When searching for a new home, there’s more to consider than the floor plan, finishes, and location. How a home is built can also affect energy use, monthly utility costs, and long-term durability.

For homebuyers exploring new homes in Richmond, VA, energy efficiency is an important factor to evaluate. A home's design and construction can influence how much energy it uses, how comfortable it feels, and what homeowners spend on utilities.

At Main Street Homes, energy efficiency is built into our approach through Energy Advantage+, a program designed to deliver greater comfort, quality, durability, and potential energy savings for homeowners.

So, what makes a home energy efficient, and what should you look for when buying a new construction home? Here's what you need to know:

What Is an Energy-Efficient Home?

An energy-efficient home is designed and built to use energy more effectively while providing a comfortable indoor environment. The materials, insulation, windows, doors, and heating and cooling systems all play a role in how well a home uses energy.

Features such as proper insulation and air sealing can help reduce unnecessary energy loss, while efficient heating and cooling systems help regulate indoor temperatures.

Energy efficiency also involves more than monthly utility bills. Proper moisture management, improved indoor air quality, and independent inspections can contribute to a home’s overall quality and durability.

At Main Street Homes, our Energy Advantage+ program brings these elements together through building standards, features, and third-party testing designed to provide added value for homeowners.

5 Features That Make a Home More Energy Efficient

Not all energy-efficient features serve the same purpose. Some help limit energy loss, while others improve indoor comfort, air quality, and long-term durability. Here are five features to understand when comparing new construction homes.

1. Quality Insulation, Air Sealing, and High-Performance Windows

Air leaks and poorly insulated areas can contribute to drafts and uneven temperatures throughout a home. Proper air sealing and insulation help limit uncontrolled air movement, while high-performance windows and doors support a more comfortable indoor environment.

Main Street Homes' Energy Advantage+ homes incorporate comprehensive air sealing, quality-installed insulation, and high-performance windows and doors to help reduce leaks, drafts, and warm or cold spots.

For homebuyers, these features can make a difference in how comfortable a home feels from room to room.

2. High-Efficiency Heating and Cooling Systems

A home's heating and cooling system plays an important role in both energy use and everyday comfort. However, the equipment itself is only part of the equation. Proper design and installation also matter.

Energy Advantage+ homes feature a high-efficiency heating and cooling system that helps regulate indoor temperatures throughout the year. Designed and installed for optimal performance, the system aims to provide more consistent temperatures and improved comfort throughout the home.

When evaluating a new home, it's worth asking how the heating and cooling system is designed to support the home's overall performance.

3. Water Management That Supports Durability

Energy efficiency is important, but a home's long-term performance also depends on how well it manages moisture.

Water intrusion can contribute to damage affecting a home's roof, walls, and foundation. Main Street Homes addresses this through a comprehensive water management system that includes flashing, moisture barriers, and heavy-duty membranes.

These features are designed to help protect the home's structure from moisture damage and support long-term durability.

4. Features That Support Indoor Air Quality

Comfort isn't just about temperature. The quality of the air inside your home matters, too.

Energy Advantage+ homes include a fresh-air system that provides a controlled amount of outdoor air. Combined with a high-performance filter, this system helps improve indoor air quality while reducing dust, pollen, and other allergens.

For homebuyers, this is another important consideration when looking beyond a home's appearance and evaluating the features that contribute to everyday living.

5. Independent Testing and Verification

How can you know whether a home meets the standards its builder describes?

Main Street Homes' Energy Advantage+ homes undergo a rigorous inspection, third-party testing, and verification process. Trained and certified professionals perform independent inspections and testing to help ensure the homes meet strict requirements.

This additional level of verification provides greater transparency into the building process and helps give homeowners confidence in the quality of their home.

How Much Can an Energy-Efficient Home Save You?

One of the biggest questions homebuyers have about energy efficiency is how it affects monthly utility bills.

An Energy Advantage+ home can be more than 30% more efficient than a standard new home and over 60% more efficient than a 20-year-old home.

Homeowners may save up to $100 per month on utility bills. Over 30 years, that could add up to as much as $36,000 in potential savings.

Actual energy use and savings will vary, but these figures illustrate why it's worth considering a home's efficiency when comparing your options. Looking beyond the purchase price to understand potential costs can help you make a more informed homebuying decision.

What Is a HERS Rating?

When researching energy-efficient homes, you may come across the term HERS, which stands for Home Energy Rating System.

Main Street Homes rates its homes using the HERS system, which measures a home's energy efficiency. This gives homebuyers a way to compare the energy performance of a new construction home or resale home against a home built by Main Street Homes.

Rather than evaluating a home based on individual features alone, an energy rating offers another way to understand its overall energy performance.

If you're comparing homes, asking about energy ratings can help you better understand how different properties measure up.

Why Energy Efficiency Matters When Buying a New Construction Home

Choosing a new home is about more than finding the right number of bedrooms or a floor plan that fits your lifestyle. It's also an opportunity to consider how your home is designed to perform over time.

Energy-efficient construction can offer several potential benefits:

• Everyday comfort: Features designed to reduce drafts and maintain more consistent indoor temperatures.
• Potential utility savings: Improved energy efficiency can help reduce ongoing energy costs.
• Indoor air quality: Fresh-air systems and high-performance filters can help reduce dust, pollen, and other allergens.
• Long-term durability: Water management features help protect key parts of the home's structure.
• Added confidence: Independent testing and verification provide additional insight into the home's performance.

At Main Street Homes, Energy Advantage+ brings these priorities together with a focus on quality, comfort, durability, and value.

Find an Energy-Efficient Home with Main Street Homes

If you're exploring new construction homes in the Richmond, Virginia area, energy efficiency is worth adding to your homebuying checklist. Understanding how a home is insulated, how its heating and cooling system performs, how it manages moisture, and whether its energy performance is independently verified can help you make a more informed decision.

To learn more about the program and the features included in an Energy Advantage+ home, visit our Energy Advantage+ page.