Efficient & Healthy
Healthy
Safety - New homes are built to rigorous code standards and with newer products and technologies that incorporate safety mechanisms not found in used homes.
Healthy Living - New homes may offer health advantages, since asbestos is no longer used in shingles, floor tiles, ceilings or insulation. Lead is no longer used in paint, and formaldehyde emissions have also been eliminated from plywood and particle board.
Air Quality - Poor indoor air quality can affect the health of a home's inhabitants, potentially aggravating existing health conditions such as asthma and allergies. Indoor air quality is influenced by a variety of factors including moisture, ventilation, off-gassing building materials and high volumes of airborne particles.
Moisture - Excessive moisture can lead to mold growth. The best way to prevent excessive moisture is to ensure that a building's envelope is properly sealed and to provide adequate ventilation. Proper installation and maintenance is of utmost importance.
Ventilation - Proper ventilation means a controlled, regular introduction of fresh air into a home and the exhausting of stale moist air from the home. When properly designed natural ventilation is not sufficient, mechanical ventilation is a must. Ventilation can prevent health hazards from accumulating in your living space.
Efficient
Energy Efficiency - A new Rautmann Custom Home features many energy saving features including Energy Star Certification, High Efficiency Furnaces and Air Conditioners, Low-E Windows, Advanced Insulation and Air Sealing Packages. Our homes save you money every month not just versus used homes, but versus other builders' homes that are merely built to code. On average, our homes cost 40% less to operate than a home built to code. That's more money in your pocket every month.
Low Maintenance - Your time is valuable. The use of long-life, low maintenance materials assist in freeing up your valuable time for other pursuits, like spending time with your loved ones.
Wisconsin Focus on Energy - Homes built in the Wisconsin Focus on Energy New Homes Program provide you the peace of mind that they are better built - it is proven through third party verification and testing. Certified Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes are more comfortable, safe and durable. They are also estimated to be at least 25 percent more energy efficient than those built to Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code.
Energy efficient windows and window placement - Installation of ENERGY STAR windows with proper attention to sealing around the windows can greatly reduce air leakage that causes rooms to gain or lose excessive heat. Shading south and west facing windows in the summer can further reduce heat gain. These measures reduce energy consumption associated with heating and cooling.
HVAC, insulation, and sealing - Ongoing energy use is probably the single greatest environmental impact of a home. On average, half of a household's energy budget is dedicated to heating and cooling. ENERGY STAR labeled air conditioners and furnaces are more efficient than standard HVAC components. Programmable thermostats also help homeowners maximize heating and cooling efficiency while minimizing the expense of utility bills. Ceiling fans help circulate heated and conditioned air while locating ducts in interior walls reduces the amount of heated or cooled air lost. Thorough insulation and sealing techniques can also significantly reduce heating and cooling costs.
Green Built Home - Green Built Homes are superior products: they save money on monthly utility bills and maintenance expenses, provide better indoor air quality and give homeowners and their families a sense of pride and well-being in knowing that their home has a reduced impact on our environment. In addition, Green Built Homes are more comfortable, durable, healthier, and safer.
Green features we incorporate into our homes:
- Programmable Thermostats
- Recycling Bin Center
- Low Maintenance Materials
- Energy Star Appliances
- Water Saving Plumbing Fixtures
- Housewrap all Exterior Walls
- Sprayed Foam Insulation around all Exterior Penetrations
- Sprayed Foam Insulation in Sill Spaces
- I-Joists instead of Dimensional Lumber
