Energy Efficiency Tips for Building and Renovating

 

Residential energy consumption makes up a large part of the total energy expenditure on the global scale. Using a lot of energy does not only harm our planet, but also your budget by increasing your energy bills. Home renovation and building a house from scratch are perfect opportunities to equip your property with all the necessary features that will help you preserve energy and lower your bills. If you are planning on renovating or building a house anytime soon, here are a few ideas that will help you reimburse the remodeling or construction cost.

Downsize

Big house means big footprint. So if you are building your home from the very foundation or perhaps thinking about an extension for your old house, consider it – do you really need that much space? It will mean higher electricity and heating bills and more cleaning work. Think about how you can efficiently use a smaller space and try to do that without having to compromise your comfort.

Start with sustainable materials

One of the first decisions you will have to make when building or renovating your house is what materials you are going to use. If energy preservation and eco-friendliness are among your top priorities, you should consider opting for sustainable materials that are not dangerous for the planet or for your health (as some of conventional materials pollute the indoor air with toxic chemicals). Some of the best materials to opt for are rock, reclaimed wood, cork, bamboo, recycled glass and tiles, etc.

Invest in insulation

When your home isn’t insulated properly, a large amount of the generated heat or cold escapes through the walls and air gaps around the doors and windows. This means that the costs of cooling and heating will be much higher than they would be if you had put your money where you should have in the first place. There are several types of insulation you can install, including spray foam, blanket (batts and rolls) and structural insulated panels.

Use the windows

Windows can be a huge help in energy preservation. The first way they can contribute is with their size. You see, a large window will allow much more light into the space and thus minimize your need for using artificial lighting. If you acquire double or even triple glazed windows, you will be able to additionally save energy because they will also contribute to the existing insulation.

Upgrade your lighting

Up until a decade ago standard incandescent bulbs were used in most households. However, they are known for producing heat besides light, and thus wasting about 90 percent of the energy they use. More eco-conscious users are replacing them with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and LED lights. Australia, for instance, banned the sales of standard pear-shaped incandescent bulbs back in 2009, so professional Brisbane electricians and experts in electricity across the country became very proficient in installing various alternatives ranging from LED tapes to CFL bulbs and dimmers.

Get Energy Star rated appliances

Household appliances account for a large part of a household’s total energy consumption. By investing in modern Energy Star rated appliances, you are minimizing the amount of electricity you waste and at the same time lowering your electricity bills. Even if your old appliances are still functioning well, they may be sucking more energy than they are worth, so consider upgrading to these new ones.

Optimize your water use

Water is a precious resource, and households are wasting a lot of it. This is something you should think about from the very moment you start building your house. Everything from the piping layout to the toilet will affect the amount of water your home is using. There are several ways you can renovate your home to lower the water consumption:

• Use high-efficiency fixtures (showerheads, faucets and toilets).

• Use a hot water delivery system that prevents wasting water while you are waiting for it to heat up.

• Instead of irrigating your lawn with sprinklers, opt for a graywater or rainwater system that redirects this water for irrigation.

• If you have a pool, prevent water loss due to evaporation with automatic pool covers.

Smart homeowners think about their future. After all, not every day does one build or renovate a house. Everything you do now will echo in the years to come (especially in your bills).