Why Now is the Best Time to Build a High-Performance Home
There's Never Been a Better Time to Build a Passive House
Rising interest rates, soaring inflation, and housing market volatility are giving people pause before they purchase their next residence–all valid concerns that make today the best time ever to build a high-performance home. Doing so can save you money, protect your family from rising energy costs, put you in a durable structure with a fraction of the maintenance of a normal home, support your sustainability values, and more.
Energy Costs are Typically the Single Biggest Ongoing Expense in Homeownership
Anytime you turn on the daily news, you’re likely to see a story about rising energy costs. At one point this summer, the price you were paying at the gas pump had risen by 48.7 percent year-over-year, taking more money from your wallet every time you fill up. And it’s not just oil and gasoline prices that have skyrocketed – the cost of fossil fuel-based energy sources has also soared. Natural gas prices spiked to a 14-year high, with one week alone seeing a seven percent surge. Propane is totally unregulated, making more fluctuations inevitable.
Electricity has typically been more stable but has gone up over 15 percent in the past year.
According to a CNBC report, the average household’s energy costs in September 2022 were 18.2 percent higher than in September 2021. And that’s before cold weather hits.
The Energy Information Administration estimates that heating costs this winter will be up to 28 percent higher for households that heat with oil and gas; those that rely on electricity can expect a 10 percent increase. All these energy sources are predicted to rise more in the future.
Achieve Real-World Savings
A high-performance home minimizes energy costs on your family budget. From efficient heating and cooling systems to highly insulated windows and walls, every feature is designed to increase comfort and durability while significantly reducing energy consumption and costs.
All too often, reductions in energy use and the associated cost savings are confined to theoretical models, charts, and spreadsheets. While these estimates look good on paper, it’s hard to know if they are best-case scenarios that exaggerate actual benefits or, worse still, merely wishful thinking.
Yet there are real Kansas City homeowners who are enjoying lower energy costs and usage right now.
Example Kala homes include a fully-electric, 3,600 square foot home that has a total energy cost for heating, cooling, hot water, lighting, and cooking of $120 average per month. Another all-electric, solar-equipped 3,300 square foot Kala home is currently carrying an $81.67 credit to be applied during the winter months. Our anticipation is that the cost for energy for the twelve month period will be $0.
Our rental house had less than a third of the square footage of this one, yet our energy bills are now significantly less expensive here than they were there.”
In a recent case study interview, another Kala customer commented on the differences between the energy costs at their current high-performance home and a previous residence. “Our rental house had less than a third of the square footage of this one, yet our energy bills are now significantly less expensive here than they were there.”
It's All in the Structure
Although all the decisions made in constructing a home matter, the structure itself is the primary reason a Kala home performs at such a high-level.
the best control over electrical demand may not be in the electric system, but in the building itself. Good thermal design–tight construction, good window design, and appropriately sized ventilation systems.”
In a customer fact sheet, the National Grid stated that “the best control over electrical demand may not be in the electric system, but in the building itself. Good thermal design–tight construction, good window design, and appropriately sized ventilation systems.”
As heat is retained, humidity balanced, and fresh air continually circulated, there’s no need for systems to guzzle energy from the grid to try and keep up with temperature changes. As a result, a high-performance home significantly reduces your monthly energy bills and limits your dependence on the electrical grid. With solar panels, these savings are compounded, as you’ll be generating power at a greater rate than you’re consuming it.
Lower Your Environmental Impact and Live Sustainably
From reducing your reliance on the electrical grid to lowering your monthly energy bills to supporting your sustainability values, a high-performance home offers many ways for you to live a comfortable lifestyle more cost-effectively and with less environmental impact. That’s why there’s never been a better time to build with Kala. Want to learn more?
Contact us today to talk about exploring a high-performance home build with Kala.
