Solace Creations

Energy Efficiency

If you are building, you have the perfect opportunity to make yourself a comfortable home that uses little energy. It doesn’t necessarily have to cost you more, you just need to be smart from the moment that you start thinking about plans. The most important part about making an energy efficient home is to get the orientation right. If you do this, you will benefit from the winter sun and minimise the summer sun entering your home.

When you are buying your block, focus on where north is and make sure you can get your living areas facing the north. If not, keep looking for a block that does give you this opportunity. If you are renovating or extending, have a good look at how you can open up the north and protect the west.

Once you get the orientation right, you need to make sure that you maximise the winter sun. The best place for your living areas is north, garage should be on west or south sides and the bedrooms in the rest. You need to then make sure that you seal your whole building envelope. This means windows, ceiling, walls and floor. Many people think about insulating their walls and ceiling but forget that their windows also need to be insulated. Why bother going to the trouble of paying for insulation when you use single glazing in your home. It is well documented that 100% of your heat escapes through single glazed windows.

The main areas that you need to focus on are:

— Insulating the whole house
— Using double glazed windows
— Draught Control and cross flow ventilation
— Room placement (orientation)
— Energy efficient building materials
— Landscaping to provide shade
— Efficient heating and cooling
— Efficient hot water

By using uPVC double glazed windows you can achieve sensational uValues. uValues are the ratings for the insulation value of the windows. Aluminium double glazed windows have a uValue of 5.0. uPVC can achieve 1.8 – the lower the better. This gives you high performing windows and also exceeds energy ratings meaning that you get more stars on your house.

The important message is that you are the one that will live in the home, be assertive with your architect and builder so that you are able to get the home that you want.