Energy Efficient Homes

What makes a home energy efficient? Energy efficiency is defined as the practice

of using less energy to provide the same level of performance, comfort and convenience. The idea is to save dollars in energy costs without sacrificing comfort. So while turning down the heater may seem to one person an idea of energy efficiency, in truth it is about remaining comfortable, which may mean getting a better heater.

What other criteria define energy efficiency? The use of new technologies that require less energy consumption or that provide natural energy savings for your home. For example, your home's design can contribute to a more energy-efficient lifestyle. Having your home designed to be oriented to the sun appropriately or with the inclusion of more windows or skylights for natural light, will help your home tremendously. Other designs rely on architectural features, such as open layouts, to enhance the energy-saving capabilities of the building materials.

Second, having your home built with proper insulation and windows that are double-paned and energy efficient constitutes energy efficiency. If your home is already built, there are some things you can do to make it more efficient. You can start by weatherizing your home by replacing older windows and doors. You can use caulk or weather-stripping to help insulate outlets, vents, windows doors, and other places air is creeping into your home. Maintaining heating and cooling ducts and changing out filters so they are always clean is also important.

You can also clean air vents and baseboards regularly as well as make sure they are not blocked by furniture, carpets or drapes. Installing an insulating jacket around your hot water heater and hot water heater pipes will help lower the water heater temperature. Other things you can do include: Keep your refrigerator coils clean by checking them yearly; maintain your refrigerator's internal temperature between 36 and 38 degrees with your freezer at 0 to 5 degrees; clean out your dryer filters after each use.

To keep your home cool in the summer, you can use trees and smart landscaping. High trimmed deciduous trees permit breezes to pass under and circulate around the house. The proper use of trees also protect the windows of the home from the direct impact of the sun. In the winter these trees lose their leaves and once again the sun is able to penetrate the house and have a desired warming effect for the cooler winter months.

Upgrading your appliances, heating or cooling systems to those with Energy Star Rating will also help you save money and save energy. Energy Star is a program that evaluates the efficiency of an appliance, house fixture or other home utility. It is also an independent entity co-sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

One typically will see the Energy Star rating emblem on items such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, lighting fixtures, computers, home electronics, windows and heating insulation. If you are building your own home, you can request your contractor buy only Energy Star rated products.

There are many ways to buy or build an energy efficient home, it all starts with understanding its value.

Energy Efficient Homes

By: Carolyn Boden

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