Easy tips for ​saving energy in your house

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Low Energy Designed House, Phi Architects Phi Architects Casas de estilo escandinavo
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Rising cost of energy is a major concern. This is one area that people who set out to build new homes must always keep in mind and go for an energy efficient, green design that will help them save a lot of money. Even existing homes can do with an energy audit that will help pinpoint areas where energy is being used unnecessarily and reduce wasteful expenditure. A house might be energy inefficient and a few steps to renovate it could be worth the effort and cost as this will result in long term savings and a better, more comfortable interior. Having an energy efficient house is a prime requirement for people who go in for new houses or are living in an existing one. If you are planning to build a new house, you could start by opting for a design that will result in saving energy in your house. At the same time one must also consider the use of right, energy-efficient appliances and lighting inside to reduce energy costs.

Location and layout

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When designing an energy efficient house, the location and its layout are of key importance. A house that will be located in a hot climatic region like Arizona will require different design consideration from that located in North Dakota. The local climatic conditions and site conditions will influence design of the house. A home builder needs to adopt a whole house systems approach if he is to realize an energy efficient house. The layout and structure of the house is also important. If the house is to be built in a hot geographic region then it will need to be designed in a way that presents minimum of open windows and doors to the blistering heat of the day. Windows will need to have overhangs to shade the interiors and a wide patio running around the house with an overhang and shady trees or vines on the walls that will further aid in reducing impact of heat on the interiors and resultant load on cooling systems. Conversely, a house in a cold region will benefit by designing it to face sunlight and let in more heat energy through the use of double paneled, well insulated windows and glass skylights.

Passive House—What does it mean

Traditionally, a house owner uses heating in winter and cooling appliances in summer to maintain a level of comfort in the interior. A passive house, on the other hand, mainly relies on good design, choice of building materials and techniques, and use of renewable energy to heat or cool interiors. Passive house is a concept and standard for energy efficient houses and buildings that are environment friendly as well as better from the comfort aspect. There are standards such as the Passivhaus standard in Germany and PHIUS certification in the USA that stipulate energy consumption of about 15 KWH/sq. metre or less per year to cool or heat the house. The standards of each country must be rigorously adhered to as regards design, choice of building materials, implementation and verification in order that a house can be labeled as passive, showing appreciable energy savings. The passive house is pleasantly warm and comfortable in winter without the need for extra heating due to superior building design and insulation as well as use of solar energy to heat spaces. It is just as cool and comfortable in hot summers due to incorporation of better ventilation.

Choosing the materials

An energy efficient house starts with the design developed according to the geographic location and climate. This is further reinforced by the use of the right materials for construction so as to leave minimum carbon footprint and damage to environment. Choice of materials, again, is also dictated by the climate and location. A house built in colder regions could benefit by the use of wood whereas use of adobe or thick brick walls in hot climates will result in cooler interiors and reduced energy bills for cooling. In colder climates it is important to choose the right insulating materials for the walls and use double or triple gazed doors and windows with weather stripping to minimize leaks and heat losses. Cost of insulation varies with the choice of materials. In-situ spraying of PU foam is perhaps the most effective but it is also expensive. Rockwool or fiberglass is cheaper, fire resistant and non-toxic but process of installation is cumbersome. Apart from the exterior wall and the insulation, choice of material for the interior is also important. Wood is neutral in that it neither absorbs nor radiates heat and plywood is the material of choice for wall covering and furniture to create an energy efficient house.

Bioclimatic house

A bioclimatic house is defined as a house where the architecture is inspired by nature and factors in the local environment as well as climate in order to achieve maximum comfort for occupants irrespective of the weather. A house built in a hot geographic region would be termed as biclimatic if it has thick adobe walls with a white coating of lime to reflect heat, coupled with natural ventilation using the wind flow and direction for that region to keep the house cool in summer. Walls and roofs can be prevented from heating up by the use of vegetation. The house can be kept warm in winter by the use of large glass windows in the southern side to trap maximum sunlight to warm interiors. Some architects have taken examples from nests of ants and termites to incorporate their cooling channel designs into houses. A true bioclimatic house does not need any additional investment. The same amount of money and materials go into its construction, only the design elements make it more energy efficient house.

Solar energy

Solar energy is free and is available in plenty, especially in the tropical belt. Even in sub-tropical areas, there is sufficient solar energy to heat or cool homes. Solar energy alone can provide sufficient power and heating for a house but it is expensive and that is the main deterrent. One of the useful appliance to have is the solar water heater. It traps solar radiation in the collectors and transfers the heat energy to water. Water can be heated to 60 deg. C and used for bathing, washing and cooking, reducing fuel bills. A solar air heater or passive solar heating can heat up spaces inside a house in cold weather, reducing fuel costs. Solar photovoltaic panels can be used to generate electricity and meet part of the needs of the house.

Energy frame house

Each component of a house contributes to energy saving. The floor, walls, ceiling, windows, doors and also the frame contribute to energy saving or energy losses depending on the design, choice of material and implementation. In colder climates an energy frame house will help in achieving the target of saving energy. Modern energy frame houses, with frames usually fabricated from timber, are manufactured in factories to close tolerances and specifications to make the joints air tight for zero losses. The result is a passive house with the lowest energy losses figures. A wood timber frame is better than metal in that there are no pathways for heat to be conducted from the inside to the outside and wood also traps carbon, reducing the carbon footprint. Apart from that it is light in weight and requires a simpler foundation, further reducing the cost. When made to tight tolerances in a factory, it provides a rigid, leak-proof frame to which insulated panel walls can be attached and sealed. Overall, there is efficient use of materials and space, reducing impact on the environment, reducing energy bills and also cost of construction since work can be completed faster. Designed by Phi architects from UK, the house shown in the picture above is a low energy house in scandinavian style. 

Energy efficient and low cost

Most people, when they set out to construct houses, focus more on design, looks and styling. However, from the energy efficiency perspective, the design and choice of materials require a change to result in a house that is low cost and energy efficient. An energy efficient, green house not only saves energy but it also provides a pleasant, comfortable ambience for the occupants. Apart from the house design, a house owner would also do well to consider use of energy efficient appliances with 5 star ratings to further reduce fuel bills. 

Saving energy in your house is necessary in order to save money. It is also necessary in order to reduce impact on the environment and show a degree of social responsibility. New constructions will benefit from energy efficient designs while existing houses can be renovated to make them more energy efficient.

Eco-friendly House

An eco-friendly house, or a green home, is one that is environment friendly and built using sustainable materials. It is also designed and built to reduce energy consumption and take advantage of solar energy, the overall design, passive insulation, building materials that reduce impact on the environment. An eco-friendly house in colder areas may incorporate a passive design making use of insulation, sealing and large areas of glass to heat up interiors in winter. A house in a hot climatic region would have windows angled downward, a living wall in the form of green vines covering the side facing the sun, overhangs to reduce direct incidence of sunlight on the walls, adequate flow of air with the use of passive architecture and even fountains to provide cooling. Active houses would go a step further by using renewable energy devices to provide electricity, hot water and hot air that will reduce dependence on conventional sources of energy, making them eco-friendly. One can use recycled materials or sustainable materials such as straw bales or discarded containers to build eco-friendly houses.

Here's yet another stylish home - A home oozing with style!

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