Energy-Efficient Features Found in New Construction Homes in Florida

Updated on October 18, 2024: This story was originally published on November 22, 2021, and has been updated with new information.

One of the many benefits of calling Florida home is the year-round sunshine and warm weather. Snow and ice? Forget about it! There’s nothing better than enjoying winter days outdoors in the sunshine or taking a stroll on the beach in the middle of December!

With all that Florida sunshine, energy-efficient home features are extra important to keep your home cool and comfortable. Thanks to advanced technology and updated construction practices, new construction homes are more energy-efficient and cost less to maintain and operate than older homes.

HVAC Equipment

According to energy.gov, 48% of energy consumption in US homes is due to heating and cooling equipment, which means having the latest technology, high-efficiency HVAC equipment will have a big impact on your monthly utility bills.

A SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating refers to the efficiency of your A/C equipment - the higher the SEER, the more efficiently it can operate and therefore the lower your cooling costs. In addition, a higher SEER means a lower carbon footprint with significantly smaller greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2023, new testing standards were introduced, referred to as SEER2, that more accurately test and rate HVAC equipment based on real-world conditions. Highland Homes includes a 14.3 SEER2 (or better) heat pump system in our new construction homes in Florida. To compare this modern tech to older systems, a 14.3 SEER2 unit costs about 40% less to operate than a 10 SEER unit, 27% less than an 11 SEER unit, and about 13% less than a 13 SEER unit. In dollars and cents, this equates to $169-730 in savings per year.

Many houses built prior to 2006 only have a 10 SEER unit and homes built as recently as 2014 may only have 13 SEER equipment. As you can see, this is an important consideration when comparing the overall cost of owning a resale home or a new construction home in Florida.

Florida’s climate makes heat pumps an ideal choice for HVAC. A heat pump does double duty, providing cool air conditioning when it’s hot outside and heating your home when it’s cold out, as well as functioning as a dehumidifier. This means you do not need to maintain and operate a separate air conditioner and furnace – it’s all in one, so it is more efficient and has lower operating costs and reduced carbon emissions. And, by reducing the humidity in your home, the air conditioner runs more efficiently which also lowers energy costs as well as creates a healthier home less susceptible to mites, mold, and mildew.

Looking for even more efficiency? Choose to upgrade to a higher SEER2 heat pump and further decrease your cooling costs. 

Programmable Thermostat

Pairing your HVAC with a programmable thermostat allows you to optimize your cooling efficiency by scheduling your A/C usage throughout the day. For example, you can program your thermostat to run less when you are away from home, which uses less energy than maintaining a cool temperature 24/7.

And, the next item on our list also helps your home maintain a comfortable temperature and operate efficiently.

Insulation

To provide a barrier against heat entering your home through the attic and exterior walls, each new home by Highland Homes in Florida includes:

• R-30 ceiling insulation over the living area;
• Exterior block walls filled with R-11 foam-injected block insulation;
• Framed walls between the living area and garage insulated with R-11 batts;
• An insulated fiberglass entry door(s) offering up to four times the R-value of wood doors, along with excellent durability and style.

The R-value refers to the insulation’s ability to reduce heat flow - the higher the R-value, the more savings you’ll enjoy! On average, energy.gov estimates you can save up to 20% on your heating and cooling costs and up to 10% on total energy costs by having proper insulation such as what we include. Keep this in mind when looking at resale homes – insulation can be added in an older home, but the cost to do so is estimated to be $1,000 to $4,300 depending on factors such as the insulation type and volume needed.

In addition to the included insulations, you have the option to add insulation to the garage, or further insulate your entire home by adding Radiant Barrier, an insulating foil shield stapled to your roof trusses that radiates heat back out of your attic and reduces heat transfer through your attic and into your home by as much as 97%. Radiant Barrier lowers your attic temperature by up to 30 degrees, which also helps your HVAC ducting (which is in the attic) function more efficiently, reducing the heating/cooling portion of your utility bill by 8-12%.

Low-E Windows

Low-E, or low-emissivity, glass minimizes the infrared and UV light that comes into your home without actually reducing the amount of visible light. Basically, this glass reflects the heat before it enters your home through your windows, helping to regulate your indoor temperatures.

In general, Low-E windows reduce energy loss by as much as 30-50% in your home and can save on average $250 per year compared to traditional windows! Not only do our new construction homes in Florida include Low-E windows, but they also include a tilt-in sash to make it easy to clean the window glass from inside your home.

LED Lighting

Lighting accounts for about 15% of a home’s energy consumption so using LED light bulbs can add up to savings of about $225 per year. Not only do LED bulbs, use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs, but LEDs also use semiconductors to generate light which generates almost no heat, unlike a traditional filament light bulb. And, LEDs last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs which means you’ll spend less money on bulb replacements.

Our new homes include energy-efficient recessed or flush-mount LED lighting in the kitchen, bedrooms, and lanai (per plan) so you can reap all of these benefits, as well as illuminate your space with bright, evenly distributed, and attractive lighting. And, when you choose a personalized new build, you can choose to add this attractive and efficient lighting in additional rooms throughout your new home for a low cost! 

An additional lighting upgrade available when you build is optional ceiling fans. Ceiling fans can help keep you cool through the “wind chill” effect, and stylish fans such as the Linden 52-in. fan and Discus 52-in. fan from Monte Carlo Lighting include integrated LED lighting.

Samsung Appliances

Appliances are workhorses in our homes – I mean, can you imagine living without a refrigerator?? (Fun fact – refrigerators did not become common in American homes until the late 1940’s!) And, technology is continually improving to make appliances more efficient, more attractive, and more functional for our modern lives.

For all of these reasons, we’ve chosen to include state-of-the-art Samsung stainless steel appliances in our Florida new homes:

• A fingerprint-resistant, quiet-operation ENERGY STAR® dishwasher saves you money by using less energy and water with each cycle. An adjustable rack makes it easier to accommodate a variety of dishware, Auto Cycle optimizes your cleaning cycle to be more efficient, and a digital leak sensor identifies leaks and shuts off the dishwasher before water can escape.
• The flexible 5-burner smart smooth-top electric range includes WiFi smart cooking technology so you can preheat, adjust time and temperature, and monitor your cooktop and oven from your smartphone. A Rapid Boil™ feature allows you to complete simple cooking tasks in less time, dual ring burners mean you can select the right burner size (and energy output) for your pot or pan, and the 6.3 cu. ft. oven can accommodate multiple dishes at one time.
• An over-the-range microwave provides 1.6 cubic feet of cooking space to fit large dishes, 1000 watts of cooking power, auto-cook settings, LED display lighting, and an Eco mode which conserves energy by turning off the display when it’s not in use. A powerful 2-speed, 300 CFM ventilation system quickly removes heat and steam from the stove area.

In addition to these included appliances, you can choose a Samsung ENERGY STAR® certified refrigerator to fit your needs, upgrade your dishwasher, microwave, and range with a variety of efficient and high-tech models to choose from, and decide to add a Samsung ENERGY STAR® certified washer and high-efficiency dryer to your new construction home.

How much money can this save you? According to energystar.gov, new ENERGY STAR® certified clothes washers use 20 percent less energy and about 30 percent less water than non-certified washers and are up to 75% more efficient than a 20-year-old washing machine.

Bathroom Faucets

We’ve talked a lot about electrical efficiency – let’s move on to how a new construction home in Florida can save you on your water bill!

We include Delta Woodhurst® WaterSense® bathroom faucets for sinks, showers, and tubs. Delta’s WaterSense® collection uses at least 20% less water than the industry standard, saving you money without compromising performance.
 
You can select alternative finishes from the Delta Woodhurst® WaterSense® collection as an upgrade for your bathroom fixtures. Or, choose options from the Kayra collection, which features Delta’s H2Okinetic Technology, sculpting water to feel higher pressure with more coverage while actually using less water.

Learn More About Our New Construction Homes in Florida

As you can see, a new construction home in Florida comes loaded with energy-efficient home features which can help you save on utilities, without the cost associated with updating an older home.

In addition to energy efficiency, new construction homes offer designs to suit your lifestyle such as versatile open layouts, a private owner’s suite, and flexible use rooms. This means you can move in and enjoy your new home from day one, without the need for costly (and time-intensive) renovations.

To learn more about Highland Homes and building an energy-efficient new construction home in Florida, call or email our New Home Specialists today.