Energy Efficiency in Texas Homes
Energy efficiency in Texas is a top priority for many homeowners. The summer of 2023 brought the second hottest summer with the average high reaching 85.3 degrees between June through August. Consequently, energy use in the summer skyrockets which has threatened the grid. Multiple times in Austin, the city has asked residents to reduce their energy use to reserve energy.
Not to mention, the recent freezing winters in Austin, specifically in 2021. In February 2021, "the state of Texas suffered a major power crisis, which came about during three severe winter storms sweeping across the United States February 10-11, 13-17, and 15-20. The storms triggered the worst energy infrastructure failure in Texas state history, leading to shortages of water, food, and heat.[8] More than 4.5 million homes and businesses were left without power,[9][10][11][12] some for several days.". Since then, many homeowners in Texas have been concerned that the next storm could bring another state-wide power outage. This has drastically affected people's building and home purchasing decisions.
In addition to the general need to secure energy in case of a crisis or extreme heat, homeowners have been moving towards more sustainable options for environmental reasons. This trend toward sustainability has been more evident in Austin, as the city continues to grow. Home buyers in Austin and especially modern home builders are seeking ways to reduce their environmental footprint through their homes. Building your own home allows you to make environmentally friendly decisions from the ground up. As a custom home builder, we're consistently looking for energy-efficient options that fit into our client's budget. When building spec homes, we choose to work with architects and interior designers who consider the environmental impact of new construction and work to counter it.
Understanding the Texas Energy Landscape
ERCOT
Texas leads the nation in energy production. The state provides nearly 1/4th of the nation's energy. Most of Texas is not connected to the nation's power grid, unlike other states. "The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) operates the state's main power grid.". ERCOT does not have a centralized power grid and accumulates power from different companies that produce it. This makes it hard to regulate. Electricity disruption occurred in February of 2021 in areas served by ERCOT, due to winter storms. Since then, residents served by ERCOT have gained interest in emergency energy sources like generators and solar power.
In 2021, more than half of the overall electricity generation in Texas came from natural gas, while 30% came from wind and solar power. Natural gas production relies on electricity, and electricity relies on natural gas production. ERCOT asked companies to reduce power demand to avoid damaging its power grid during the winter storm of February 2021. This exposed the devastating loophole. Transmission companies cut power to natural gas companies that failed to do the required paperwork for power supplies during emergencies. This led to the catastrophic power grid disruption.
Renewable Energy
About 1/4th of in-state electricity net generation in Texas was renewable energy in 2022. Texas has led the nation in utility-scale wind-powered electricity generation, producing more than 1/4th of the U.S. total. Texas is not far behind in solar energy and currently ranks 6th in solar power potential. Hopefully, Texas is turning a corner and will work towards more sustainable energy like solar and wind.
Texas has seen an increase in heatwaves which will continue to put a strain on the power grid, but also a strain on residents' wallets. A move towards more energy-efficient homes can save energy and reduce home maintenance costs. While we can't control Texas's power grid, homeowners can install alternative energy in and around their homes.
The Benefits of Energy-Efficient Homes
Cost Savings
An energy-efficient home will save you money. Energy-efficient homes will reduce the cost of heating and cooling, which is especially important in Texas. Using energy-efficient building materials, appliances, HVAC, lighting, etc can greatly reduce the amount of energy you use, saving you money. Advances in building technology have made it easier to have energy-efficient homes compared to years and decades ago.
Environmental Impact
The less energy you use, the less of a toll you take on our Texas power grid and the use of natural gas. Reducing your overall energy footprint makes it easier to rely on alternative energy sources like solar. Additionally, improving energy efficiency and relying on less natural gas will reduce greenhouse gases contributing to climate change and global warming. Energy-efficient homes can reduce water consumption which helps maintain our other precious non-renewable resources.
Comfort and Quality of Life
Energy-efficient homes improve the livability of a residence by keeping homes cooler in the summer months. This is critical in Texas. Homes with poor insulation can stay warm regardless of the thermostat setting when temperatures get into the upper 90s. Advancements in materials and HVAC of these homes can greatly reduce moisture that stays in the home from cooking and showering. Advanced air filtration systems can greatly improve the air quality of the home. This keeps your family feeling good and healthy.
Key Energy-Efficiency Trends in Texas
Sustainable Upgrades
Many of our clients are now requesting solar panels, improved insulations, and energy-efficient rated appliances. The interior designers and architects we work with stay up to date on these sustainable upgrades to recommend the best options to our clients. Solar panels are being requested in most high end custom homes around Austin. Solar panels are a great option in Austin and Texas, as Texas receives 204 days of sunshine a year on average. Energy efficient appliances are growing in popularity and are a priority to our clients when selecting appliances. Energy Star products are certified to save energy.
Smart Home Technologies
Almost everything you buy today can be a smart device. Whether it's a smart thermostat, fridge, coffee maker, or scale. Smart thermostats and lighting make a difference in your energy use, even if it's overdone sometimes. Smart thermostats ensure your home is cooled and heated during clean energy times. It can learn your schedule and turn off use when you're not at home. Smart lighting can do the same by learning your schedule and settings. Motion detection lighting can turn on only when you walk into a room, so you'll never forget to turn off a light again. Smart devices can be connected from one hub which makes usability easy. All of these smart details will add up to big savings every year.
Design Choices
Many custom home builders, including ourselves, work with architects that prioritize sustainable home design. They work to increase natural ventilation, and window placements and recommend materials for improved energy efficiency.
First, a house should take advantage of seasonal sun angles. For Texas, this can involve boosting natural shade since we are in a warm climate. Additionally, insulation of the home should be prioritized to keep the home sustainably cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The architectural design of the house can play a big role in conserving energy. For example, roof overhangs strategically placed on the south and west sides of the home can mitigate the afternoon sun. Similarly, consider window placement for sun prevention and airflow. Window placement can prevent sun from coming in during certain times of day. Orient windows to produce optimum air flow when open.
The Future of Home Building in Austin
As technologies improve and the popularity of energy-efficient homes continues, we predict an increase of sustainable homes in new construction. Environmentally friendly and energy-efficient materials should get more affordable as they develop in scale. Additionally, it will be the standard in Austin to have some basic energy-efficient developments either socially or through regulations.
Increased Adoption of Renewable Energy
If you live in Austin, you've probably already seen an increase in solar panels and shingles. We expect to see solar panels and shingles continue to surge. Most new construction homes will have some form of solar energy installed, especially as technology improves. With the looming threat of the power grid going down, we will continue to see solar panels and other alternative energy sources grow in popularity.
SmartHome Technologies
Smart home systems have grown in popularity and are now a standard in the luxury home space. Our clients want their homes to be wired for smart home systems where they can control all of their smart technologies in one place. There are luxury smart home systems like Lutron, are being wired for in early home building stages so clients can have their lights and blinds controlled and set all through in app. Google and Apple home systems have made it easy to connect all of your smart home devices in one hub. Today, almost everything can be a smart device and it doesn't have to break the bank. From smart scales and coffee machines to smart water systems.
High-Performance Insulation
We had the second hottest summer last year in Texas. These record heats will most likely continue to increase as the years go on. From this, we're seeing a focus on the advancement of advanced insulation techniques. These advancements keep homes cooler and also reduce energy consumption.
Water Conservation
We've had many droughts over the years, in which the city has set regulations on water consumption. For this reason, custom home clients have been requesting rainwater harvesting systems and drought-resistant landscaping. We predict to see an increased interest in these methods for years to come. It's expected that rainwater harvesting systems will become more advanced and affordable as it develops.
As custom home builders in Austin, we're continuously working to stay up to date on the latest energy-saving technologies. We recommend and work with architects who are always learning and working to design homes that are environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient. If you're planning to build in Austin and are looking for a luxury home builder with extensive experience in the Austin area, contact us today.