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We all want to conserve energy. This saves your family money and has a significant positive impact on our environment. Regardless of your motivation, purchasing a newly built Energy Star qualified house helps ensure great energy efficiency.

What precisely is an Energy Star new house? Is all new construction “green” and good for the environment? How can I know whether the home that I’m purchaseing is truly energy efficient?

The federal government has set out standards as to what constitutes an Energy Star rated new home. This is critical because buzz words such as “green” have no clear definition. Is a new homebuilder claiming to be green simply because he used energy-efficient lighting? Is it really “green” just because the house has insulation? While are good things, it does not make your new house “green.”

To be sure that new construction you’re looking at is truly energy efficient, look for the official “Energy Star” certification that is only awarded to certain qualified houses.

Government guidelines at www.energystar.gov, list the criteria a home must meet to become Energy Star qualified:

First, the new home must make use of effective insulation that is both properly installed and inspected. Insulation should be used in the walls, floors and attics to ensure level temperatures throughout the new house. This can drastically lower energy use and provide greater comfort in your house as it maintains level temperatures.

Second, the structure should be built with tight construction and well fitted duct work. Small cracks and holes can cause cold air in and warm air to escape, greatly reducing the energy savings of your house. A gap the size of a quarter can be a problem.

Next, the new house should use efficient windows with protective coatings and improved window frames. The goal here is to prevent cold air from coming in in the winter and to keep the warm air out in the summer. A good UV coating on the windows also prevents fading of furniture, carpets and paint in your new house.

Fourth, only Energy Star appliances should be used in the house. These appliances use less electricity, oil and natural gas, and produce much less waste vs. their non-rated counterparts.

Next, Energy Star rated appliances should be used in the home, including compact fluorescent bulbs, fans, lighting fixtures, appliances, air conditioning, refrigeration, dishwashers and washing machines. The more energy efficient appliances you have, the lower your electric costs will be.

Finally, Energy Star home builders can go through a third-party verification process to verify that the houses built attain these standards. This is done to ensure that builders are reputable and are delivering on their energy-efficient promises.

Craig Axelrod is one of the partners from Emmy Homes. Emmy is which is one of Long Island’s most established home developers. Emmy’s Commack real estate features new construction in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for more details.

Buying a new home is an exciting time in ones life. Because it is such a major purchase, you want to make sure that you have the knowledge to make the right decisions. It will make the home buying process much easier and will ensure that you have provided the best home for you and your family.

The following is a list of a number of tips that will help make your new home buying experience a pleasant one:

1. Make a list of what type of home will meet your current and future needs. This can include: the location, size of the property, number of bedrooms, size of the rooms, and proximity to schools, work, parks, stores, and other amenities. This will help you narrow your search. You should consider enlisting the services of a real estate agent who can help you find the right home at the right price.

2. Before you purchase a new home, you should decide if you can afford to take on such a big investment. You will be required to make a down payment. There are now 5% down payment deals available. Remember, the less money down means the higher your monthly mortgage payments. You will also be responsible for fees such as attorney fees, taxes, registration fees, closing costsetc. You also have to make sure you can afford the monthly mortgage repayments. In order to secure a good mortgage, you must make sure you have a good credit history. Check your credit history to see if there are any errors or outstanding loans that should be paid. It is essential that you purchase a home that you can afford. There are online mortgage calculators that will help you determine how much you can afford. It is also recommended that you get pre-approved for a mortgage before you actually start searching for a home. You will then not waste your time looking at homes you cant afford.

3. If you have children or are planning to have children, research the schools in the area where you are interested in living. You want to make sure your children will get a quality education. As well, living in an area with good schools increases the value of a home.

4. Before you make an offer on a home, make sure you hire a building inspector to inspect the home for any problems. An inspector should look at the foundation, plumbing/septic system, the structural integrity of the home, roofetc. The home inspection fee will can range from $300-650 depending on the type of house and its features.

5. It is important to have an attorney represent you for the closing. You will want to make sure that you are protected. .

Purchasing a new home is a big life investment so it is important to make sure that you are familiar with all that goes into the purchase. This will help make the process run much smoother and less stressful allowing you to focus on starting a new life in your very own home.

We commit to high quality services that offers a uniquely designed home that is tailored to your tastes. Ranging from luxurious interiors to fresh exteriors, our service is dedicated to providing a warm home for families and individuals. Asides from home building, home improvement is also highly emphasized. If you are looking for greater detail.