It’s always a good idea to build an energy-efficient home, whether you want to do it to save money, increase the value of your house, or simply protect the environment. Your new house’s sustainability features don’t have to be expensive; in fact, with some advanced planning and clever design, it’s feasible to construct an economical, energy-efficient home.
Benefits of Energy-Efficient Homes
Although the environmental advantages of these adjustments are evident, you might not be aware that owning an energy-efficient home also has other benefits.
- Reduced fuel costs – Having an energy-efficient home will directly result in lower fuel costs for you.
- Cheaper home insurance – You might be amazed at how much you can save if you have energy-efficient windows, doors, or appliances. Many insurance companies offer discounts to homeowners who have these features.
- Increased Comfort – For instance, if your home is not energy efficient, you can experience a significant temperature differential between rooms or cold spots on walls. You may eliminate draughts and air leaks to significantly increase the comfort of your home by increasing energy efficiency through insulation or weatherstripping.
- Higher Value – Future home purchasers will probably look for energy-efficient properties since customers are now far more concerned about the environment than they formerly were.
Orientation
Without clever design, it is impossible to build an affordable, energy-efficient home. Your living spaces should face north because they will receive the most sunlight there during the winter and can provide shade from the eaves of your roof during the summer.
Windows and walls that face north also receive more solar radiation, keeping your home cooler in the summer and heating it up in the winter. However, significant engineering is needed to make sure that windows are protected from the weather by the roof’s overhang.
Taking into account the orientation of your new home throughout the planning stages of your home design will also help you save money on heating and cooling expenditures because the sun will naturally warm your home in the winter and keep it cool in the summer.
Add Insulation
The best technique to stop heat loss may be by adding insulation. You will use a lot less energy for heating as a result of the loft and wall insulation.
Additionally, it will warm up your area much faster, and most significantly, you’ll have more heat for a longer amount of time inside your home. For cooling in the summer, the same regulations apply as for heating.
Materials
Consider ways to cut costs on major purchases. For instance, high-quality windows are crucial for an energy-efficient home. Your new appliances should all be electric or at least energy-efficient. Working along with Columbus remodeling contractors, or wherever you reside, will help you choose the right building materials and do everything else professionally when building a home.
Buy a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are special heat-controlling appliances that differ greatly from traditional ones in a number of ways.
They let you manage your heating through an application. As a result, even while you are away on vacation, you can keep an eye on your home’s heating situation.
Smart thermostats have the ability to assess environmental conditions, such as humidity, and adjust the temperature inside in response. With the help of this technology, your energy costs will be greatly reduced.
Cleaned HVAC System
The majority of your energy-efficiency issues, including heat gain, heat loss, uneven heating, and other issues, are caused by your HVAC system. One of the most crucial spring home maintenance activities is to get your HVAC system cleaned once a year because it can significantly affect the system’s lifespan.
The most crucial action is routine filter cleaning or replacement. Regular airflow is interrupted by clogged filters, and dirt significantly lowers the energy efficiency of HVAC systems. The air that passes through the filter, which is only partially effective, transfers dirt into the evaporator coil. This may affect how much heat is absorbed and lengthen the time an air conditioner must run.
Plug in LED Lighting
Traditional lighting has come a long way, and LED lighting is here to stay. One shocking fact about them is that they can live up to 100,000 hours. As a result, you will need to buy new bulbs less frequently, saving you money.
Furthermore, LED bulbs contain no harmful materials of any type and are completely clean, recyclable, and non-toxic.
Conclusion
The process of converting your home into an energy-saving machine is now simpler than ever. Remember these considerations for creating an energy-efficient home and some notable light companies known for energy-efficient solutions. Modern technology allows you to easily control and monitor your energy usage with only one finger press.