Basics on Energy Efficient Houses


Most of our homes are clearly non-energy-efficient buildings, causing tremendous energy wastes.

According to the US Department of energy, the home sector uses approximately 66% of the electric energy in the United States and electricity consumption in USA has doubled between 1989 and 2005...
 
We waste too many energy in our homes, and we must reduce it, if we want to leave a healthy planet for future generations.
 
 
 Elements of energy efficient houses
 
  An energy efficient house involves elements as:
 
    - Passive solar techniques
    - Advanced windows, adequately placed and sized
    - Right insulation (walls, roof, ceilings...)
    - Air leaking
    - Ventilation and draught proofing principles
    - Adequate building materials
    - Use of energy efficient appliances
    - Renewable energies
      
 
 Types of energy efficient buildings
 
There are, of course, many degrees of energy efficient houses. In some cases placing or sizing differently the windows and a good insulation remodeling can turn a building with a low efficient performance into an energy efficient one.
 
But sometimes the designation is applied to some specific types of energy efficient buildings: Types of energy efficient houses.


 
Layout and orientation of the house
 
 A basic and major principle of an energy efficient building is to allow the sun's heat in winter and avoid it in summer. To achieve this goal you should take into account the angle of the sun in each season...
 
See, for more information: Orientation of the house
 
 
 Shading and landscaping concepts
 
 Shading and landscaping concepts involve elements as gardens, lawns, deciduous trees, vines or shrubs adequately placed. Or elements as shaded pavings and courtyards... All these elements are of extreme importance to a better energy efficiency of a building.
 
 See: Trees and Landscape for your house, Shadow strategies, Pergolas, Trees and Shrubs 

 
 
Interior rooms layout
 
 If you live in the north hemisphere, indoor living and entertaining areas should face the south side of the home, whenever possible (if you live in the south hemisphere they should face the north side). This favors warm and bright living areas in winter...
 
 
Advanced windows and their placement and sizing
 
 Windows can act as solar collectors (trapping heat) or as ventilators (during summer) and daylight gateways. But to accomplish that they should be advanced windows, rightly placed and sized.
 
 See, for details: Advanced windows, Windows and Climate Zones
 

 Air Sealing
 
 Sealing air leakage paths is a major improvement you can introduce in your home.
 
 See, for details: Air leakage and air sealing

 
 Appropriate Insulation
 
 Insulation - of the walls, the ceiling, the basement... - is crucial in home building efficiency.
 
 See, for details: House Insulation
 
 
 Ventilation and draught proofing principles
 
 Doors and windows should be properly positioned to achieve cross ventilation when needed, while air leaks, draughts or ducts should be sealed or insulated to avoid unwanted heat or cool air.

See, for home air quality, commonly linked to inefficient ventilation: Bad Indoor Air Quality
 

Appropriate building materials
 
 There are building materials with high thermal mass as brick, stone, concrete or rammed earth: they heat up and cool down slowly. And there are materials with inverse properties, such as weatherboard and fiber cement: they have a low thermal mass.
 
 And this should be taken into account, when building an energy efficient home.
 
 
 Energy efficient appliances
 
 Clothes washers and dryers, air conditioners, refrigerators, fireplaces... all have very different energy performances and an high impact on energy consumption. And they are responsible for around 20% of home energy uses... Energy Star labeled products are a smart option when equipping your home.  
 
 
 Renewable energies
 
 The use of solar energy, geothermal heat pumps and other are smart renewable energy options aren't only an environmentally friendly solution. With today's energy prices, the initial investment is recovered in a relatively short time.
 
 See, namely: Solar Basics, Heat Pumps basics
       
 
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