Does a One Story House Cost More To Build?

A traditional two story farm house. A simple rectangular two story home like the one above is the most cost effective home you can build. 

At Energy Smart Panel, we often receive the question, can a one story home be built for around the same cost as a two story house? The answer is probably not. If you were to compare the cost to construct a one story home that has the same square footage as a two story home, the cost to construct the one story home would likely be more. Also, building up rather than out is much more cost effective because you will need half the foundation and half the roofing of what you will need for a one story home.

This blog post is not intended to deter you from building a one story home, but rather explain why a one story home may cost you more to build per square foot.

If you are looking to get the most square footage for the best cost per square foot, consider a two story design. However, if you do decide that you do want a one story house and budget is a concern, you can build an affordable one story home but it's important to keep your design simple (especially the roof) and also important to keep the footprint as compact as possible. The larger your footprint, the more it will cost in the foundation and roofing, two big ticket construction budget items.

Interested in learning more about our panelized homes? Call us today at 800-636-0993!

Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day from all of us at Energy Smart Panels! Earth Day is a day to appreciate and spread awareness about preserving our Earth. It is a day where we can make people aware of the small things they can do to help live a greener and more environmentally friendly life. It doesn't take much, just little steps that will make a big impact on the Earth. After all, we only have one Earth and preserving it for future generations is important!

At Energy Smart Panels, we take sustainability and living green seriously every day by offering prospects an alternative and sustainable way to build a new home. We believe in building healthier and more efficient homes that will keep your family healthy and your energy bills low.

Below are several simple steps you can take now to help the earth (and save you money):

• Shut off lights when you leave a room
• Unplug unused electronics and appliances
• Choose low toxic paint for your home
• Install low flow shower heads, toilets and faucets
• Buy local whenever possible
• Eat less meat (skip meat once a week)
• Use cold water for your laundry instead of hot
• Use reusable containers, water bottles and shopping bags 
• Update old dinosaur appliances
• Think before you click print and reuse scrap paper
• Build a new home that is green and energy smart!

Interested in learning more about our sustainable home packages? Call us today at 800-636-0993!

Green Home in Massachusetts Makes the Local News!

One of our client's panelized projects made it in their local newspaper last month! Our clients Jean and Roger, purchased an existing home in Massachusetts and remodeled and added a good sized panelized addition using our Energy Smart Insulated Panel System. Our Independent Representative and local builder Jason Hammer, owner of Caddis Construction, worked with the client's to help them create a a high performance home that they can enjoy for many years to come.

Our client's property offers great southern exposure with plenty of natural sun light lending itself naturally to a passive solar design. Through a carefully thought out design designed by local Architect Bill Sterling, and through the use of "green" material choices and a Deep Energy Retrofit of the existing structure, the client's were able to achieve their goal of going "green."

Check out the article feature, "You're Never Too Old to Get Greener," on this panelized addition in Massachusetts!

Interested in learning more about our Energy Smart Panel Homes? Call us today at 800-636-0993!