People worldwide are troubled by the increasing prices of various sources of energyelectricity, heating oil, gasoline, natural gas, etc. People are looking for various means to reduce the consumption of vital forms of energy. In fact, the conservation of energy should begin during the construction of your new house. Conservation should happen in the usage of each resource in your new home. People who have taken a firm decision to save energy are the ones who receive smaller utility bills. In addition, they are the ones who enjoy their lives comfortably. In this article, you will see how a new homes design will help you in saving energy in the years you will live in it.
Todays homes have the potential to reduce energy bills by half if designed properly, following good construction techniques (like proper insulation of walls, roofs, doors, and windows).
Beginning a Design
Although many architects and construction engineers have good knowledge about designing homes that conserve energy, they are more interested in delivering consumers needs. If you specify that you want energy conservation, you should be able to get a great design geared toward that goal. Hence, as a first step of designing a new home, make a statement that you want high energy savings.
Orientation of your home is one of the first things to consider. Most of the energy savings in the future can come from natural heating of the home by the sun. Hence, the orientation should be such that the home gets proper amount of sunlight. A good home orientation takes into account the solar energy to properly heat up your home in cold weather. It is also important to consider whether this orientation will cause discomfort during summer days or not.
Insulation of walls is another important aspect. Minimum insulation level of R-20 is widely recommended for walls. For attics, insulation should R-40 to R-60. Well-insulated steel doors and popular triple-pane windows are good for better insulation of the house.
Home Appliances Can Save Energy
In the winter season, you want your home to be warm, while in the summer you want it to be cool. During winter, you are probably concerned about the loss of heat through openings like windows and doors, while in summer the condition reverses.
You well know that homes are complex to design and operate. A correctly built house should take into account the amount of heat produced by heating systems (AC, solar heating systems, etc.) and the loss of heat occurring through openings (windows, doors) or due to the weather. The AC will function better in all weather conditions if the insulation is done properly.
A new homeowner should consider all of these aspects and should consider energy-efficient systems for heating and cooling. For instance, an air conditioning system works better in the shade.
Another important aspect is the homes lighting. If natural lighting from outside can properly complement artificial lighting you install, it will give comfort and energy savings.
It is important to Audit the energy savings possible with the new home design. Accept the home design only if you are sure that your energy conservation goals are achievable.
Conclusion: Make It a Habit
Although you design your home with proper energy savings in mind, you should make sure you practice it in real life. For instance, assume you have done proper research and built a home with good energy savings. If you keep your appliances running when not needed, you are still going to see large energy bills. Make sure you switch off all lights and follow the recommended procedure in operating home appliances. If done properly, you will be able to save maximum amounts of energy.
