Think Green

Think Green Construction for an Energy-Efficient Home

Carson Rodgers practices green construction in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the surrounding areas. We're the remodeling company to call for energy-efficient upgrades and new home additions. Take advantage of the many ways to use less water, reduce heat loss, and save money on your utility bill.

How To Save Money With Upgrades

Accurate knowledge about energy efficiency enables you to make the right decisions that work for your lifestyle. You may be unaware of the many ways to save energy, so we compiled the following list to give you some ideas.

The average toilet uses 3.5 gallons per flush. If it's flushed 5 times a day, that's 6387.5 gallons per year. A water-saving toilet using 1.6 gallons per flush will use only, 2920 gallons per year. The most common toilet installed for water saving is the gravity-fed low-flow toilet. There is also a pressure-assisted low-flow toilet that uses air to assist the flush. This is a great flushing unit, but is more expensive to buy and maintain. The electric-power-assisted low-flush toilet is relatively new to the market and uses 120 volts. Simpler is usually greener, and the gravity-fed low-flow toilet gives you the best value.
A conventional shower head uses 4 gallons per minute. A 10-minute shower consumes 40 gallons of water. A water-saving shower head uses only 1.75 gallons per minute and consumes only 17.5 gallons during a 10-minute shower.
A leaky faucet, hose bib, or toilet can consume 140 gallons every week. Most repairs of this nature are simple and inexpensive to carry out.
Sealing around electrical junction boxes, such as switches and outlet boxes on exterior walls, reduces energy loss.
Replacing worn-out weather stripping around doors, including the threshold, also saves energy.
When installing an exterior door, look for one that has been independently tested and certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).
New windows are a long-term investment, and there are too many options to name here. Again, check for certification by the NFRC, and see if the window qualifies for the NFRC Energy Star rating.
A compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) uses 75% less energy compared to a conventional light bulb, but it uses a small amount of mercury. If broken or disposed of incorrectly, a compact fluorescent bulb becomes a hazard. Plan to use with caution.
Look for the Energy Star rating on new appliances. The rating tells you how much energy you save.
About 20% of your total cost of hot water goes to reheating water stored in the hot water tank. A tankless water heater provides an endless supply of hot water, but you still need to use it wisely. A tankless water heater can be installed on the exterior of your home, freeing up the space where the old water heater once stood.
The R-value of insulation indicates how well it resists the heat. The recommended insulation value of an attic is R-38 and a wall is R-21. Plan to install the right amount of insulation.