Beyond Code: 5 Smart Ways Builders Are Boosting Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency has become a baseline demand among homebuyers. Owners want spaces that aren’t only eye-catching but also lower energy bills and offer resilience amid power outages and extreme weather.

For residential builders, this shift requires more than just standard code compliance—it demands smarter construction from the ground up. Every system, from foundation to rooftop, plays a role in optimizing performance. Here are five areas where contractors are finding new ways to elevate energy efficiency:

1. Walls That Work Harder

Wall construction factors heavily into a home’s energy performance—and some builders are upgrading to 2x6s for exterior framing, creating additional space for insulation. While more expensive than traditional 2x4s, this approach can potentially pay for itself in just a few years, offset by operational energy savings. (In Canada and some U.S. jurisdictions, 2×6 studs are now required by code.)

Energy conservation is also enhanced by airtight envelope design, a key component of the growing passive-house movement. Originally a European approach to building design, passive house seeks to create buildings that consume 90% less energy than traditionally built houses. Sumeet Makhijani, managing partner of Terra Southeast High-Performance Builders, a Nashville-based company that follows passive house protocols, says his clients “know exactly what they want” and are drawn to the approach because they want a home that requires minimal energy to maintain.

Passive house designs are typically sealed with a continuous airtight wrap that blocks energy leaks, and efforts are made to minimize even small openings that could compromise the integrity of the wrap. Makhijani and his team sometimes tweak designs to remove corners and other seams that might result in energy loss.

“In every jog or corner of a house,” he says, “there’s a potential energy escape.”

2. Roofs That Keep Their Cool

A house’s roof is its chief defense against heat and weather, so it’s no surprise that modern roofing systems are designed with energy efficiency in mind. In moderate and cold climates, there’s a focus on insulation that provides the highest R-value to slow down heat transfer.

Greg Esparza, founder of Moontower Design Build in Austin, Texas, notes that consumers now have a wide range of materials to choose from when it comes to insulation—and he recommends looking beyond R-values to consider the health and environmental impacts of the insulation material. He’s a big fan, for example, of cork insulation, which is durable, easy to work with, made from renewable material, and free of chemical additives that might impact human health.

“It also has high marks when it comes to embodied carbon,” Esparza says, noting that the carbon sequestered by cork trees during their lifecycle is “locked in” and that the production of cork insulation results in only a small amount of carbon emissions.

In warmer climates, reflective roofing materials—or even just white paint—may be used to bounce sunlight and heat away from the home. Green roofs, which absorb thermal energy and reduce heat transfer, are also cropping up in luxury projects. According to EPA figures, green roofs can have surface temperatures up to 56°F lower than conventional roofs.

3. Windows and Doors that Block Cold and Heat

Triple-pane glass is becoming increasingly standard in luxury homes, particularly in regions with extreme temperature fluctuations. These high-performance assemblies limit heat loss in winter and reduce solar gain in summer, often using inert gas fills and low-emissivity coatings to improve insulation without compromising views.

Builders are also turning to thermally broken aluminum frames, which deliver durability and a sleek profile while helping to prevent heat transfer between inside and out. Paired with multipoint locking systems, these windows and doors can significantly reduce air infiltration and moisture intrusion—crucial for maintaining a tight building envelope.

“That seal can make a huge difference in reducing air and moisture transfer between the interior and exterior of a home,” Makhijani says.

Some window systems now incorporate tinted or spectrally selective coatings that filter UV and infrared light, further improving energy performance and protecting interior finishes. In high-performance builds, contractors are also specifying oversized glazing units with narrow sightlines to maximize daylighting and passive solar benefits—without sacrificing thermal efficiency.

Interest is also growing in dynamic glass that adjusts automatically based on sun and temperature exposure. These smart technologies help stabilize indoor temperatures, reduce HVAC loads, and improve indoor comfort year-round.

4. Better Approaches to Climate Control

Heat pumps have revolutionized the transition to all-electric homes—and offer reliable performance even in colder climates, making them a go-to choice for energy-conscious clients looking for both heating and cooling in one unit.

Mike Trolle, founder of BPC Green Builders in Ridgefield, Conn, says, “We typically use air-source heat pumps, which pull heat from the air and vice-versa, depending on the season. But we think the industry is headed in the direction of air-to-water pumps.”

Air-to-water pumps, he notes, have an additional advantage in that the system can be integrated into the hot water system, as well.

Ventilation is another key focus in energy-efficient design. Originally, builders of well-sealed homes believed HVAC systems might be smaller in such structures, Trolle says.

“But even well-sealed homes require regular and controlled air exchange,” he says. “There’s humidity, and the possibility of smoke and air pollution.” Fresh air systems with energy recovery features are essential in well-sealed homes, bringing in outside air while retaining the heating or cooling energy from indoor air.

5. Managing Power and Light

Electrical systems are also increasingly smarter—and aligned with energy-efficiency goals.

LEDs have become the norm in lighting, offering bright, warm, and highly efficient illumination. Energy monitoring systems are also on the rise in high-end builds, helping homeowners automate energy-saving behaviors and even allowing “load shifting”—moving energy-intensive tasks to off-peak hours for better efficiency and lower bills.

Solar energy is here to stay and is a great option for homeowners who want to reduce their overall energy costs. Rooftop solar can be paired with battery storage, so homeowners can generate, store, and use their own electricity.

Efficiency as a Signature

Energy efficiency has become a signature element of residential design, with high-end clients expecting their homes to perform efficiently in every respect. For builders, this means integrating systems thoughtfully. When every part of a home is designed with energy performance in mind, the result is a residence that benefits people’s pocketbooks—and the planet.

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