new homes design: the basics
If you are going to build a new home, do it the right way. Build it with the right green design and think it in terms of energy efficiency. Do not stick to fashion or traditional practices: they can be a bad option.
You can’t change many wrong energy features of an existing home. But if you are going to build a new home, you have a unique opportunity to create the ideal conditions.
Comfort, health and aesthetics
You don’t need to sacrifice comfort, health, or aesthetics to get an energy efficient home.
But you may need to consider a modest size (do not bet on a too large home), and to pay attention to a wide set of features like the insulation levels, the windows surface, the floor-plan, and so on.
See also:
Buying a new home
Investing in a new home
Building a New Home: Green Features
New homes & Environment
The home’s size
There isn’t a better way to squander energy than a very large home. The basic rule is: keep it modest.
Homeowners are often geared by questionable fashion or traditional patterns involving very large homes. But you don’t need a large home to get comfort or to be happy...
See: New homes Size and Layout / Floor-Plan
The axis of the home and its shape
Choose a simple shape for your home, and pay attention to the sun’s path. In cold and temperate climates rectangular buildings, with their longer walls facing the winter sun are a great way of getting energy savings and energy-efficiency.
See:
New homes Size and Layout: Floor-Plan
New Homes & Siting & Lots
Home Landscape & Orientation
Floor plan
Efficient zone heating (or cooling) demands a properly divided home – a home divided into areas with common heating or cooling needs. They also demand a relative separation of the different zones, to avoid the energy to escape to a non-heated (or non-cooled) area.
The dimensions of the several rooms, or the way they face the sun is also very important for energy efficient. Ceilings, floors and the materials may depend on these interior layout features…
See:
New homes Size and Layout Floor-Plan
Zone Heating and Cooling Strategies
Landscaping design
The home and landscaping design – involving trees and their shadow and location, or outdoor lighting… – should be dealt in conjunction with passive solar techniques.
See: New Home Landscape & Orientation
Design & Windows, skylights, overhangs and glazed doors
Most homes lose over 20% of their energy through windows. Modern qualified windows are important for energy savings, and their size, type and location are part of the home design.
Skylights, overhangs or glazed doors (patio doors) can also be extremely important.
See:
New homes and Windows
Qualified Windows Basics
Qualified Doors Basics
Skylight basics
Overhangs
Glazed Doors
Duct design
Duct design and sizing is an important energy-efficient feature. Ducts should not be installed in unconditioned spaces or in attics subjected to extreme temperatures.
Obviously, the duct system will depend on the overall design plan for the house, and on elements like insulation, air sealing or the eating and cooling systems.
See:
Ducts for New Homes
Basics on Ducts
Shading, awnings, blinds & design
In hot and temperate climates, sun control with external or internal shading devices is part of the home’s design. Overhangs, blinds, awnings and other shading devices (besides trees or shrubs) have an important role in energy savings.
See:
House awnings, screens and other shading devices
Home Design and Colors
The colors of roofs and walls are particularly important for sun control or solar heat gains. Interior wall and floor colors may also have a role in energy efficiency, and are closely related with the home design. Light colors are a good bet, even in cold climates, for roofs and interior walls...
Home design and ventilation
Natural ventilation is important in hot and temperate climates, and the home design should provide and consider the use of cooling devices and systems like whole-house and ceiling fans.
Mechanical ventilation is also extremely important in cold climates (to expel stale air and get fresh air) and should be carefully considered when planning the design of a new home, in this case in close linkage with HVAC systems (Heating, air conditioning and ventilation).
See:
Mechanical Ventilation Basics
Natural Ventilation
Home Design, materials and thermal mass
Construction materials like concrete, brick or stone are good at storing heat during the sunny hours (they act like a sponge) and at releasing it slowly during the night.
On the opposite side, there are materials like timber floors and insulation materials...
These properties, associated to the thermal mass of the different materials, can be used under some heating and cooling strategies, and will have a significant impact on the home design.
See: Thermal Mass Basics
Insulation, walls and home framing
Insulation is crucial and the most important single element for energy-efficiency in most climates. Getting a new home with high insulation is a key element.
Besides the traditional framing techniques and materials, there are now some new wall building options like: Structural Insulated Panels, Aerated Concrete, Insulated Concrete Forms, or Advanced wood frame walls. All these materials and techniques will have a huge impact on the insulation level of your new home's walls.
Home design and Heating Systems
See:
Heating for New Homes
Central Heating for New Homes
Space Heating for New Homes
Home design and climate
Your particular climate determines many features of the design of your new home, from the type of the glass and the dimensions of the windows to the shape of the house, its orientation to the sun, materials to use, etc.
Most design features we listed above are specific of cold and temperature climates. Hot and tropical climates demand specific features:
- orientation of the house to avoid the direct impact of sun, instead of the opposite;
- extended use of verandas and shade nettings;
- natural ventilation techniques;
- intense use of mechanical devices to control humidity.
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