Tag: green living

  • Get to Know the ENERGY STAR® and Indoor airPLUS Programs

    Here at the Richmond American companies, we are committed not only to building quality homes for our customers, but also to promoting sustainability in our building processes. We’ve furthered this commitment by offering the ENERGY STAR® and Indoor airPLUS programs at many of our communities nationwide to help promote a safer, healthier and more energy efficient home. Read more.

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  • Understanding HERS® Scores

    Are you looking for new home that’s comfortable, safe and energy efficient? The Home Energy Rating System (HERS®) Index, created by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET®), is a great way to find a home that checks each of those boxes. The HERS® Index is the industry standard for rating home energy efficiency and provides a nationally recognized system for determining a home’s energy performance. Read more.

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  • Conserving Water Around the House

    What do water and your money have in common? Simple: they’re both valuable resources worth protecting. For any homeowner, conserving one to save the other amounts to a surefire win-win. Check out these water-saving tips to give a boost to the environment and maybe even your pocket book!

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  • 8 Ways to Winterize Your Home

    When the summer air begins to cool down, it’s time to prepare your home for the colder months ahead. Winterizing can keep your home running efficiently and save on heating costs. Get started today with these helpful tips: 1. Service your furnace. Leaky ducts and vents are big energy drainers. Have your furnace serviced by a […]

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  • New Home vs. Resale Home: Maintenance Edition

    When you think about buying a brand-new home, advantages such as choosing your neighborhood, floor plan, options and homesite probably spring to mind immediately. However, buying new over resale boasts another big benefit that many buyers often overlook: less home maintenance. Don’t have the time, inclination or funds to remodel or repair a resale home? […]

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  • How Your Energy Bill Could Help You Save

    How often do you look at your energy bill? If your interest stops at AMOUNT DUE, you may be missing out on some ways to save energy and money. Energy bill basics Each utility company has its own way of invoicing you, but here are some fairly universal points you’ll find on most energy bills: […]

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  • 4 Reasons to Go Solar

    Solar energy has been around for decades, so why is it suddenly a hot topic for homeowners? Like many market trends, the answer can be found in your wallet. Recent breakthroughs in solar cell design and manufacturing have taken solar panels out of the realm of environmental enthusiasts and made them not just an affordable […]

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  • Energy Wise Spotlight: Low-e Windows

    “I have to draw blackout curtains in the summer to keep the heat out.”   “My windows are ice-cold and drafty in winter.”   “The carpet and upholstery near my windows and sliding glass doors are fading.”   If this sounds familiar, you may be throwing money out the window. Hot spots in summer, drafts […]

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  • Energy Wise Spotlight: HVAC Revamp

    Did you know the way your HVAC is installed can save you money…or cost you? The truth is, calculating how much heating and cooling is needed for each room hasn’t been an exact science in the past. Builders would make rough estimates based on the number of windows and square footage, but the process was […]

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