Attention Contractors or Home Builders: We are always striving to partner with homebuilders, "green" building designers, architects, contractors, or inspectors with similar values and professionalism. Feel free to contact us (918) 636-1433 or email PhillipsFoamInsulation@cox.net for opportunities if you are in the construction industry.

How to BUILD a home that is more energy efficient:

• Use an architect or designer that is experienced and knowledgeable in ‘green’ or energy efficient homes.  Make sure you inform him that energy efficiency is important.
• Orient the house with its long axis aligned in an east-west direction.  In most climates, about half of the home’s windows should be facing south.  In hot climates, it’s important to minimize the number and size of west facing windows.
• Build your house with an UNVENTED attic.  For a thorough explanation, click here.
• Consider building your house with 2x6 studs spaced at 24” apart.  This type of construction will be just as strong and will cost less in lumber in addition to being more energy efficient since there is more room for insulation and fewer studs to radiate heat to the inside of the house.
• Insulate the walls and roof of your new home with spray foam insulation.  This is probably the single most important method of making your home energy efficient.  This alone can reduce your energy bill by up to 50%!  Some of the extra cost of installing spray foam insulation can be offset by the money saved in reducing your HVAC equipment in addition to the money saved by paying lower electric bills.  The average return on investment for spray foam insulation is 2.5 years.
• If you are insulating your house with spray foam, request the air conditioning ducts in the attic be insulated with spray foam.  This will minimize leaks and keep the cool air in the ducts cool.
• Consult with an experienced HVAC technician and request a heat load calculation when the house is insulated with spray foam.
• Purchase an HVAC unit properly sized for the house with the highest SEER rating available.  Make sure it is at least higher than SEER-13.  DO NOT install an HVAC oversized for the house.
• Install windows with low-E glass.  These windows may cost a little more but will save you money by keeping the heat from the sun out of your house.
• Understand not all of your windows have to slide open.  Realistically, how often do you open all the windows in your house?  If you want to save money, only half the windows in the room should slide open, the other half can be fixed glass (non-opening)
• If you decide to insulate your house with spray foam insulation, then your house will have an air-tight seal around it.  Consider installing an HRV or an energy-recovery-ventilator to provide fresh conditioned air to all rooms of the house.
• Plan to plant trees and bushes around the house to absorb most of the sunlight.  This will essentially “shield” the house from the heat of the sun.
•  Plant less grass and install more mulch and hardscape such as decorative landscape rocks.  This will save you hundreds of dollars on your water bill.
• Purchase and install appliances with the Energy Star logo.
• Once the house is completed, arrange for and energy audit with blower-door testing.  This test will determine how many leaks you have and where they are located.  If your house is insulated with spray foam insulation, it is very unlikely you will have any leaks in your house.