Staying Cool the High-Performance Way

With the 4th of July weekend officially behind us, it’s safe to say that summer is well underway – and it’s getting hot out there. While we’re grateful for the sunshine in Palo Alto, we’re also grateful to have cool, comfortable homes to retreat to when the heat gets intense.

It’s no wonder power bills start to climb around this time of year, as air conditioners kick on to combat the climbing temperatures. Unfortunately, most conventionally built homes are incredibly inefficient in how they manage temperature. As much as 40% of a home’s cooling and heating loss is due to air leakage in a poorly constructed home.

When thinking about your custom home, it’s encouraging to know there’s a better way. The truth is that investing in the right way will not only keep your home cool in the summer months, but also warm in the winter – all while lowering your power bill.

Keeping Your Custom Home Air-Tight

A traditional home uses inefficient materials and systems, causing all the cold air to escape and the air conditioner to work twice as hard. The materials used to build walls, insulation, windows, and more all contribute to how well the home can hold air in and maintain a comfortable temperature.

That inefficiency is expensive, requiring a homeowner to constantly run cooling and heating systems to stay comfortable. It goes without saying that this unnecessary energy usage is also costly to the environment.  

Passive home design offers a superior methodology for keeping the home comfortable in the summer months. It starts with a thermal envelope constructed as a physical separator between the interior and exterior environments of your home. That means it holds in the cold air and keeps it the same temperature inside, no matter how much the heat fluctuates outside.

High-Performance: Comfortable for Home and Wallet

You may be surprised to learn that high-performance homes only cost 5-10% more than a conventionally built home. And better yet, that investment has a long return thanks to your reduced energy bill every month – as the efficiency of a high-performance home quickly offsets the difference in building cost.

That means saving green while going green, as your new home will also be protecting the planet.

Reducing our dependence on energy-consuming solutions like air conditioning is an important part of lowering our overall carbon footprint. Clarum Homes has been leading the way for decades, combining sustainable building practices with solar power to build homes that are environmentally friendly – without sacrificing beautiful design and comfort.

Want to learn more about how Clarum can help you build the modern home of your dreams? Give us a call at 650.322.7069