Energy Efficient Building Plans

There are many steps to take when building your energy efficient dream home

. Whether you buy pre-made building plans or design your own home, it's possible to make the house work for you and the environment.

Before considering the architecture of the house, it's important to choose a location. The direction the house faces is significant. A home with the majority of the windows facing the southeast is extremely beneficial. The natural sun rays streaming in create natural heating and lighting. Appropriate sunshades can lessen the harsher sun rays. With heavier walling and fewer openings on the opposite side of the house, colder weather can be blocked.

With the house facing the southeast, the angle of the roof should face towards the southwest, which will be an ideal location for solar panels. Solar panels can significantly lower the impact on the environment and your pocketbook, reducing electric bills from 75%-100% annually. It is also possible to be off-grid, which makes the home completely self-sufficient. Solar panels create completely renewable energy which gives off no pollutants.

Along with photovoltaic panels it is also possible to install radiant solar collectors. These collectors accumulate energy that can be used for heating water, running an air conditioner, as well as heating floor coils. Heated floor coils are an efficient source of heating throughout a house as they surround the home in warmth using less energy.

It is also possible to install water collectors on the roof, which, paired with radiant heating, can keep your home completely in warm water. The collection of rain water and gray water reuse can help put the house completely or even partially off-grid, as well as increase your self-sufficiency.

In terms of energy efficiency, the interior of the house ranks just after location and architecture. An open and spacious interior allows for easy airflow, which helps minimize the energy needed for heating and cooling. You can also reduce the amount of energy needed for lighting by installing a wide array of windows facing southeast. The southeast orientation allows maximum light to enter the house, and a spacious interior lets the light to easily pass through.

Once the house is built, energy efficient appliances are part of the ongoing plan to reduce energy consumption. These products are becoming increasingly popular as consumers realize the ecological and economical benefits of living green. Using biodegradable and recycled products can further reduce your house's carbon footprint. To help the environment even further, plant ornamental grasses that require minimal mowing and pruning, and use natural landscaping that requires less toxic chemicals to maintain.

Energy Efficient Building Plans

By: EnviroCitizen

POST COMMENT

Woody biomass prices in the US increased in the 3Q/10 after having trended downward since early 2009 LG GT540 OPTIMUS: a new dimension of LG Great New Discovery Helps You Lucid Dream Quickly And Easily In 7 Days Or Less What's New In Medical Identification Reduce E-waste through mobile Phone Recycling Determining the Correct Number of Solar Panels Protein Bar - Get Energy On The Go A New Experience In The World Of Travel Go and start a new life in the sun amazing secrets on Training Your New Puppy Fad Diets Waste Your Time consult Phonepayplus new code Using Business Stationery To Promote Your New Business