process can be challenging to track and navigate. If you’d really like to take advantage of these programs when designing your custom home, hire a design-build team with experience in energy efficiency.

5. ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOMES ARE MORE VALUABLE

If you’re thinking about your home’s long-term future, then energy efficiency should be top of mind. The resale value and returns on investment for a well-constructed green home are significant.

Energy-efficient homes are becoming increasingly popular with modern homeowners—and prospective home-buyers. Studies have shown that homes designed to be energy efficient have a reputation to be higher quality, increasing their market value compared to less efficient homes. Not only that, energy-efficient homes sell much more quickly than traditional homes due to high demand from green-minded buyers.

CHOOSE A DESIGN-BUILD TEAM THAT KNOWS ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Keeping track of tax rebates, incentives, net metering, and energy-efficient appliances and building methods can get overwhelming during the custom home build process.

The best thing you can do is choose a knowledgeable design-build team that fully understands energy efficiency from the ground up—all while delivering a beautifully designed home that fits your goals and expectations.

Chris Gorman Homes is a Cincinnati area design-build firm with years of experience designing and building custom homes for the energy-efficient-minded homeowner. Contact Chris Gorman Homes to schedule a consultation to discuss your energy-efficient custom home design goals.