Developments in technology and design are assisting budget-conscious home builders in making the new home of their clients’ dreams a little smarter, and a little greener, too. Here are a few sustainable home design and building trends to watch for in 2010, excerpted from the Earth Advantage Institute’s Top 10 Green Building Trends report:

Smart-Grid Connected Home: This customizable web-based display system shows real-time energy use, and can be broken down by individual appliance, helping homeowners track their energy behavior, and encouraging energy conservation. In the same way the Toyota Prius miles-per-gallon indicator has helped owners modify their driving habits, this technology assists homeowners in monitoring their energy consumption, and saving some money along the way.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) Software: CAD software for building design has evolved to include new add-on tools with extremely accurate algorithms for energy modeling. These packages will soon be more affordable for smaller firms and individual builders and contractors, allowing a greater insight into the energy properties of many materials and features, all in an effort to better predict a building’s energy performance.

Eco-Districts: Developers and builders across the country, especially on the West Coast, have already begun to ensure that residents of suburban communities have access to the services and supplies that they need at walking or biking distance, thereby reducing the neighborhood’s dependency on oil. We will begin to see this trend spread to the mainstream, reducing or even eliminating the need for automobiles within new home communities. Plans for eco-districts also include green spaces, bicycle lanes, and green-certified buildings.

Net-Zero buildings: Net-Zero buildings generate more energy than they use over the course of a year. Homes of a relatively small size, with onsite renewable energy sources, build cost-effective efficiency into a structure.

Sustainable Building Education: The recent economic downturn has given builders, architects, engineers, and contractors an opportunity to learn more about sustainability in home design and construction, but homebuyers are generating the momentum for green building. This increase in demand will make it necessary for all professionals involved in the home building industry to have an increased understanding of the benefits of sustainable construction, allowing all involved to place adequate value on a green building.

At Ernest Homes, home builders in Richmond Hill, Georgia, we are committed to building you the home of your dreams. With encouragement for energy efficient construction on the national level, we see the future of the industry and are ready to embrace it. We have several exciting new home communities to choose from, so visit us today get started!

A larger home no longer translates into greater equity. When working with our designers to put your dream home on paper, remember that the more square footage you have in your home, the more it will cost to maintain. Of course you can factor in the cost of heating, cooling, and cleaning your home, but also consider its use of water, the energy efficiency of appliances, and the high costs of maintaining multiple entertainment centers or other “extras” that can really add up month to month.

Work with your designer, or choose from home design templates, to come up with a floor plan that will fit your family’s needs and budget, now and in the future. Take the time to consider your family’s current lifestyle, and find ways to create multi-functional spaces in your new home.

Rightsizing does not have to mean downsizing. You can have both comfort and practicality in your new home, and enjoy living in style while also being environmentally and economically conscious.

With McMansions going the way of the dinosaur, floor plans of new homes are beginning to get squared up. Architects and builders are moving toward smaller building envelopes and more simple footprints, which are less expensive to build than plans with custom angles. On the national level, designs are also getting far more diminutive, in the 2,000 to 2,500 square foot range, whereas several years ago the average newly constructed home could be as large as 4,500 square feet.

Even with the smaller size, new home buyers still crave the creature comforts reminiscent of more luxurious times. Builders are sprucing up spartan designs with finer visual garnishes like wooden columns, exposed interior beams, and other ornamental details, all the while lowering building costs by about 10%, and transferring those savings to their clients. Charming features need not be abandoned entirely, but the wish-list of amenities such as a pool or home theater may only need to be planned for at the time of building, allowing owners to wait until they are ready to complete the project.

Shrinking floor plans present a demand for greater efficiency of space, and many home builders are using this as an opportunity to focus on quality rather than quantity. Forgoing flourishes like complex rooflines and multiple living spaces, builders are instead opening up spaces within the home, making for larger “great rooms” that allow for varied uses and more functional living space.  Still, builders know that well-made materials will create a more durable home, so rather than purchasing lower-grade materials, they are working to create a more efficient design, thereby saving money on construction.

Today’s home builder does not need to sacrifice on quality simply because of a tighter budget. At Ernest homes, you can trust that your new home in Richmond Hill will be everything you’ve dreamed of, while embracing the challenges of our financial climate. Contact us today to get started on designing the home of your dreams!

New Home  Tip #1:  Practical and Clean

Those innovative designs you see on the cover of the latest architectural magazine sure make for great pictures and a unique home but that can crush your home buying budget in a hurry.  They also do not always lend themselves to being the most practical living space.  You can still have  a home built that is unique to you with an innovative look, but leave sculpture for someone else.   A good home builder can help you get the unique home of your dreams that is affordable and livable.

New Home  Tip #2:  Set Your Budget, and Stick to it!
Sitting down with a home builder can be a lot of fun.  There are so many different options to add and rooms to tack on.  Getting carried away with all those ideas is a natural reaction.   To streamline the process and save yourself any future disappointment, be sure to work with your New Home Builder and establishing a budget first.  Then when you communicate your needs and wishes your builder will have a better idea how to accomplish your goals.  Most home builders have a few trusted lenders they can introduce you to who will help you understand what you can afford.

Affordable New Home Construction Tip #3:  Less is More for your Money
An estate style home or “mini mansion” sure sounds like an attractive place to live.  Keep in mind that the cost to build a larger home is only the start.  The maintenance costs over the years can really cut into a family budget.  Keep all these factors in mind when choosing how much square footage you select.  Don’t forget you have to heat it, cool it,  clean it, and more.

New Home  Tip #4:  Where to Spend
A good home builder had thousands of ways to customize your home.  You can spend a lot of money on built in shelving, fancy cabinetry, lighting, fixtures and more.   Many new buyers think cutting back on things that are less noticeable like roofing materials and insulation can help them afford these fancier interior items.  Think about these decisions carefully.  Quality construction will save you a lot of money in the long run and cannot be as easily replaced or upgraded down the road.

New Home Tip #5:  Location, Location, Location
The location of a new home matters as much as an existing home.   If you care about your resale value down the road, do not skimp on the lot just to build a larger home.  Also, if you are not choosing to build in an existing community, know that any challenges the builder face, excessive tress, roots, boulders, etc. will add substantially to your cost

Ernest Home Builders has been providing the highest quality home building and customer service.  If you are looking for Richmond Hill Home Builders or Savannah Homes for Sale we encourage you to visit our site http://www.ernesthomes.com or call Sherrie at 912-660-9673

If you are looking for Homes For Sale and considering the Savannah Area or Richmond Hill Area specifically I hope you will check out Ernest Homes.   Our motto is “It’s what’s INSIDE that counts” and one look at a custom build home from Ernest Homes will have you understanding why.  Apart from all the upgrades and standard quality features you can further customize your Home in our Design Shop.  Choose from a variety of flooring, cabinetry, lighting and so much more.   We love what we do and you will too.