Residential
Energy Code
of Alabama

Just because a home is new does not mean it is energy efficient. Only through a performance evaluation such as a home energy rating can a consumer know the home's energy efficiency.

The U.S. Department of Energy recently funded a study that was completed by the Arkansas Energy Office. The performance evaluation found that while construction practice in terms of insulation and air tightness as improved there were consistent problems with duct air sealing and over sizing of the heating and air conditioning units.

The performance evaluation found that 90% of newly built homes studied has oversized air conditioning units. The average unit was oversized by 50%). 96% of the new homes had oversized heating units. The average heating was oversized by 100%. This results in the home's buyers having higher monthly energy bills and the builder having an average of $600 in unnecessary construction costs.

To download the performance evaluation click on the below link:

• Energy Performance Evaluation of New Homes