New Construction Siting
One of the big advantages in building a new home occurs during the planning and site selection stage. Decisions made in this stage can result in drastic energy savings. The Touchstone Energy HOME standards published in this site were created with Indiana's climate zones in mind. Regardless of which climate zone you choose to build in, compliance with Indiana's Touchstone Energy HOME standards assures you that climate sensitive energy efficient design principles are in place.

To learn more about energy efficient design principles, checkout the many website links and publication references at the end of the Frequently Asked Questions page or go to the Energy Information section and click on the "More On..." dropdown window. Other resources include the many ENERGY STAR Home links located throughout this site; your local library or book store; and phone listings (look under home designers or energy efficient builders).

Home Energy efficiency is most affected by the following features:

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Home siting (orientation based on climate region) Thermal boundary integrity Heating and cooling equipment efficiency (ductwork integrity) Water heater efficiency Appliance efficiency Natural cooling and solar passive radiation

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