While moving into a new home is often exciting, having a new house built specifically for you and your household’s needs gives you unique opportunities. If you’re interested in having an eco-friendly lifestyle, give your house a green start.

Whatever architectural style you want, you have many options for building a more environmentally friendly house. Read these three tips for constructing an energy-efficient home.

An old asphalt shingle design doesn’t emphasize energy savings. Many older homes across the US were constructed with dark asphalt shingles that absorb heat on a sunny day, heating your home throughout the day and slowly releasing heat at night.

Newer materials look great, protect your home, and divert the sun’s rays. A custom-fabricated metal roof helps you save money, in part, by reducing your electric bill. Choose the design of your roof, including color and specialized coating options, to make your roof more beautiful and energy efficient. Light-colored metal will do the best job when it comes to reflecting solar heat.

The next tip for constructing an energy-efficient home is to design a compact house. The larger your home’s square footage, the greater your electrical needs. But even the same usable square footage becomes less energy efficient when it’s spread over a large area. Well-used two-story homes require less energy to heat and cool than sprawling one-stories.

Compact design doesn’t mean you have to live in a tiny house. Giving rooms ample space, designing rooms that flow well together, and eliminating dead space will help you use space efficiently. Open floor plans and multi-use rooms are not just chic; they’re also a practical way to build energy-efficient homes.

Insulation helps your house retain heated and cooled air for longer, reducing how often and how hard your HVAC system works and helping your house stay comfortable. You should insulate your attic, crawl space, and walls. Closed-cell spray foam insulation is the most energy-efficient wall insulation.

While your house is a new build, keep in mind that it’s important to seal gaps around the house. Periodically check your HVAC ducts so that you don’t lose air in leaks. Make sure to seal leaks in the attic, foundation, and around windows and doors to reduce drafts.