If you are an ecologist or simply environmentally aware, there are several areas in your home that you can enhance to become energy efficient and be more environmentally friendly. Thus you can save the Earth and your money in the process.
Tips for Making Your House More Energy Efficient
Here are some pointers for making your home more energy efficient:
- Doors and windows: Today, advancements with double-pane windows and gas-filled panels reduce the ability of glass to transfer energy.
- Insulation: A tight house is an efficient house (but keep in mind that a house that is too airtight can be an unhealthy house). Houses need proper ventilation so the air stays fresh and you don’t breathe your own carbon dioxide. You can research or discuss with your architect methods and materials that provide maximum insulation at a reasonable cost. In extreme environments, insulation will be the number one factor for energy savings.
- Energy-efficient appliances: Many manufacturers make lines that focus specifically on energy savings. Many local utility companies offer rebates for choosing appliances with lower energy ratings.
- Solar power: Many people have saved money by supplementing their energy with solar panels. The technology has improved since people started using solar power in the 1970s. Panels have become smaller and lower profile. Many options are available through sources on the Internet.
- Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system: Overestimating the cost of HVAC happens often because everyone wants a more efficient air system, a reduction in noise, and comfort, especially when the weather is extreme. Larger systems may cost more, but you typically can make up the extra cost in savings when the energy bill comes around.
Besides the options mentioned above, you might also want to consider your technology options. Technology has never been as much a part of individuals’ every day lives as it is today. The Internet is a regular part of home life, and more and more people can work at home because of it. Custom home builders often tend to want to add every new piece of technology offered.
Technology changes faster and faster today. Design your house to accommodate any new technology by providing tubing (conduit) and cubbies that give you general access points to rooms in the house. Mark the access points clearly so you can always add things where you want them.
Technology companies come and go. Sometimes the most innovative go up in a ball of fire the fastest. Whatever technology you install in the house needs to be maintained and serviced. If the manufacturer goes out of business, your technology may be useless.
Your house project may take years, and new features that are better than what you install will be available. Buy only what you’re truly likely to use.
A great way to save energy is to simply use less of it. Talk with your architect, lighting designer, or general contractor about a whole-house lighting plan. A whole-house system can allow you to program your home’s light fixtures to go on or off at certain times, based on your family’s needs, and can allow you to turn off lights throughout the home with a single switch. A master switch means you’re less likely to leave lights on when they’re no longer needed, thus becoming more energy efficient.