October is National Energy Awareness Month, a nationwide effort to promote smart energy choices and highlight the fact that we all make decisions every day that can reduce energy use and increase sustainability. You can do your part by building energy efficiency into your homes.
Every day, millions of homeowners use natural gas for space heating, cooking and laundry. Let's take a look at how installing energy-efficient natural gas appliances and equipment is the best option for creating high-performance homes that will attract today's energy aware buyers.
Home heating
Natural gas furnaces heat up quickly and can provide more heat at higher temperatures than their electric counterparts. ENERGY STAR®-certified gas condensing furnaces have efficiencies of up to 97% or more. ENERGY STAR units are up to 15% more efficient than standard models.
Hot water
Natural gas is the fuel of choice for water heating in millions of American homes. Although electric water heaters can be energy efficient, gas units heat water faster and are typically cheaper to operate. Gas storage water heaters have provided reliable hot water for decades. Gas tankless water heaters provide instant hot water on demand, potentially saving energy and water. ENERGY STAR-certified storage and tankless water heaters use about 10% less energy than standard models.
In the laundry room
In general, the cost of electricity needed to dry a typical load of laundry is more than a load dried using natural gas. Clothes are dried faster because natural gas provides instant heat. ENERGY STAR offers more than 150 natural gas certified dryers to choose from at a variety of price points. Some models are paired with an ENERGY STAR clothes washer for even more savings. ENERGY STAR dryers typically use 20% less energy than standard models.
In the kitchen
It typically costs more to cook on an electric range than it does on a similar natural gas range, depending on rates. Also, natural gas ranges last up to six years longer, on average, than their electric counterparts, saving on replacement costs down the road. On top of that, gas ranges can provide buyers with additional benefits in faster heat up times and more precise temperature control.
Building buyer awareness
Your homes are energy efficient. How do you get that message to potential buyers? Integrate energy efficiency into your marketing program by touting the sustainable features available in your homes.
Certification is another useful tool to ensure potential buyers that your homes are energy efficient. ENERGY STAR home certification is the most widely recognized energy rating system. To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet strict program requirements for energy efficiency and be verified by an approved home energy rater. See here for more information about program requirements and the certification process for new construction homes.
By combining energy-efficient gas appliances and equipment with high-performance windows and proper insulation and weather sealing, you can create sustainable homes that will stand out in the marketplace this month and every month.