Category Archives: Energy Efficient Homes

7 Tips for Saving Energy during the Winter

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Energy bills can run high in the winter months because of the need to heat your new home in Little Elm, TX. But there are ways to cut back on your energy usage to keep your budget in balance, while still staying warm indoors. Here are a few energy saving tips to follow:

1. Run your ceiling fans on a low setting to re-circulate warm air down from above, where it will be better appreciated in the room.

2. Make sure your windows are closed up properly and sealed, so warm air doesn’t leak out. Cover your central air conditioning unit to keep moisture out of it during the off-season.

3. Install plug outlet covers on any unused outlet. About 20 percent of the air that escapes your home does so through these outlet openings.

4. Dial down the thermostat to 68 degrees. Every degree you raise the temperature adds 3 to 5 percent to your electric bill.

5. Apply caulk to the cracks and gaps around windows, doors and other areas to prevent air from entering and escaping your new home in Little Elm, TX. But do this when the temperature is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, otherwise the caulk may not adhere in the cold weather.

6. Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees F, and wrap an insulation blanket around it. This step can cut energy usage by 10% to 15%.

7. Swap out any incandescent bulbs with fluorescents. They use 70% less electricity, give off five times more light, emit 90% less heat and last 10 times longer.

You can also cut down on energy use any time of the year in your new home in Little Elm, TX by remembering to turn off the lights when you leave a room and turn off running water while you soap your hands or brush your teeth.  Landon Homes specializes in building affordable, energy-efficient homes in Little Elm. Visit the website to explore the different floor plans that are available that best suit your family’s needs.

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Tips to help you prepare for your new home search in 2012

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Are you searching for a new home in McKinney, TX to buy this year? You couldn’t have picked a better location. This North Dallas suburb with the small-town feel is a wonderful place to live and raise a family.  Before you start your new home search, here are a few tips to keep in mind to help you prepare:

1. Review your finances. It would be very frustrating if you found a home to buy, and then realized you couldn’t afford it. Avoid that scenario by reviewing your income and debt, and then meet with your bank or other financial expert to determine what your ideal mortgage payment would be.

2. Be aware of all costs. An existing home may cost less than a new home, but the upkeep and unexpected repairs could cost you much more in the long run. A brand new home in McKinney, TX built by Landon Homes includes many energy efficient features that can save you money on your utility bills.

3. Gather search tools. When you’re out for a drive, carry a mobile phone – preferably one with a camera and Internet access – so you can use it to take pictures and notes about neighborhoods and new home builders. You can search online for information about schools in the area, for instance, and other amenities you may be interested in.

4. Review and study areas. Choosing a neighborhood to live in affects many aspects of your life, including your work commute, where your children go to school, where you shop, etc. As you whittle down your possibilities, study the areas for traffic and activity. You might even talk with your potential neighbors to see how they like living there, and what type of experience they’ve had with the home builder.

The more prepared you are to buy a new home in McKinney, TX, the happier and more secure you’ll feel when you sign the contracts. Visit the Landon Homes website to see the different new home models that are available in McKinney. If you have any questions, you can conduct a live chat online with our Internet Sales Manager Tanya Smith or call 800-898-3603.

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Fall Home Maintenance Tips

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Buying a new home in McKinney, TX is an exciting prospect. The town has been rated number 5 among the best places to live in the U.S. by CNN Money Magazine. McKinney is surrounded by rolling hills, expansive open spaces, 42 miles of hike and bike trails and 2,000 acres of parkland.

It’s important to take care of your new home to keep your family safe and protect your investment. Following a maintenance schedule will enable you to take care of small issues as they occur, before they become big problems later on.

Here are a few things you can take care of during the fall to keep your new home in McKinney, TX in good shape.

1. Turn on the furnace to see if it’s working properly, and replace the filters.

2. Inspect and repair caulking in sinks, tubs, showers, thresholds, walls, windows and other interior areas as needed.

3. Adjust the heating registers.

4. Check the fireplace to make sure it’s clean, and open the chimney damper before first time use.

5. Perform safety tests on the following items:

  • Smoke & carbon monoxide detectors
  • Dryer vents
  • Pressure gauge in fire extinguisher
  • GFCI outlets

Maintaining the outside of your new home in McKinney, TX is also important. Autumn is an excellent time to address the following areas:

1. Clean and remove debris from the gutters; inspect the alignment of gutters, downspouts and splash-blocks to allow water to run off properly, and away from your home.

2. Inspect and repair or replace weather stripping on exterior doors as needed. A well-insulated home will keep heat in and cool out during the winter months.

3. Put up hoses and shut off outside water faucets at the cut-off valve to avoid pipes bursting.

4. Close all foundation vents in the crawl space and place insulation over the opening(s).

5. Inspect and repair caulking of windows, siding, cornice, and other exterior areas as needed to seal gaps and secure tiles.

When looking for a new home in McKinney, TX, visit Shiloh Ranch by Landon Homes.  This quiet community offers some of the largest homesites in the area, with homes priced from the $190s. Visit the Landon Homes website today for more information.

 

 

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How Landon Homes Helps You Save Money on Utility Bills

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Looking at new homes in Little Elm, TX? That’s a smart decision, especially if you want to save money on your utility bills.   Newly constructed homes are more energy efficient than older homes because building codes mandate stricter standards than they used to. For instance, the most recent International Energy Conservation Code came out in 2009 and required homes to be about 17% more efficient than three years earlier.

Landon Homes specializes in building energy efficient new homes in Little Elm, TX. Landon is the first major builder in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to use 2”x 6” exterior wall construction. Since the lumber is 50% thicker than the standard 2 x 4, it can hold 57% more insulation, reducing unwanted heat loss or gain, decreasing the energy demands on your home.

Landon incorporates other energy saving features too, such as a highly rated wall insulation system, and an exterior foam sheathing system that seals against outside air infiltration. The net effect allows your heating and cooling systems to work more efficiently, saving you money year-round.

The new homes in Little Elm, TX that Landon builds also feature cardinal glass windows that block out much of the sun’s heat and up to 84% of the UV rays that cause carpet and furniture fading. In addition, the A/C units in these homes exceed Energy Star standards, providing you with a more comfortable home and lower utility bills.

Energy efficient water heaters and GE appliances that meet or exceed Energy Star ratings are also included in Landon’s new homes in Little Elm, TX. Plus, low flush toilets and water saving faucets and shower heads help you conserve water and minimize utility bills.

To find out more about these energy saving features, visit the Landon Homes website or contact Tanya Smith by phone at 214-707-0347.

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Energy Saving Features in New Homes in Dallas

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Summertime brings hot weather and high electricity bills for many homeowners due to the increased use of air conditioning.  But Landon Homes has been working hard to change that scenario by incorporating energy saving features into its “Better Built by Design” homes in North Dallas.

Some of those features include: thicker exterior walls, which hold more insulation; air conditioning units that exceed Energy Star standards; and cardinal glass windows that block a significant amount of the sun’s radiant heat, saving homeowners up to 20% on their monthly energy bills. To better understand how our homes are built, check out our video and 3D construction animation on our Website!

Robert and Jennifer Anderson can attest to the energy savings. This couple recently bought a 3066 sq. ft. Landon home in the Villages at Lakeview in Frisco ISD. Their old home was a one-story, 1900 sq. ft. house, located just two miles away.

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Building Green Homes in Dallas- Better Built By Design

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Landon Homes prides itself on the fact that its homes are “better built by design.”  What does that mean to a prospective home buyer? It means a Landon home has lower operating costs, a greener footprint and great value – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! 

John Landon, president of the North Dallas homebuilder, uses the latest energy efficient technologies in every Landon home to minimize monthly utility expenses.  Landon also helps contribute to a greener way of life by using eco-friendly fly ash concrete foundations. As a result, each Landon home prevents more than 3 metric tons of carbon dioxide from contributing to global warming. 

To learn more about what makes a Landon Home “green,” watch our new video

If you’d like to visit one of our better built, affordable, energy efficient models for yourself, contact Tanya Smith anytime by phone at 214-707-0347 or just click on our LIVE CHAT feature throughout the Landon Homes website.

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Landon Homes Recruits Award-Winning Sales Professional

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Talk about experience! Landon Homes has hired an award-winning professional with a real estate background of 20+ years in Dallas to be its new sales manager for The Villages at Willow Bay.

Max Luce has sold $350 million worth of homes in his 28 year career in Dallas/Fort Worth real estate. His accomplishments include being named salesman of the year for 7 years in a row, and a winner of the prestigious McSAM award, given by the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas. Besides his tremendous sales record, Mr. Luce has been involved in all facets of the home building industry from building to management to home warranties.

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5 Hottest Interior Design Trends for 2010

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Stability and familiarity, as well a note of optimism.

Those are some of the interior design trends consumers will see in new home models this year.

Interior design experts say these are the five hottest trends for 2010: 

>Eco chic – Designers are promoting the green movement, with environmentally friendly products including reclaimed wood.

>Forever classics – Homes feature timeless, soft, familiar lines.

>Neutral bodies – Soft and cozy casual elegance is portrayed with the use of cream palettes, caramel, mocha and gray colors.

>Metallic magic – Home fixtures will feature gold, silver and bronze finishes, mixed with woods. The metallic fixtures are low luster, providing an edge of elegance.

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Top 5 Energy Efficient Items

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24/7 Energy Efficiency

24/7 Energy Efficiency

Top 5 Things to Make Your New Home More Energy Efficient Home

Today energy experts work side-by-side with homebuilders to create homes that are not only beautiful and eco-friendly, but that also create more energy efficient homes that help to minimize homeowner monthly utility costs. 

Here are the top 5 innovative energy-saving practices that Landon Homes includes to build a more energy efficient home: Continue reading →

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North Dallas Home Builder Makes Homes More Energy Efficient

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Builder of New Homes in North Dallas Goes the Extra Mile to Make Homes More Energy Efficient.

Every day we hear more and more about going green.  Today, new home builders around the country are advertising green, building green, using green products and getting green certified.  But what does all that really mean? 

For Landon Homes a builder of new homes in North Dallas,  “going green” means putting more green back in their home buyers’ wallets each month and leaving more green on the planet. 

John Landon, President of Landon Homes, proudly comments about their green initiatives. “Our energy engineers and architects work hand-in-hand to create fabulous floor plans with great features and flow.  Our innovative energy-conservation measures are constantly working to make your home more comfortable year-round from the hottest days of summer to the coldest days of winter.” 

Families who live in a Landon Home really appreciate the difference in their lower utility bills and the day-to-day comfort of their home.  They also appreciate what their builder does to protect the environment and our natural resources.  

There are many ways a builder can create a more energy efficient living environment.  Let’s take a look at how the type of lumber and insulation used in the framing stage of a new home play an important role. 

  • 2×6 vs. 2×4 Framing
    Landon Homes is the first major Dallas-Fort Worth builder to use 2×6 framing instead of 2x4s. With 2×6 framing, walls are 57% thicker and consequently they are straighter and sturdier. Thicker wall cavities allow the builder to increase wall insulation to R21 instead of the more typical R13.
     
  • Exterior Wall Sheathing
    In addition to thicker walls and more insulation, Landon Homes also applies a ½” exterior Dow foam sheathing to seal against outside air infiltration.  This prevents drafts and helps the heating and cooling systems work more efficiently.  This is another year-round money saving feature for home owners.  
  • Attic Insulation
    Attics are one of the biggest areas of heat loss in a home. Landon Homes uses R38 blown insulation on the flat surfaces of the attic along with R22 laid on the sloped ceilings.  This added insulation allows your AC to work less which saves money in utility bills.

There is hundreds of other energy saving features that can be built in a new home that can save you money while protecting the environment.  To find out more about how you can save money in your current home or what energy saving features to look for in a new home, visit www.LandonHomesUSA.com.

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