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More and more, homebuyers are looking for ways to incorporate home technologies
that increase the long-term value of their house but also provide convenience,
safety and comfort. These days, energy management tops the list of desired
features in new homes, according to a recent survey by the National Association
of Home Builders.
NAHB’s 2007-08 consumer preferences survey of more than 2,300 recent and prospective
homebuyers examined the features, products, amenities and layouts preferred in
a new home.
In the home technology features category, the number one choice among
respondents was energy management at 61 percent—up from 45 percent in 2004. Also ranked highly in this category were multi-zone heating, ventilation and
air-conditioning (HVAC), lighting controls and home theaters.
Staying in the home technology features category, three of the top five
most-wanted technology features—energy management, HVAC and lighting control —also provide energy- efficiency. By incorporating the following technologies, homeowners can save money on their
utility bills:
•Automated HVAC systems can maintain a more energy-efficient temperature while
the homeowners are away, but switch to a more comfortable temperature prior to
their arrival home. Zones can also be created to heat or cool only the areas
most used by the occupants, keeping other areas, such as guest bedrooms, shut
down until they are needed. According to Energy Star, a joint program of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy,
programmable thermostats can save consumers about $180 per year in energy
costs.
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•Water heaters with a timer can be turned off when the occupants are traveling,
then can turn on and begin heating the water in preparation for their return
home. Tankless gas water heaters—which only activate when residents start to use hot water and immediately
de-activate when they are done—are also a great option and can reduce water heating costs up to 35 percent
annually.
•Lighting can make up 10 percent to 20 percent of the total electrical usage of
the home. Installing an automatic dimmer, which adjusts to the homeowner’s needs based on time of day or occupancy,
will lower electricity bills and increase the life expectancy of light bulbs.
•Blinds and drapes can be programmed to close during the hottest part of the day
to block out the sun; keeping the house cooler. In the colder winter months,
they can open up to allow the sun in to warm the house, which helps regulate
the room temperature.
By incorporating technologies that help make your home operate more efficiently,
Energy Star estimates that homeowners can save $200 to $400 annually on energy
bills.
For more information on these and other home technologies, contact your local
Home Builders Association at ghba.org or visit the National Association of Home
Builders, www.nahb.org/forconsumers.l
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