Energy Efficient House

From LoveToKnow GreenLiving

Having an energy efficient house is not as complicated as it seems. It is easier to build an energy saving home than to make an older home energy efficient, but any home can be made more efficient if you follow a few simple steps.

Create a Thermal Envelope

A thermal envelope separates the outside of the home from the inside. It is made up of all the things that keep your heated air inside in the winter, and keep the cold air outside. In the summer the thermal envelope does the opposite. Included in this would be the walls, roof, doors, weather stripping, insulation, windows, and even the paint and shingles.

There are a number of things that builders are doing to create a solid envelope. Here are some of the techniques discussed at Elements of an Energy Efficient House.:

Using alternatives to wood in construction and thus saving space for added insulation.
Using foam board for framing, which also insulates the structure.
Using insulating concrete forms which are both sturdy and very good insulators.
Using insulation levels to a rating of R-30 in the walls and R-70 in the ceiling
Using an airtight drywall approach in building.
Using a vapor shield

While each of these works very well in the initial building of a structure, a homeowner desiring to make an existing home more energy efficient has some options as well.

Creating an Energy Efficient House

The first thing to do is to analyze the current energy efficiency of your home. A great tool for this is the Home Energy Yardstick. You will need your energy bills for the past year to use this helpful calculator.

If you want a more specific analysis then you might want to contact a professional Home Energy Auditor. They will use many different ways of determining the energy efficiency of your home. Before you hire someone contact your utility company to see if they offer in home audits. Often these will be at a reduced cost, or even free, to customers. If they do not, shop around find someone that is certified to evaluate your home.

Once the analysis is finished then there are some steps you might need to take:

Seal air leaks
Add insulation
Seal ducts
Consider replacing windows
Replace broken HVAC equipment with Energy Star rated equipment for the most efficient home heating
Add a programmable thermostat
Storm doors
Storm windows

Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters are a great way to save energy. They heat only the water you need, just when you need it. These are especially good to put in homes as they are being built. With older houses, especially if they have gas water heaters, the size of the pipes and ducts is often wrong, and this can become expensive to replace.

You can increase the efficiency of your existing water heater just by wrapping it with insulation. In fact, if you have pipes that run through uninsulated areas of your home, you can wrap them with insulation as well.

HVAC System

In order for your furnace to work the best it should be serviced yearly. Be sure to check the filters on a monthly basis. Dirty filters block air flow and can eventually burn out the motor on your system.

There are many types of filters available, in many price ranges. Self-charging electrostatic filters are an excellent option because they last for years. The filters filter out small particles and need only be rinsed, according to manufacturers directions, monthly.

Windows

Drafty windows can be a major heat sink. On a windy day move a lighted candle around the perimeter of your windows to check for drafts. Check caulk and weather stripping yearly, and replace it if it is damaged. Use plastic film over the windows to help seal them. From the inside, use shades and draperies to shut out drafts in the winter and heat in the summer.

These are the biggest things that you will want to consider doing over a period of time. However there are many choices you can make every day that will make you the owner of an energy efficient house.

Simple Changes

Home electronics use approximately 25% of all electricity in a house. By switching from average electronics to energy efficient ones you can save about 25 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as quite a bit of money.

Many electronics devices use electricity even when the device is not on. A battery charger, for example, can use up to twenty times more energy than is actually stored in the battery. Some other items that use electricity when not turned on are:

Microwave
Television
VCR
Ranges, ovens, and stoves
DVD
Cell phone charger
Computer
Cordless phones

A simple way to deal with many of these devices is just to unplug them when not in use.

Lights

Energy efficient lights use up to 75% less energy than regular lights. There are many styles of energy efficient light bulbs to choose from. Simply turning off lights when they are not needed will make a difference. Place desks and work areas near sources of natural light, and consider adding, or enlarging, windows.

Appliances

It may be time to replace your old appliances with new, more energy efficient ones. The Energy Star label is a good way to identify products that have been designed to offer great performance while also saving energy. Develop good energy habits to save even more::

Look for dishwashers that have features that reduce water use.
Refrigerators with the freezer on the top are more energy efficient than any other type.
Energy saving features on washing machines and dryers make a huge difference in energy use.
Use the size burner that fits your pan.
Keep the dryer’s lint filter cleaned out.
Wash only full loads of clothes.
Hang clothes to dry when possible.

By doing as many of these things as you can you will save money as well as the environment.

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