Buying your first house in Ottawa is an exciting new chapter in life. You get to remould and shape it into something that you truly can call your home, such as installing eco-friendly custom home features. These can save on energy consumption, make you potentially eligibly for a tax credit, and of course, help the environment. So if you’ve been considering taking an eco-friendly leap in your home, here are four custom features for you to consider.
Eco-Friendly Wall Insulation Panels
In order to help keep your home warm and cozy during those long winter months, you should ensure that your home is properly insulated. Instead of using the traditional methods for insulation that can result in mould and contain hazardous materials, you can choose eco-friendly wall panels. These panels are mould resistant, and will seal your home in nice and tight so there won’t be any drafts forcing you to crank up the heat. This is a great way to save on those bills while utilizing eco-friendly materials.
High-Efficiency Heating and Cooling
For those days when you do need to crank up the heat or air conditioning, it’s important to select a system that won’t guzzle up your energy consumption and bump up your monthly bills. Look for a high-efficiency system whether it’s for your furnace or A/C. You want to ensure that you’re getting the most amount of bang for your buck, and that means maximum air circulation or heat and minimal energy consumption. If you really want to monitor your usage, before purchasing, ask the sales clerk about an energy management system. These systems will allow you to monitor and control your usage via your smartphone.
Solar Panels
Another alternative for reducing or potentially eliminating electricity costs is solar panels. These panels are low-maintenance and cost-effective. Depending on the amount that you install and the position of your home in relation to the sun, solar panels can work wonders to offset the costs of your monthly bills. They can even eliminate them altogether, while enabling you to potentially receive a tax credit.
Water Conservation
If you or your family tend to waste a lot of water, then maybe you should consider installing an on-demand hot-water system that stores hot water for when you need it, rather than requiring it to gradually heat up as it runs. Additionally, low-flow toilets, faucets, and even light-up colour-changing showerheads are available today that will help monitor and reduce your consumption.
Customizing your home with just a few simple features is a great way to introduce eco-friendly living into your life and hopefully encourage your family, friends or neighbours to get on board with sustainable living.
Theberge Homes’ is the preferred custom home builder in Ottawa. Get in touch to discuss how we can help make your dream home a reality!
