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Building materials are the most important thing to consider when purchasing or constructing a building. Not only do they tell you how sturdy and long-lasting the building will be, but they can also give you insight into how energy efficient your building will be.
These are some of the top reasons why energy-efficient building materials matter to everyone, from residential to business building owners, and what materials you should keep an eye out for.
Eventually, the money you gain or save can leave you with a profit from what you invest in materials: so here's how to make a smart investment!
How Energy Efficiency Sells
If you put in the time and work to make a building energy-efficient, it will eventually pay off. Buildings that are energy efficient sell for nearly 3% more than their non-energy-efficient counterparts: and although this percentage may seem small, the numbers add up when you're selling a large commercial building. A third of consumers are currently seeking out products and businesses that are energy-efficient, so offering a building that has these perks is a great way to ensure you make money back on your investment and sell your building faster.
How It Helps Building Owners
Owning an energy-efficient building has tons of perks! If this is a multi-residential building, energy-efficient apartments are an awesome selling point that can gain you far more applications every month. Buildings that are more efficient with how they use energy come with far cheaper monthly bills and more affordable maintenance. This is also awesome for business owners who are nervous about the bottom line and want to ensure they're able to cover all of the bills and transactions their company may deal with.
Materials For Residential Buildings
Residential buildings, whether they're single-family, or multi-family spaces, have a lot of needs. There's a strong push for cleaner air, products that need far less maintenance, and products that can make the entire living space feel comfortable while also attractive and easy to look at.
Some updates should be done to all residential properties, like ensuring your windows and doors are free of air leaks and issues. You don't have to give up the style of your home to update your windows; historic storm windows can carry the aesthetic you adore while ensuring your home is sealed off from the temperature and weather of the outside world.Â
Residential buildings should also consider what can make a living there more comfortable while adding that energy-efficient spin. A heated floor thermostat can chase away the cold of early mornings while also ensuring you're less likely to run your HVAC system and giving you the chance to reduce moisture within your home.Â
Materials For Commercial Buildings
Commercial buildings are primarily multi-zone spaces that call for many different ducts and zones to be heated or cooled. This requires a lot of work to ensure the entire building is at one comfortable temperature and nobody is left out in the cold. In multi-zone spaces like this, it's vital that you seek out air conditioning that can thoroughly heat the space it's in so it doesn't have to run constantly.
Although you can use insulated metal panels throughout the building to ensure the temperature inside is trapped at one comfortable degree range, it's vital that your HVAC system is up to date. If you want to avoid ducts and have to fully rework the HVAC system, there are ductless mini HVAC systems that can help focus on one specific room, so you don't have to run the full system every time one office is active.
What Matters Most for Energy Efficiency
The most important thing for energy efficiency is that you keep an eye on the details. These details can be anything from the seal around your windows being strong enough to stop air from getting in, or it can be ensuring that your filters are replaced often and that your system is well maintained.
No matter how much you invest in your system, if you donât maintain it well and replace the filters often, youâll find the system will have to run longer and work harder. Work with the system in your building, and help it live up to its full potential.
Materials Everyone Should Invest In
There are some materials that can work in anything from steel buildings to buildings made with preformed concrete. These include thorough insulation, a smart thermostat for full systems to ensure you can set patterns for your system to run along with, and sealed entrances and windows. Together these materials will give your building the best chance of succeeding and helping the environment while also saving you money on your heating and cooling bills.
Energy Efficiency Should Be Everyoneâs Goal
Whether youâre aiming at energy efficiency to make your building sell faster, or youâre eager to start your business off on the right foot, energy efficiency is a worthy goal everyone should attempt to succeed in.
Natalie Akins is an editor for the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. She is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.