Utilize efficient framing techniques that provide a continuous air barrier to help reduce leaks and drafts.
Install rigid exterior sheathing that is capable of stopping airflow.
Install Home-Wrap products such as Zip Wall onto exterior walls and inside window openings. Use appropriate Home-Wrap tape to seal all joints in Home-Wrap material, also tape around all windows once installed.
All gaps and voids that remain after framing, sheathing and window installation, must be thoroughly sealed.
Install spray applied cellulose insulation which provides the highest R-value per inch of any other type of insulation. R-value measures energy moving in and out of a home through the insulation material, the higher the R-value, the better. Cellulose retains excellent fire retardant capabilities and exceptional sound control. Cellulose insulation is made from recycled newsprint and other paper sources. Cellulose has the highest level of recycled content in the insulation industry – up to 85 percent. Cellulose also takes less embodied energy to make than any other insulation material. Embodied energy includes the total energy required to transport raw materials, manufacture and distribute the product. Finally, cellulose insulation scrap is recovered and recycled on-site.
Install Low-E (emissivity) windows throughout home. Low-E windows have a virtually invisible, thin metal coating which allows light in but inhibits thermal heat gain. These windows add to energy efficiency in both the heating and cooling seasons – helping to prevent heat from coming inside during the summer and escaping during the winter.
Install appropriately sized HVAC systems. When heating and cooling a tightly constructed, energy efficient home, bigger equipment is not necessarily better. Oversized HVAC equipment operates less efficiently and can cause humidity problems. When systems are over-sized, moisture problems can adversely impact indoor environmental quality, along with affecting occupant comfort.
Install HVAC equipment with a SEER rating of 13 or higher. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It’s a number that describes how well air-conditioning equipment works. A higher SEER means better efficiency and lower energy bills. Higher SEER ratings correspond with variable speed compressors and Thermal Expansion Valves which help to enhance efficiency and energy savings.
Ensure that HVAC duct connections are sealed with a UL-listed mastic product, and all supply and return boot-to-house connections are sealed with UL-listed class 1 pliable sealant such as mastic or caulk. This technique, combined with specific duct tightness, helps keep attic dust and other contaminants out of the home’s ventilation system.
Install fresh air ventilation throughout the home, in addition to spot ventilation in the kitchen and bathrooms. Fresh air ventilation means that filtered outside air is brought into the home through the HVAC system. Spot ventilation in kitchens and bathrooms is important because it helps remove moisture that is generated from showering and cooking, out of the home.
Provide measures to ensure proper indoor environmental quality. Start off by installing a radon-gas/vapor barrier throughout foundation floor to prevent potentially harmful gases from infiltrating the home structure. Other options include cleaning and purification techniques that are incorporated into the HVAC system. Options include a HEPA filtration unit which filters out most airborne allergens and bacteria. Another option is a UVC Emitter that outputs germicidal ultraviolet energy to eradicate both surface and airborne microorganisms. Finally, hardwire and install a Carbon Monoxide detector into home.
Install Energy Efficient Plumbing systems. Options include a central location of the hot water heater, demand-controlled hot water recirculation pump. Efficient plumbing design helps to reduce the “wait time” for hot water, thereby conserving water, and also helps reduce the amount of energy used to heat the water.
Install Low-Flow/High Efficiency Toilets. Features include an effective flush volume of 1.28 gallons, which is 20 percent less than the federal standard, and solid waste removal of 350 grams or greater. WaterSense™ labeled toilets combine high efficiency with high performance in order to save water without a trade off in flushing power.
Install low-flow faucets and showerheads in order to reduce household water consumption. Products such as Delta’s H²Okinetic, have boosted performance so that conservation does not have to mean a trade-off for the homeowner.
Ensure proper Air Pressure Balancing in home. Conditioned space should not exceed a pressure differential of 1/- 3 pascals with respect to the outside when interior doors are closed and the air handler is operating. Returns, transfer grills or jump ducts may be needed to balance each room. Air Pressure Balancing is important because when the equipment does not take in or emit equal amounts of air, positive or negative air pressure imbalance can occur.
Install compact fluorescent lights or LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights where possible in order to reduce home energy consumption. Install dimmer switches for non-fluorescent fixtures in order to reduce watt usage
Install ENERGY STAR® designated appliances which incorporate advanced technologies that use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than standard models.
Install Home-Wrap products such as Zip Wall onto exterior walls and inside window openings. Use appropriate Home-Wrap tape to seal all joints in Home-Wrap material, also tape around all windows once installed.
Install spray applied cellulose insulation which provides the highest R-value per inch of any other type of insulation. R-value measures energy moving in and out of a home through the insulation material, the higher the R-value, the better. Cellulose retains excellent fire retardant capabilities and exceptional sound control. Cellulose insulation is made from recycled newsprint and other paper sources. Cellulose has the highest level of recycled content in the insulation industry – up to 85 percent. Cellulose also takes less embodied energy to make than any other insulation material. Embodied energy includes the total energy required to transport raw materials, manufacture and distribute the product. Finally, cellulose insulation scrap is recovered and recycled on-site.
Install Low-E (emissivity) windows throughout home. Low-E windows have a virtually invisible, thin metal coating which allows light in but inhibits thermal heat gain. These windows add to energy efficiency in both the heating and cooling seasons – helping to prevent heat from coming inside during the summer and escaping during the winter. 
Install appropriately sized HVAC systems. When heating and cooling a tightly constructed, energy efficient home, bigger equipment is not necessarily better. Oversized HVAC equipment operates less efficiently and can cause humidity problems. When systems are over-sized, moisture problems can adversely impact indoor environmental quality, along with affecting occupant comfort. 
Install Energy Efficient Plumbing systems. Options include a central location of the hot water heater, demand-controlled hot water recirculation pump. Efficient plumbing design helps to reduce the “wait time” for hot water, thereby conserving water, and also helps reduce the amount of energy used to heat the water. 
Install Low-Flow/High Efficiency Toilets. Features include an effective flush volume of 1.28 gallons, which is 20 percent less than the federal standard, and solid waste removal of 350 grams or greater. WaterSense™ labeled toilets combine high efficiency with high performance in order to save water without a trade off in flushing power.
Install low-flow faucets and showerheads in order to reduce household water consumption. Products such as Delta’s H²Okinetic, have boosted performance so that conservation does not have to mean a trade-off for the homeowner.
Install compact fluorescent lights or LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights where possible in order to reduce home energy consumption. Install dimmer switches for non-fluorescent fixtures in order to reduce watt usage