Whether you’re building new or renovating, it’s inevitable that the excitement of your project will be lost at some point to stresses and complications. With so many decisions to be made, from design to insulation, it’s easy to get swept up in the whirlwind and forget the important considerations. Thinking long-term can make the decision-making process a great deal easier and allow you to design a home that combines comfort with healthier and cleaner living conditions! To help you reduce your wasted energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions and lower your bills as well, we’ve made this handy guide to creating an energy-efficient home!
Image Source: BA Morrison
Orientation
In the excitement of building a new home, orientation is easily and often overlooked. The design of a property and its position on the block, however, can have a huge impact when it comes to harnessing the natural elements and adapting to seasonal variations. Reduce your carbon footprint and your energy bill by ensuring your energy-efficient home is oriented to the North – the direction which delivers the greatest degree of heat! You can read up more on home orientation here.
Timber
It’s one of the most popular choices for windows and flooring. With so many plantation timbers and composites made from recycled plastic and sawdust available, why wouldn’t you incorporate this failsafe material into your eco-conscious home design?
Airtightness
Ensuring that joints, sills, vents, doors and ducts are properly sealed is extremely important when it comes to reducing your future heating and cooling costs. Getting this right at the building stage can save you the hassle and expense of dealing with it down the track and put you on the path to achieving an energy-efficient home.
Double-glazing
Sealing the gap between the two panes provides an invaluable layer of insulation, which equates to less wastage inflating your bills. Not only does double-glazing reduce the amount of heat escaping during winter and prevent warm air flowing in during summer, but it also boasts the added benefit of minimising noise.
Solar Panels
Solar panels are one of the best tools available for capturing the free, clean and renewable energy of the sun. By converting light into power, solar energy is estimated to have reduced the average Australian home’s energy use by up to 40%. While the installation costs can be quite high, it’s important to factor in the long-term savings of a highly efficient solar power system.
Image Source: Go Green Leaf Solar
Lighting design
While correct orientation goes a long way towards ensuring your home makes the best possible use of natural light, we can’t always rely on the sun! LEDs are long-lasting and use less energy than other forms of lighting making them the top option when it comes to being environmentally friendly. Shrink your bills and create an energy-efficient home by opting for LEDs and implementing timers, dimmers and sensors.
Insulation
Insulation is an important barrier between the inside and outside of your home, keeping the heat out during summer and the warmth in during winter. Be comfortable all year round and minimise heat loss through walls, floors and ceilings by opting for non-toxic foams, wool and even newspaper. Proper insulation has been demonstrated to cut cooling and heating costs by as much as 50%.
Take a step towards a cleaner, healthier and more environmentally-friendly life by incorporating these smart features into your home design. Whether you’re looking to refresh an older abode or build new, thinking long-term is the first step towards creating an energy-efficient home!
For more information regarding building a new home, or renovating an existing home, be sure you speak to one of our home building experts on 1800 184 284. They are independent and motivated to see you achieve your property and investment goals. You can also book a call online.
Let us do the legwork for you.
- We’ll ask the right questions to better understand your needs
- We’ll create a recommended shortlist ideally matched to you
- We’ll answer specific questions or concerns related to home building, land purchasing or financing
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