Energy efficient home design is becoming more desirable these days. Gas prices and electricity costs are skyrocketing and there seems to be no end in sight.

Although it may seem obvious that saving energy will also save you money, there are a many ways that additional savings can be realized by carefully researching and planning an energy efficient home design from the beginning of your dream home process. Even if you aren't in a position to build your green home quite yet, you can dream and research each facet of your home design without having to pay a fortune for it.

• Consider hiring an architect to maximize your energy efficient space. Depending on how "custom" you want your new home to be, an architect may actually end up saving you money in the long run.
  
  
• Consider purchasing a home plan that was designed to be energy - efficient. As the demand for such homes increases, more architects and home planners are responding with energy efficient designs.
  
  
• Some builders offer a design option in addition to their construction services. Do some research to decide if this might be a good fit for your particular circumstances.
  
  
• Don't "overbuild" your foundation. A structural engineer can tell you what the requirements are for the location you have chosen. Also, consider a smaller "footprint" for your foundation - this could save you hundreds of dollars in materials. Rooms above the foundation can be bumped out or cantilevered a couple of feet without sacrificing safety.
  
  
• Maximize your storage space (even in a small home) by planning to use otherwise "wasted" space. * Will there be space under a staircase you can use for storage? * How about narrowing your hallways and increasing the room sizes? * Butting out closets into the hall area will make the bedrooms bigger.
  
  
• Plan to have all of the sleeping areas on the same floor. If you do, you can choose a split HVAC system - with the option of only heating or cooling the floor you are currently occupying. This advanced type of "space heating" can save you many dollars.
  
  
• Create an open floor plan. This may well be the most overlooked energy efficient strategy of all. An open energy efficient home design not only will make your space feel bigger and more comfortable, but you will save on framing, drywall, electrical, trim, paint, and even air conditioning and heating costs!
  
  
• Consider using the clean green power of solar in your home.
  
  
• Consider building an ICF home . Insulated Concrete Forms homes are famous for their high energy efficiency as well as for their safety and soundproofing qualities.
  
  
• Look into SIPS construction . Structural Insulated Panels are a popular option for more and more homeowners who desire a high level of insulation for their home.
  
  
• With wood construction, ask about the Airtight Drywall Approach (ADA). This system seeks to make the home as "tight" as possible to prevent drafts from increasing your energy usage and subsequent bills.
  
  We have more choices and options than ever before when it comes to energy efficiency. I hope you will strongly consider building your new house with an energy efficient home design. Your planning now can bring you a future of lower bills and greater comfort while conserving our planet's resources.