subject: Some Things To Note In A Home Building Plan [print this page] With multiple options of home building plans on the Internet and Do-It-Yourself magazines/books available for viewing or purchasing, the options can be limitless. Another great source is your local library. You can typically use the Internet and borrow books at no extra charge.
Home building plans may be difficult to read. There are books available with just some of the basic exterior drawings, floor plan, and size of the building to give you a basic idea of what it is your looking at. When searching, and if there is any kind of a home owners association. This might limit the type of designs to chose from. One last home design is one in a track home neighborhood. This is typically a cookie cutter design, but you can be given several different options within the association.
The efficiency of the house is a major factor to consider. There are many different things one can do to make a house efficient. We will visit only a couple of different options, two types of getting energy to your home and two types of water heaters.
There are two systems you can chose from, Traditional or Solar. In a traditional system, power is ran from the power company to you and you are billed accordingly. With a solar system, you have an option to stay completely "Off-The-Grid" where you are solely running on energy from the sun, batteries, and a back up generator. Another solar option is to still be hooked up "Grid-Tied" in which your are still working on energy produced by the sun, but can flow the power back through the lines to the power company. In case of an emergency, the solar option should still have a back up generator available.
Tankless water heaters are a great option if you are starting from scratch or have access to run the necessary gas lines. Tankless water heaters will typically save you money as there is no water to have to keep heating up. Tankless water heaters are available in gas and electric options. Also there are multiple sizes needed based on your needs. If not careful, long showers can equal a more expensive bill.
The style of window you choose can make a huge difference on how warm or cool your home will be. Not having an energy efficient window can constitute A 10% loss of energy. Once you have sealed and insulated you home, a good heating and cooling system is a must. Home owners are projected to spend more this year in heating alone.
Educating yourself for your home building plans is the first step in many to come. Check out home building forums and talk with local contractors and inspectors as this may be the best free advice out there.
by: Kenn Fong
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