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How to Build an Energy-Efficient Home

30 September 2019 by Eduardo Weaver

Are you building a home? Well, you should consider energy-efficient homes. These are houses that have minimal greenhouse emissions and reduced energy consumption. So, how do you construct an energy-efficient home? Below are a few tips.

Choosing a Location

Below are a few tips to help you select a suitable location;

1. Choose an area with excellent weather. You will use more energy to heat the house compared to cooling it.
2. The area should have sufficient access to the sun. It allows your solar panels to work at optimum levels.
3. The area should have access to utilities such as shopping malls, public transport, banks and schools. It will help reduce your carbon footprint since you can walk to these areas.
4. The location should allow you to orient the house in a north-south axis to prevent exposure to the rising and setting sun. 

Building Materials 

Use sustainably sourced timber during construction. This is wood sourced from sustainable forests where trees are replanted to replace those that are cut. You could also consider using recycled materials such as PVC, gypsum and aggregate. 

Thermal Mass

The walls, foundation and slab should be constructed with materials that have a high thermal mass. These are materials that absorb heat during the day and release it at night. They help in the regulation of internal temperatures; hence, you do not have to use air conditioning systems. Some of these materials include concrete, bricks and stones. If you opt to build a wooden house, you will spend more on air conditioning since the material has a low thermal mass.

Glazing

Install windows, skylights and glass doors to improve your home's lighting. As such, you do not have to light up the house during the day. If you will build the house in a warm area, use reflective glass to reduce the sun's heat and allow light inside the house. Besides, you could install awnings on the windows that face the sun. 

Home Appliances

Use energy-efficient appliances in your home. Most appliances have a star rating that helps customers determine the efficiency of the device. The more the number of stars, the more efficient the device. LED lights consume less energy compared to incandescent bulbs. Some air conditioning systems have sensors that activate the system when a person enters the room and shut off the system when the room is unoccupied. Creatively use appliances with reflective surfaces, such as refrigerators, to reflect light to areas that have limited access to light. 

When building an energy-efficient home, consider the location, building materials, thermal mass, glazing and home appliances. Look for an energy-efficient home design firm to help you get the efficiency you'd like. 

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