Let nature help pay your energy bill each month.

The beauty of building a new home in the area is that the homeowner can make choices now that will help with energy costs in the future.  Steps can be taken both inside and outside of the home to reduce energy usage.

Choose your floor plan wisely.  Smart placement of windows will allow for a cross breeze.  This can make use of nature to cool the home in mild weather.  Additionally, having a lot of windows on the southern side of the home will help bring natural light into the home.  This will reduce the need for energy consuming electric lighting.  The overall placement of the house on the site can either increase or reduce the need for energy.  More information about floor plans and homes for sale in the area can be found at .

Maximize any floor plan by taking advantage of the land.  A properly positioned home placed near a hill on the property can add an insolating factor.  Solar heat is both eco-friendly and economically sound.  Position the house so it maximizes the solar energy potential.  Sustainable landscaping helps with energy costs in different ways.

There are two types of trees to consider planting for reducing home energy usage – deciduous trees and evergreen trees.  A deciduous tree loses its foliage in the winter.  Evergreen trees keep their foliage all year round.  Deciduous trees should be planted to provide shade in the summer and allow light to come into the home in the winter.  Evergreen trees should be planted as a layer of protection to the home against the elements. 

Another trick builders use with new construction is adding native plants to the landscape.  There are many benefits to planting native (or local) plants.  The benefit of helping with energy costs is that many native plants need less water than imported plants.  Lower overall maintenance is also energy efficient.  Finally, many builders are turning to using gray water as a means of irrigation.  Reusing water from the sink and shower rather than drawing fresh water from the utility company will help lower costs as well as help the environment.

If you would like to know more about green building and new construction homes in the area, contact at or at .

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Columbia South Carolina real estate. For complete information about the real estate market including new construction and current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate at . Please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I will be more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at or email me at .

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