Consider energy efficiency when building a new home or modifying an existing one. You’ll save money and energy, and your home will be more comfortable and durable. It’s also an excellent time to build a renewable energy system for electricity, water heating, or space heating and cooling. You should also look at financing options for an energy-efficient home. Preparation pays off. The same is true when building a new house with energy-saving features. Electricity-efficient homes not only save energy but also money. You will also have a more pleasant and lasting home.
Given the rising cost of electricity, it is imperative to preserve it. Electricity-efficient house upgrades or designs help you save money on electricity while also helping you lessen your carbon impact.
When considering integrated planning and financial challenges, there are numerous ways to reduce energy costs. The Energy Information Administration says homes have become more energy efficient in the previous decade. Heat, light, and other types of energy are commonly created from fuel and electricity. A smart home may make better use of resources while also providing an appealing look. Resources may greatly improve energy efficiency in automated homes.
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Why are new homes more energy efficient?
It used to be impossible to construct energy-efficient, affordable, and comfortable houses. Electricity and natural gas were much cheaper back then, and heating and cooling your house was much cheaper. As a consequence, energy-saving techniques like insulating a house become obsolete. But as electricity prices climb, so does the demand for energy efficiency.
Nowadays, homeowners are always looking for ways to reduce their monthly power bills. Fortunately, new building and energy regulations have made buying an energy-efficient home practical and affordable.
So, What is it about modern homes that make them so attractive and energy-efficient?
Home Design Ideas for Energy-Efficient Homes:
When building or renovating your house, you must wish to avoid making any mistakes. The information below will assist you in creating a smart and energy-efficient framework for your smart, energy-efficient house.
- All About Location
- Shape
- Landscaping & Shade
- Size
- Ventilation Systems
- Energy-Efficient HVAC Systems
- Energy Saving Devices
- Building Envelope
- Design for Water Conservation
- Roofing Materials
- Lighting Fixtures
- Go Solar
- Water Heating Systems
1. It’s All About Choosing a Location or Site
A zero-energy residence needs direct sunshine, flat terrain, and little exposure to the weather. Near services, shopping, and public transit. While no location is ideal, being choosy about where you live can surely save you money and raise your level of life. Solar access is vital.
Location, shape, and building materials are all key aspects of constructing an energy-efficient home. These variables will have a big influence on heating and cooling needs. Increasing passive solar energy acquisition in the winter and reducing heat gain in the summer is optimal. The home’s size, orientation, and landscape are optimized.
A solar energy contractor may assess the site and propose the optimal orientation and size of solar surfaces based on the available sunshine. As is often the case, a place may have poor solar access. Any of the strategies listed here may be used even if you don’t have optimal sun access or none at all.
The orientation of your home affects its solar gain. This directly affects your home’s temperature. The building makes use of several sun angles. The winter noon sun is low, whereas the summer noon sun is high. That way you save money on heating and cooling. Homes on the south side of the street that faces the north get plenty of sun towards the back.
On the north side, backyards provide shade during the hot afternoons. Similarly, if you live in a colder climate, arrange your windows to maximize sunlight absorption. Winter sun is collected by south-facing homes, whereas summer sun is shielded.
2. Shape and Design
Consider engaging fewer, simpler shapes at the conceptual design phase rather than numerous smaller ones with a lot of architectural intricacies. In the field, simpler building masses will be easier and less expensive to construct, air seal, and insulate.
3. Landscaping & Sun Protection
Landscapes with shading elements may help reduce heat gain by up to 6 degrees. Shade trees with canopies, like the Yellow Buckeye and London Plane tree, may provide shade. Deciduous trees block summer heat while permitting winter light. They blossom in the spring and summer then leaf out in the winter. Choose dense trees and shrubs for shade and wind protection.
The planting location is also vital. The east, south, and west sides of your home might help keep it cool in the summer. Early morning shadows from east trees. South Trees create shadows on your home in the afternoon. Trees facing west provide shadows that block the hot afternoon heat, cutting your energy bills.
Building Direction:
Orient the structure to take advantage of seasonal sun angles for passive heating and cooling as well as optimal solar energy output. Depending on the environment, this might mean optimizing passive solar heat uptake in cold areas or natural shade in hot ones. A direct southern roof orientation is best for solar panels. When a southern orientation is not possible, check with your solar installer to discover the best orientation for optimum solar gain in your specific environment.
Size
Think modest and create places for the homebuyer’s needs rather than resale value. Many smaller families may live successfully in a 1,500-1,800 square foot house with well-planned utility, storage, and traffic flow. Because a structure may cost hundreds of dollars per square foot, cutting a few square feet off the total can save thousands of dollars in construction expenditures. Reducing the size of the home, with proper planning, will save energy and pay for all of the energy upgrades required for the home to attain zero net energy.
5. Ventilation Systems
A well-designed ventilation system for an energy-efficient house not only delivers comfort but also helps save energy by reducing the need for electrical heating and cooling equipment. Also, house ventilation filters polluted air. Basic ventilation systems include windows and mechanical systems with fans. Natural ventilation should be included in your home’s architecture.
The ventilation system is vital in any energy-efficient house design because it moves air, moisture, and heat through the building envelope. A well-designed ventilation system may help you save energy and make your home more eco-friendly.
On the design drawings, keep mechanical ventilation production equipment and ductwork within the building’s conditioned border.
Remember that heat recovery ventilators need a condensate drain. Designs should include all efficiency ratings.
6. HVAC Systems That Use Less Energy
According to the US Department of Energy, heating, and cooling account for 48 percent of total energy use in a typical US home. According to this study, HVAC systems are among the greatest energy users. Installing an energy-efficient HVAC system and equipment will save you money on your utility expenses.
Energy savings are one of the customer’s concerns, and the Department of Energy reports that heat pumps may lower power consumed for heating by half when compared to furnaces, baseboard heaters, and so on. Choose the most energy-efficient cooling system for your house. Check energy-saving ratios and seek SEER ratings and smart functions that can help you save money.
7. Energy-Efficient Devices / Appliances
Specify the energy-efficient household appliances selected throughout the energy modeling process. The Energy Star Products website is a good place to start. Also, electric heat pump clothes dryers, and induction stovetops should be examined for their energy efficiency.
Energy Star ratings are available for EPA-certified energy-efficient household appliances. The Energy Star logo on certified appliances helps customers choose energy-efficient products.
When replacing appliances, start with the ones that consume the most energy. Experts say an Energy Star certified dryer and refrigerator are the most effective energy-efficient upgrades.
The right smart devices can help you save and maximize your household energy. These devices use less energy than regular appliances, decreasing your electricity bills. A smart house is one that saves money and provides a reasonable return on investment.
Smart AC controllers, smart thermostats, smart lighting, smart blinds, smart kitchen appliances, etc. Smart AC controllers, for example, manage your air conditioner use depending on your daily usage patterns, saving you up to 25% on cooling and heating costs. They may also be utilized with other Alexa or Google Home-enabled smart home temperature control gadgets.
8. Lighting Fixtures
Every structure/home has an interior and exterior lighting system that uses energy based on the fixtures or bulbs utilized. Light accounts for up 14% of the typical US home’s power expenditure, according to the Energy Information Administration. Fluorescent and LED lights are suggested since they create less heat and more light while saving electricity. LEDs are cost-effective and may be utilized in a variety of lighting installations.
Aside from LEDs and bulbs, a building’s windows may be designed to let in natural light throughout the day. Also, aluminum-clad wood window frames provide greater insulation and make your house more energy-efficient.
High-efficiency lighting saves electricity and heat. Reducing heat reduces the need for air conditioning in the summer, saving you money all year.
9. The Building Envelope
Don’t you protect your smartphone’s screen with a glass protector or a cover? A building envelope protects or covers a home. The built environment is one of the most important energy systems. It separates the internal and external elements, protecting the house from the air, moisture, and harsh weather.
The building envelope may regulate the inside temperature depending on the insulation used. It may heat and cool your home in the winter and summer. Consider energy-efficient house design.
Body-envelope insulation may help save energy. It saves energy and decreases stress on your home’s HVAC system. It regulates your home’s temperature, absorbs moisture, and protects your walls.
10. Water Conservation Design
Water-saving features are becoming more widespread in eco-friendly houses. Homeowners are choosing greywater recycling systems. Greywater is wastewater from showers, sinks, laundry tubs, and washing machines. Greywater from your washing machine may send to your bathroom or garden.
This device can help you save money on your water bills by reducing your water use by roughly 50%.
Using modern technology in your house may also conserve water while bathing or washing dishes. The new low-flow kitchen and shower faucets use less water, but it is distribute more evenly.
11. Roofing Materials
Another key factor when creating an energy-efficient home is the roofing material. Because the material selected for your roof deflects sunlight, it absorbs less heat, allowing your home to keep a consistent temperature. The roofing materials you choose have an impact on your overall energy efficiency. The roof’s materials help you save energy, reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and keep your home cool without using air conditioning.
Choosing a roof might be costly at first, but it pays for itself in the long term by lowering your utility bills by managing the temperature of your home throughout the summer.
12. Install a Solar Energy System
Using an accurate energy model, determine the optimal solar system size. Verify that the roof has an adequate area, tilt, and orientation to meet the zero energy requirement. Assemble the solar panel roof using the following components:
A new high in the home solar market in the US is expected in the fourth quarter of 2021, with over 1000 megawatts of solar panels installed. Solar panels may help build energy-efficient homes.
With year-round sun exposure, solar panels would surely reduce electricity bills. This is a one-time investment that saves you time and money while making you self-sufficient.
Solar panels are a green option since they convert solar energy into electricity, reducing harmful greenhouse emissions. After installing solar panels, you may use the energy to power a solar water heater, lighting, and almost any other household gadget.
13. Heating Systems for Water
It consumes a lot of energy. There are various ways to improve the water heating system and save electricity. Insulate the water heater’s tank to retain heat. Inactivity saves heat on your water heater. Another option is to use solar water heaters, which are both ecologically friendly and save electricity.
Choose the best water heater and the best location. Electric resistance water heaters should be installed strategically inside the conditioned area in heating climates and outdoors in cool climates. In heating-dominated regions, heat pump water heaters should be located outside conditioned rooms of 1,000 cubic feet or smaller.
A garage or basement is often a good option since they are not heated directly yet stay warm all year. Heat pump water heaters may also be ducted inside the home. If used in an airtight home, gas water heaters must be sealed by combustion.
Choosing a water heating system, on the other hand, maybe a difficult option. Learn more about the many types of solar water heaters and how to select a water heating system while constructing an energy-efficient house.
Along with these tactics, the user should be cautious about overusing electricity. While you’re away, make sure the lights, HVAC, and other equipment are off. Further, energy-efficient home layouts have been shown to be helpful in helping the user save energy. It not only allows the user to save energy but also contributes to a lower carbon impact.
Energy-efficient home designs may seem expensive at first, but they will save you money and energy in the long run
