A High-Performance Home focuses on the way a home is built so all the materials, features, and systems work together. The purpose of the High-Performance Home is to provide an optimal level of comfort, reducing energy use, and improving indoor air. Green and High-Performance homes may be more common and accessible in your local market than you think.
Homebuilders have include features that boost energy efficiency, improve indoor air quality and create a better living experience for homeowners, but few people have a clear idea of how the systems in their homes can affect their health, comfort, and finances. High-Performance improvements include technical and system-designed differences that impact the whole house. Some features to look for in a home include:
• Improved insulation
• Moisture management
• Heating and cooling systems (age, efficiency)
• Whole-house fans or ventilation
• Appliances (age, efficiency, ENERGY STAR® certification)
• LED or another energy-efficient lighting
• Low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints or wood
• Smart thermostats
If you’re thinking that these features sound like they’d be found in a green home, you’re right. Overall home performance isn’t just a list of green home features or materials, though. High-performance homes bring together the operational and maintenance aspects of a home, often with systems that provide metrics that give you information (like energy use) you can track and try to improve upon.
And thanks to smart technology, homeowners can easily access information to monitor their home’s energy use, air quality, and more – allowing them to adjust their habits and see improvements in real-time.
High-Performance Home Certifications
Some homes have a variety of features that make them eligible for high-performance certifications. Many high-performance certifications are based on independent, third-party inspections and ensure that the hidden materials and systems behind the walls are installed correctly, are high quality, and function as intended to increase efficiency and, in some cases, promote healthier indoor living environments.
High-Performance homes are available for you to experience firsthand in every geographic area and every market. By connecting with real estate professionals and home builders, you can get all your home performance questions answered before breaking ground or making a purchase.
When it’s time to resell, third-party certifications are an easy way to confirm construction practices and materials, providing more complete information for home valuation.
Find Newly-Built Homes with High-Performance Features close to your neighborhood here
Your home builder or real estate professional can guide you through the building plans or new house, highlighting features that improve indoor health, conserve energy and water, and create a more comfortable home. These features aim to create a better living experience and improve your family’s quality of life.
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Source: High Performance 101