The best time to make sure that a building will not waste energy (and money) is during the design and construction of a new building. The orientation of the building on the property can mean that you can use solar power and proper building materials and techniques can make a home or office building highly energy efficient from the start. Doing it right the first time around will save thousand of dollars in utility bills over the lifetime of the building.
It is for this reason that the Town of East Hampton has a stringent energy efficiency building code based on the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) for new residential construction and major renovations. The HERS Index is the industry standard by which a home’s energy efficiency is measured. It’s also the nationally recognized system for inspecting and calculating a home’s energy performance. The lower the index score, the more energy efficient is the home, resulting in lower energy bills and higher home comfort.
