Building energy-efficient homes and installing solar power are two methods to reduce energy costs, but which is actually the more effective? The question often comes up among green energy advocates. While some residential home builders have been focusing on implementing solar energy solutions over the past few years, they can come with a lofty price tag even after factoring in incentives and tax credits.
While solar panels do help you significantly reduce your carbon footprint and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency is an equally effective way to achieve some of the same results. While energy efficiency doesn’t come with the same tax credits and incentives, or the added benefit of being able to visually show your neighbors you’re doing your part, it is significantly less expensive upfront.
The truth is both options play an important role when constructing green homes, but energy efficiency can actually help make solar panels significantly more efficient. As a result, it’s often recommended that consumers focus on building energy efficiency into their homes first before making the investment in solar energy.
If you’re weighing the pros and cons of energy-efficient construction and solar PV installation, here are 5 reasons why energy efficiency makes for a good first choice:
1. Energy Efficiency Is Less Expensive In The Short Term
Solar panel installation isn’t cheap. In fact, installing a 10 kW system can easily range anywhere from $17,000 to $24,000 and that’s after the federal solar tax credit. The average price per watt is $2.40 to $3.22. While you’ll still realize cost savings in the long run, you’ll need to make a significant investment upfront.
On the other hand, building an energy-efficient home can be significantly more cost-effective, especially if you’re working with an experienced builder. The cost of an open floor plan, energy-efficient windows, and high-quality insulation are minimal compared to the cost of installing solar PV.
2. Energy Efficiency Can Be Less Expensive Long Term
A recent study by the ACEEE compared the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency and solar power and found that energy efficiency actually led to a larger reduction in utility costs. According to the study, energy-efficient standards led to a $4 to $32 decrease in monthly utility costs, while solar energy cost consumers up to $14 per month. While the study did not account for incentives and tax credits, it did show that building an energy-efficient home is just as effective, if not more, at cutting energy costs long term.
3. You Can Add Solar Later
The goal of energy efficiency is to reduce power usage, so it’s easy to see why it can truly increase the effectiveness of solar PV. It’s often wise to start by building an energy-efficient home to achieve the benefits with less initial investment. Then, when you’re ready to move to solar energy, your home will maximize its impact. Jumping straight to solar power can be significantly more expensive if your home isn’t already equipped with energy-efficient features. Both energy efficiency and solar power are extremely effective when combined, and can help residential homes reach a zero energy target or goal.
4. Energy Efficiency Reduces Peak Power Demand
By building a new construction home with energy-efficient features, you can better regulate internal temperatures throughout the day. As a result, energy-efficient homes place far less stress on the power grid and can help reduce peak price charges to consumers. On the other hand, many solar power systems are only able to reduce peak power demand during daylight hours, but the benefit is diminished once the sun fades.
5. Energy Efficient Homes Are More Resilient
Well-insulated homes are more capable of regulating and maintaining a consistent internal temperature. In other words, proper insulation helps to ensure warm and cool air exits the home at a much slower rate. This is especially helpful during a power outage that may be caused by a severe storm or hurricane. Energy-efficient features will help ensure your home remains at a comfortable temperature for an extended period of time. While solar can produce energy through battery back-ups, energy-efficient homes can maintain temperatures without an alternate power source.
6. Energy Efficient Homes Benefit Your Health
Homes with proper insulation are able to reduce drafts which lead to regulated air temperatures. By eliminating drafty air and maintaining consistent temperatures, you can actually improve the air quality of your home and your overall health. Consistent temperatures help reduce unwanted or harmful plant growth like mold, mildew, and fungus. Consistent temperatures can even prevent dust mites. You’ll be glad you invested in energy efficiency once allergy season rolls around.
What Makes A Home Energy-Efficient?
There isn’t a single element that makes a home energy-efficient, rather, energy efficiency is achieved through numerous internal features that work together to prevent warm or cold air from escaping the home. By trapping air inside, air conditioning units don’t have to work nearly as hard to keep a home cool, which is especially important during hot Florida summers.
Some homes may be built with passive solar designs, which means the orientation of the home may maximize or minimize direct sun exposure (depending on the climate) as well as make good use of overhangs and trees.
From the window,s to the attic, to the doors, energy-efficient homes should also be well-insulated and well-sealed. Any areas that may allow air to escape are sealed with a combination of weather stripping and special caulking. Even though the goal is to trap air inside, homes must also be well-ventilated so fresh air can still enter.
While energy efficiency and solar energy both play important roles in reducing dependency on fossil fuels, implementing these solutions in the right order is the key to getting the most out of your investment. By starting with an energy-efficient home, you can achieve short-term cost savings while setting yourself up to maximize the effectiveness of your solar power system.
Last, but certainly not least, is an Energy Star-certified HVAC system. This is critical in a Central Florida climate. To achieve energy efficiency, you’ll want to invest in a good HVAC system with strong SEER and EER ratings, both of which measure the unit’s efficiency. Paying more for a good HVAC system upfront is worth the investment, as you’ll quickly realize a return via lower energy bills. Building an energy-efficient home is easy if you work with a contractor who is experienced in energy-efficient construction. At Atlas Homes, we use R-30 ceiling insulation, R-13 wall insulation, Lennox 15 seer HVAC systems, and programmable thermostats to ensure our client’s homes are energy-efficient and affordable. Contact us today to start building your future home in Central Florida.