energy efficiency

smart ideas for home improvement

This is the first of a four part series that talks about energy efficiency and what you can do to increase your comfort in the home, cut down on energy bills, and staying green at the same time.

heating & cooling

We’ll start off by the highest energy consumer in the entire house … your heating & cooling system. As you can see, almost 50% of your total energy usage comes from this system; the first thing to note is the orientation of your home – obviously, this is something that cannot easily be changed but is worth pointing out a few things.

South facing: preferable orientation for windows w/a roof eave or awning. During winter, the sun is lower in the sky to naturally heat the home; during summer when the sun is high, it is blocked by the eaves/awnings.

West facing: during summer, home can overheat if not protected w/shades and awnings. During winter, most rain storms come from this direction. Protecting against water intrusion that may lead to mold, dry rot and pest infestations should be considered.

North facing: this is the coolest side of the house; make good use of nature cool lighting on this side of the house.

East facing: morning sun side of the house – lots of cooler light during time.

Things to Consider …

1. Dual pane window usage. Install low-E type of windows on warmer sides of the house to reduce heat transfer from the sun.
2. Install an attic fan - preferably the solar kind
3. Install ceiling fans; merely moving air around will feel cooler
4. Re-evaluate your insulation – especially on warmer exterior walls … don’t for the attic (consider blown in cellulose)
5. Shade your air conditioners compressor unit
6. Caulk around windows and doors to ensure there’s no leakage
7. Check your HVAC system for efficiency (should be < 15% leakage)
8. Install proper window coverings for each wall in the house.

Next week … I’ll cover Lighting & Appliances.