If you build a house with high energy costs it’s your own cotton pickin’ fault!

by Doug Rye
If you build a house with high energy costs, it's your own cotton pickin' fault!!! Do you want lower utility bills? Of course. If you are building a new house, do you want super low utility bills? Of course. 
Whether you are planning to build a new home or currently own a home, you have come to the right place. I can help you have the most comfortable home with the lowest possible utility costs, Guaranteed!!!! 
For example, I can help you learn how to build a new 2000 square foot home with guaranteed heating and cooling costs averaging only $40 per month. That's right, only $40 per month!! This can be done with NO architectural changes to your home. Nothing is experimental. I've done it thousands of times all across the United States and have no dissatisfied customers. 
Air infiltration! Air infiltration! Air infiltration! 
The three most important things in your home that adversely affect your heating and cooling bill are Air infiltration! Air infiltration! Air infiltration! The average home loses 30 percent of its heated or cooled air because of air infiltration. This can be from several sources including framing, poor insulation, poorly installed ductwork, etc. 
A Doug Rye house is all electric, will have cellulose insulation, a geothermal heat pump, a Marathon water heater, Tech Shield radiant barrier decking, and would never have the inefficient fiberglass insulation, nor use natural gas or propane. Too many of today's homes waste energy because:
* They use fiberglass insulation, which allows more air infiltration than cellulose or foam insulation
* The ductwork is in the attic, the hottest place possible. Move it from the attic and you can save as much as 30 percent
* The heating and cooling units are oversized, and the return air systems are undersized. A home needs two square feet of filter grill per ton of cooling. An air conditioner can't put out more than it can bring in. At the same time, the person installing your system should calculate the heating and cooling needs for each room of your home. If you need my help in doing the calculations I charge ten cents per square foot of heated area.
Give me control of three things in your house, and I will control your heating and cooling costs. Those three things are caulking, insulation, and ductwork. Proper caulking, for example, stops air infiltration around doors and windows. HOUSES DO NOT NEED TO BREATHE. Using cellulose or foam insulation rather than the common fiberglass insulation will save you 20 percent on heating and cooling costs. 
Ninety percent of all the houses built in America have the least energy efficient heating system, cooling system, and water heaters allowed by the federal government. This isn't rocket science; this is simple... IF YOU BUILD A HOUSE WITH HIGH ENERGY COSTS, IT'S YOUR OWN COTTIN-PICKIN' FAULT.
A Geothermal Heat Pump 
A geothermal unit circulates a water/antifreeze (or refrigerant) solution through pipes buried in the ground. In winter, the water is heated by the temperature of the ground (a year-round 55 degrees) and then used to heat your home. In summer, the system carries heat from the house into the ground. A geothermal unit costs about $4000 more, but it is well worth the investment because it will cut your cooling costing half. In the winter, it is five times more efficient than a gas furnace. An added bonus is that you can combine a superheater with a geothermal unit to get free water heating for up to 80 percent of your family's normal hot water needs.
Cellulose Insulation 
Made from pulp, cellulose insulation can lower your utility bills 20 percent. It is also soundproof, fireproof and roach proof (because of Borax used to make it). Install it under your bathtub and the tub won't feel cold. I recommend using 3.5 inches in the walls and 12 inches in the attic. The only bad thing I know about cellulose insulation is that it's real boring.
Marathon Water Heater 
These water heaters cost up to $300 more per unit, but they will save much more than that because they are 97 percent energy efficient compared to 54 percent for most other water heaters.
Tech Shield Radiant Barrier Decking 
An alternative to conventional roof decking, Tech Shield acts as a barrier between the attic and the outside environment to keep heat outside in the summer and inside in the winter. 
(For more of Doug Rye’s energy-saving advice, tune in each Saturday at 9:05 a.m. for the “Doug Rye Home Remedies Show” on both KMHM 104.1 FM and WXAN 103.9 FM.)