Functionality and efficiency are just as important as aesthetics when designing a home. It’s an excellent idea to make your home energy efficient because it’ll help you save on costs. However, designing an energy-efficient home may require adjusting your original home design.
There are numerous ways to make your home energy-efficient without sacrificing its aesthetic value. One way is to look for a good siding installation company to enhance your home’s exterior. Apart from the protection a good siding provides, it’s durable and adds curb appeal. To help you out, below are some ways you can design an energy-efficient home:
Install Cool Roofs
Consider installing cool roofs when you’re designing an energy-efficient home. Cool roofs can reflect light and lessen the absorption of heat from the sunlight. This allows your home to stay cool even on a hot sunny day. Consequently, they can help you save energy instead of using devices and appliances for cooling purposes.
Although using a cool roof can be expensive, it’s still a worthy investment since it helps lessen the costs in the long run. To guarantee maximum efficiency, it helps to hire a reputable roofing contractor like Sword Roof Defense to make the most out of cool roofs.
Choose A Location
When it comes to designing an energy-efficient property, one of the things to consider is the location of your home. Hence, it’s best to determine a suitable place that can significantly improve your home’s heating and cooling requirements.
If you’re still in the market for a home, finding the right location is crucial to making your dreams a reality. For instance, if you’re thinking of using solar energy, this step will help ensure that you have everything you need, like plenty of sunlight.
Consider The Orientation
One of the things to consider when designing an energy-efficient home is the orientation of your property. If you want to maximize natural light, it’s best to ensure that your house will get the best possible advantage of the sun throughout the year.
For instance, you can choose which rooms won’t benefit from natural light and where to place the ones that do. This enables you to assign rooms where they’ll receive the most sunlight throughout the day.
Install Solar Panels
Installing solar panels is one of the essential things when designing an energy-efficient home. Aside from reducing the carbon footprint and helping the environment, solar panels can help offset your energy costs. With the sunlight your house gets, you’ll have a free energy source for your property, allowing you to reduce the electricity cost.
Consider The Materials
When designing an energy-efficient home, it’s crucial to consider the various materials you’ll use. Different construction materials and methods can help you achieve better energy efficiency. Timber frames, cross-laminated timber, structural insulated panels, and insulated concrete formwork are just some materials and techniques you can utilize to achieve an energy-efficient home.
Provide Better Insulation
To make your home energy-efficient, it helps to have better insulation for your property. Better insulation helps keep the desired temperature in your house throughout the year. It can protect against extreme cold temperatures during the winter and sweltering heat during the summer. By having better insulation, you can reduce your cooling and heating costs.
Design Ventilation Systems
An efficient ventilation system is essential in designing an energy-efficient home. By having efficient ventilation, your home will be cooler and more comfortable. Alternatively, you can utilize your windows and fans to ensure that the indoors will stay adequately ventilated. Overall, proper ventilation can minimize energy usage, making your home more energy efficient.
Choose LED Lights
If you want to design an energy-efficient home, you may want to consider choosing LED lights for your lighting fixtures. LED lights are regarded as energy-efficient and could help you lessen your costs. These lights have a better life span since they emit lower output levels over a long period. In addition, they produce less heat and are environmentally friendly.
Incorporate Smart Devices
Incorporating smart devices in your home makes it as energy-efficient as possible. They can help you save and optimize your energy use since these devices utilize less power than regular ones. These include air-conditioning controllers, smart bulbs, smart thermostats, and even smart outlets.
Smart devices are highly efficient since they adjust their usage depending on your energy needs, resulting in less energy consumption.
Install A Better Water Heating System
A water heating system is one thing that consumes significant energy inside your home. Hence, it’s better to consider other water heating system options to help regulate your energy consumption.
Meanwhile, insulation around the water heater tank could help retain the heat even when it’s not used. Another option is a solar water heater, which can help you achieve lesser costs and benefit the environment.
Introduce Landscaping And Shade
Utilizing trees and canopies to decorate your property is an effective way of achieving an energy-efficient home. They provide shade which can help lessen the heat. However, it helps to consider where to plant your trees.
In the hot summer months, trees can aid in keeping your home at a comfortable temperature. Significantly, determining the best location to plant these trees can impact your house and make it an energy-efficient home.
Ideally, large trees should be at least three feet away from your home. This can help prevent pests from entering your home while giving you enough shade during the day. In addition, trees can help improve your home’s curb appeal because of their natural beauty and charm.
Takeaway
Designing an energy-efficient home may be expensive, but the benefits will be worth it in the long run. With many factors to consider, you’ll eventually find something that best fits your home needs, location, position, and budget.
While some measures require adding more features and adjusting your budget, the payoff in your home’s energy efficiency may be well worth the effort. Hence, it’s best to do your research to help you look for the best ways to suit your home and needs.