One of the biggest trends in new home construction in recent years has been the move towards Energy Efficient Housing. This design trend helps to make homes more cost effective to operate while at the same time working to minimize the impact on the environment of heating or cooling your home. Your new home can be a big user of energy, primarily for keeping the inside at a comfortable temperature for you and your family.

That's why keeping the following three things in mind when you are having your home built can end up saving you a lot of money on operating costs, not to mention reducing the home's impact on the environment. By installing energy efficient windows, by ensuring that your attic is properly insulated, and by using a high-efficiency furnace and water heater, you can help make your new home energy efficient and more comfortable.

Windows are an important design element in your home and everyone wants to have the best view from inside their homes. But windows can be a significant potential energy loss. A picture window in your home's living room can provide a stunning view and using energy efficient windows will help to keep thermal transmission to a minimum. This way, your living room can stay warm in the winter time and cool in the summertime without costing a fortune in heating and electrical bills. Talk with your builder about the his recommendations for the windows you want to make sure that they are energy efficient.

Attic insulation is another thing that can make a big difference towards ensuring a home is energy efficient. Heat transmission through a poorly-insulated attic can cause your heating and cooling bills to skyrocket. Insulation is rated in Canada by its "R" value, which is a measure of how well insulation resists transferring heat. Although building codes require at least R35, I would suggest insulating up to at least R50 standard to have an energy-efficient home and would encourage you to talk with your builder for more details.

Finally, high-efficiency furnaces and hot-water heaters are a must. Most if not all new furnaces sold in Canada today are high-efficiency as are hot water heaters. Also, the relatively new tankless hot water heaters allow you to heat only the water you need when you need it and can help in making your home more energy efficient than the standard hot water tank. Again, speak with your builder about the type of furnace recommended for your home, as well as the type of water heater.

By insisting that your new home has energy efficient windows, proper attic insulation, and high-efficiency furnaces and water heaters, you can make sure that your home is energy efficient, and that will not only save you money but will help the environment as well.