Home Energy Efficiency
If you are considering building a new home, you should investigate homebuilders with
"green” principles. Not only is building in an eco-friendly way good for the environment, but observing green principles can also save you up to one-third the cost of your energy bills. There are many aspects that help to make a home energy efficient. The first of them begins before the house plans are even drawn up.
A new school of thought about home design has architects designing
smaller, more usable living spaces. Adecade or two ago the hallmark, of a luxury home was its sprawling size. Premium homes are now of a more modest size. These smaller homes have a correspondingly smaller ecological footprint and cost much less to heat and cool.
Alternative builders are constructing homes from recycled tires, earth, straw bales, adobe, cob, and other natural or reused materials. Some of these homes differ only slightly in appearance than conventional homes; others look radically different. A small percentage of new homebuyers opt for alternative homes, but most prefer to build more traditional homes that incorporate some green features.
One green option with substantial impact is the installation of solar panels to heat water. A small investment in solar technology can provide 80% - 100% of the hot water for your home.
Insulating your home properly will also help to make it much more energy efficient. Factors to consider include the integrity of the outside "shell”: the insulation itself, windows and doors, plus heating and cooling systems. The outside shell of the house should be as airtight as possible; use weather stripping and caulking to seal any cracks. Using high R-value insulation and an accompanying thermal wrap will keep your house cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Windows are integral to contemporary home design, yet it's estimated that the average home loses 25% of its heat through its windows. Install windows with a high wind, water and air load that use triple-glazing or argon gas between panes. A low-E coating will help to keep radiant heat inside. Avoid aluminum window frames, as they have poor insulating quality. Doors must be installed properly, with a good seal and a door sweep at the bottom. Steel or fiberglass doors with foam core insulation are the most energy efficient. The heating/cooling system for the house should be carefully chosen. A system that's too small for the house will tend to operate too often, which wastes energy, and a system that's too large will also waste energy.
Governments throughout North America have certified certain appliances and products as energy efficient. These are the "Energy Star” models, and choosing appliances with this designation helps to conserve both electricity and water. Installing low-flush or dual-flush toilets and low-flow showerheads in bathrooms will also save on water.
While building with energy efficiency in mind is crucial, the beh
aviour of the occupants of the house is also important. Turn off lights and small appliances when not in use, recycle, reduce and reuse, take short showers and turn down the thermostat a few degrees in winter.
Your eco-friendly house and habits will have two green benefits – they will contribute to the greening of the planet, and put a little more "green” in your wallet!