Use multiple zone air conditioners and furnaces where appropriate. This allows you to maintain individual temperatures in each zone of your home. Multiple zones cost more initially but they make your home more comfortable, allow you more flexibility in controlling your temperature, and it can reduce your energy cost significantly.
	Ask your builder to use return air supplies throughout the home vs. a central return air system. The central air system cost less to install but does not provide the comfort you need throughout the home.
	Insulated windows are a must.
	High Efficiency heating and cooling equipment is worth the initial investment.
	Use techniques to enhance better control of air infiltration.
	Proper and adequate use of insulation.
	Does your home builder calculate the total cubic footage ( not just the square footage of the home) when he determines the amount of heating and cooling capacity your home will require? There is a big difference!
	Does your home builder employ a Mechanical Engineer to design your Heating and Air Condition system for your specific home? If so, ask for a computer print out showing your total energy requirements.
	The mechanical engineer should be informed by the builder of the specific lot you select to enable the engineer to properly determine the amount of glass exposed to the West…..The Texas August Sun can be a major factor in calculating your air conditioning needs. The West Texas Sun is a energy drain on the air conditioning system and the South Texas Sun can help reduce your heating cost with judicial use of glass.

Old homes tend to be drafty and less comfortable. Frost and condensation are more likely to appear on windows and cause deterioration of wood trim and walls. Using the above features would reduce these problems plus significantly reduce your energy cost…..possibly by as much as fifty percent!