Upgrade homes efficiency during remodel | HomeWork

Q: What remodeling elements will improve my homes energy efficiency?

A: If you are planning a remodel and youve been thinking about ways to improve your homes energy efficiency, youre in good company.

As energy costs continue to rise, more remodeling projects are including energy-efficient updates that are both environmentally responsible and economically pleasing.

May is National Home Remodeling Month, and a recent remodelers survey by the National Association of Home Builders found that high-performing, low-emissive (low-E) windows are the most common green building products used by residential remodelers.

This type of window tops the list of the most common building features that homeowners use to help them improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

According to the survey, improved availability and affordability of high-performing products has led to energy-efficient features being incorporated into more home-improvement projects.

These types of products are among the most popular because they help homeowners save money on utilities, they can improve indoor-air quality and they can strengthen the long-term value of a home.

The most popular green building products, according to the survey, are high-performance windows, including low-E and argon-gas models; high-efficiency HVAC systems; programmable thermostats; and Energy Star appliances.

Other popular features include ceiling fans, moisture-control products such as bathroom fans, water-conserving fixtures and high-performance insulation.

Technology that improves a homes performance has increased dramatically in recent year. Seventy percent of remodelers in the survey report that they used programmable thermostats, an increase from 42 percent as recently as 2011.

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Upgrade homes efficiency during remodel | HomeWork