Designing your home for energy efficiency will help you live more comfortably and save money. By following a few simple pointers at the design stage of your new home, such as taking advantage of the sun's free warmth and light, you can not only reduce your energy account but also reduce your impact on the environment. - Choose a block that has clear access to the low-angled winter sun.
- Consider your climate and geographical location and choose building design and materials to suit.
- Plan the rooms in your home to take full advantage of elements such as natural lighting.
- The size and position of windows should be carefully planned according to the direction they face.
- Window protection such as shutters, eaves and drapes can help keep your house cooler in summer and prevent heat loss in the winter.
- Prevent draughts in areas such as construction joints between walls, gaps between and around windows, air vents etc.
- Insulate your home. Insulation is the single most effective item you can add to your home to improve its energy efficiency.
- Set your heating system up so that you have the flexibility to heat individual zones of the home with energy efficient heaters.
- In the initial planning of the house, group together rooms that use hot water, to ensure more efficient use of your hot water system.
Summer comfort in your home does not have to be expensive. If you can stop the heat getting in you can avoid purchasing unnecessary cooling equipment with high operating costs. By paying close attention to all of the aspects below, you can reduce heat entering your home by up to 90%: - insulation to ceilings, walls and floors
- sealing off draughts around windows, doors and any other gaps
- external shading to north, east and west windows
- ventilation to allow cool outside air into the house
The most appropriate type of cooling system for you depends not only on local climatic conditions such as air temperature, humidity and air movement, but also on factors such as the time of day, the type of activities you undertake, clothing you wear and the appliances you use. What is comfortable for one person may not be comfortable for another. There are several different appliances available: - fans - inexpensive to purchase and operate, work by moving air around a room or at a person, not by reducing temperatures.
- evaporative coolers - reasonably low running costs and medium purchase cost, these work by cooling the air but increasing humidity.
- refrigerated air conditioners - more expensive but more complete option, they work by cooling, dehumidifying and recirculating room air.
As you can see, there are a number of variables you need to take into account when choosing a cooling system.
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