subject: Obtaining Energy-efficient Homes [print this page] Energy has become, in recent years a central topic in many circles. Be it business, industries, offices and even homes the issue nowadays is all relating to energy efficiency. Homes in particular have garnered interest as areas where energy efficiency can be easily implemented with many benefits. The design, electrical appliances and sources of energy in a home are some of the factors that are considered and controlled in the construction of energy efficient homes.
So what do we mean through energy efficiency? In science the word energy efficiency has more complex meanings and definitions which include energy input and output. For the purpose of this content we will use the simple, simplest definition.
Energy efficiency simply means utilizing less energy to achieve the same result. For example, during winter you use the heater more, meaning that much more electricity must be used to keep the house warm. In summer time the opposite happens, the air conditioner is on most of the time on so as to keep the heat away. What if you change your normal windows with special glass windows that do not allow a lot of heat to pass through them? Now during winter less heat escapes from the house through the windows to the outside and in summer much less heat comes into the house. The air conditioner is will be rarely on since the house is already comfortable. you have used less energy with similar results.
It is important to note that energy efficiency is not the same as energy conservation. Decreasing the period of time you spend using your desktop computer is energy conservation. Replacing that desktop with the less energy consuming laptop is energy efficiency.
The following are examples of the areas in which energy efficiency is applied.
Home appliances
Present day home appliances use less energy as compared to older home appliances. In many energy-efficient homes you will find brand new models of refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers and other electric powered machines. Likewise doing some changes like getting a clothes line instead of using the dryer saves a lot of energy.
Design
The building size, shape, color, location and general design plays a big part in energy efficiency. Getting insulated walls, foundations and basement slabs minimizes heat loss during cold weather and maintains a cool temperature in the house in summer season. The color also matters. Dark colored houses will tend to absorb a lot of heat than light colored one. So if you live in a cold region it is advisable to use a dark color on your house to reduce the energy used in air conditioning. Planting trees around your home also helps to control indoors temperature.
Lighting
One of the major energy saving methods when it comes to lighting is replacement of the traditional incandescent light bulbs with the newer power saving fluorescent lights. Sky lights are also used to save on the power used in lighting.
There is a lot more advanced technologies used in building and design of homes in order to save energy like Optimum Value Engineering, Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF), Air/Vapor Retarders, Solar Water Heating, Solar Electricity and many more.
Energy efficient homes are the target of interest in the energy sector nowadays and with time they will become a necessity rather than a luxury.
