Energy Efficient Home Design Tips
Making an energy efficient home design can be quite a challenge, especially among typical homeowners; but it is certainly well worth all the effort. Having an energy efficient home will not only save you money over time by keeping energy costs at a minimum, you will also be minimizing your carbon footprint which can be good for the environment. There are several tips you should consider when designing your dream home, and there are a number of ways to start using alternative energy as well.
Insulation – sufficient insulation is at the heart of an energy efficient home. Exterior walls, as well as basement walls, floors and even attics must be adequately insulated to maximize energy efficiency and consequently cut down on heating and cooling expenses.
Window Options – there a lot of energy saving windows available in the market today. These windows are actually becoming more and more popular as they are now more affordable. The number of windows as well as the type of windows you use in your home can significantly affect your heating and cooling costs during winter and the summer months.
Positioning of Doors and Windows – the way you position your windows and doors can also affect the energy efficiency of your home. Doors and windows should be placed in a way that they can take full advantage of natural light during the day. In the north, this usually means having fewer windows on the north side of the home and more on the south. To disseminate direct sunlight, you can always use solar screens or widows that filter UV rays.
Storm Water Control – controlling where storm water goes can be a great advantage as it allows the homeowner to diminish runoff. You can even use the storm water for landscaping purposes. This way your water consumption will be significantly reduced and electricity consumed through electronic sprinkler systems is saved for other needs. A rain garden, a garden designed to trap rain water and let it soak into the ground, will prevent rainwater from becoming run-off and carrying contaminants.
Solar Panels – utilizing solar panels to power your home will most definitely help you in many ways, whether economically or environmentally. To depend entirely on solar energy will also allow you to partially or completely live off the national power grid.
Skylights – skylights that are well positioned will allow natural light to enter your home, which, in turn, reduces your dependency on artificial lighting, especially during the day. Artificial lighting should only be used at night.
There are a lot more energy efficient home design tips out there. The ones mentioned in this article are just the tip of the iceberg. Incorporating these tips into your home design can be a productive move that lowers the carbon footprint of your home and let’s you save money as well.
