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Step 1
Examine the building site to make sure that any stock house plans you buy can be executed properly. Consider the size of the lot, the surrounding buildings, the placement of the driveway and even aesthetic points such as the view from the living room windows. You will be living in this home for a few years, so plan beforehand.
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Step 2
Contact any company selling energy-efficient home plans and ask what standards are followed. The National Association of Home Builders provdides standards for building energy-efficient homes. Another standard to ask about is whether the house plans are for Energy Star houses, which is the United States Department of Energy's official energy-efficiency rating.
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Step 3
Consult the National Association of Home Builders website if you plan to buy a book of stock house plans (see Resources below). It has a .pdf document that contains guidelines about building houses that are environmentally friendly. Check to make sure that the house plans you have conform to these guidelines.
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Step 4
Ensure that the house plans make sense on paper. Go over them to make sure the materials are energy efficient and that any alternative heating and cooling systems will fulfill the house's temperature adjustment needs. If you know a building contractor, ask him to review the plans.
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Step 5
Hire an architect or home designer to design an energy-efficient house plan. While this will increase the cost of your home by about 10 percent, the increased efficiency and design aesthetic can be well worth it. As an added bonus, an architect can tailor the designs to take into account the living habits of you and your family.
