Technology: the key to turn your modern home green

Here’s some good news: according to the US Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the United States’ energy consumption per household is down 10 percent since 1980. This data is especially impressive considering that our homes are larger and contain more devices than ever before. One of the secrets behind this impressive statistic? Technological innovation in homebuilding.

Thanks to breakthroughs from governmental, academic, and sustainable homebuilding organizations and companies, the equipment we use in our homes is more energy-efficient than ever. At Clarum, we help our clients incorporate these elements into the building process and work toward our shared mission of environmentally-friendly living.

Five ways technology can reduce your home’s carbon footprint

Modern home technology not only adds to the appeal of your home, but it can also significantly improve your carbon footprint. Below are five innovative, sustainable technologies to integrate into your modern home.

Home automation

Silicon Valley homeowners desire wireless automation devices incorporated into their homes for convenience, security, and energy efficiency. Through a smart phone, homeowners can easily adjust lighting, heat, appliances, and utilities from any remote location.

Smart technology and home automation provide significant efficiency and energy savings: enabling settings for your lighting controls and systems that use energy can significantly reduce your utility bill, and help your home achieve a high performance cost structure.

Heat-recovery ventilator (HRV) systems

Fresh, healthy air is something that everyone seeks inside their homes. And with a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) system, you can improve the health of the environment as well. An HRV system provides proper air ventilation throughout your home, drawing fresh air in, filtering and tempering it with the native air, and moving it throughout the house. This constant, balanced supply of fresh air makes your indoor environment healthier, maintains even air temperatures throughout the house, and saves up to 90% of space-heating energy.

Solar power systems

With advanced technology, greater demand, and more efficient manufacturing techniques, solar electric power systems have become popular among homeowners. In fact, most of the solar electric systems in the world today are grid-connected power generators, such as the ones Clarum Homes installs on the homes we build.

In the Palo Alto Passive Home, we’ve found our solar electric power systems are able to generate 75 to 100% of a home’s power. Generating electricity from sunlight makes you less dependent on utility companies, while making your carbon footprint lighter at the same time. In addition to big savings on your utility bills, there are many significant tax benefits of going solar.

High-performance windows

Windows not only add to the aesthetic appeal of your home during the gloomy season, but they are also crucial to proper thermal insulation. Consequently, windows play a vital role in the overall energy efficiency of your home – by moderating heat flow, they become a key contributor to your home’s gross energy consumption.

Talk to your builder to determine the best ways to select energy-efficient windows – he or she can help you to understand energy performance ratings and the latest technology to inform your decision process.

Eco-friendly appliances

Incorporate appliances into your home that make life easier and reduce your carbon footprint. Look for energy-efficient washing machines, HVAC systems, water heaters, and other items that are integral to your daily life.

The EnergyStar label can help guide you through your buying process: the organization’s ratings help indicate energy-efficiency and even help you compare against other products. This way, you can feel confident about which green, high-tech appliances you choose for your modern home.

Keep your eye on these up-and-coming green technology

Ready to take your commitment to eco-friendly living one step further? Explore the technology that will further enhance modern home sustainability once it’s on the market.

• Magnetic refrigerators: Instead of relying on vapor compression – which uses coolants harmful to the environment, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and General Electric have collaborated to design a new refrigerator that uses magnets to create cold air.
• Earth-friendly insulation: It’s no secret that insulation is one of the keys to reducing heating and cooling costs – and thanks to the Industrial Science & Technology Network, this is about to get even better. The organization is developing new foam insulation made with environmentally-friendly and composite materials that are expert at preventing heat loss.
• Automatic window controls: Curtains may soon become a thing of the past thanks to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Pella Windows. These groups are developing new, highly-insulated windows that use sensors to automatically adjust shading based on sunlight and time of day. This way, consumers can save energy and money.

Technology + modern home design = eco-friendly brilliance

By incorporating green technology into your modern home, you can enjoy innovation and sustainability at once. Inspire those around you and transform your living space into an intuitive, earth-friendly environment.

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.