Homes should create an environment that makes you feel good all year round- cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and doesn’t cause a heart attack when the power bill arrives!
Creating a comfortable and energy efficient home is easy if you follow these simple steps:
1. Stop draughts. This is an extremely cost effective way of saving energy, especially in old homes that can be prone to gaps.
Examine ceilings, wall junctions and other semi open spaces. Seal those sneaky spaces with expanding filler foam or silicon sealer to keep the draughts out and the warm air in.
Unused chimneys are a huge creator of draughts. Block up with crumpled newspaper or seal off completely and make it into a design feature in itself.
Draught stoppers are old fashioned but you’d be surprised at how much heat sneaks through the gap under the door. Be creative and find aesthetically pleasing versions of this old classic and enjoy the difference they make!
2. Line your curtains, ideally with thermal backing in very cold areas. This keeps the cold air from the windows out and the warm air from you paid-for heating in. they can also help block out light for a better nights sleep.
Ensure curtains hang to the floor and have generous stackbacks to retain a good seal.
3. Unless your hot water cylinder is top of the line, insulate the cylinder and at least 1 metre of pipe closest to it. This can be as cheap as an old wool blanket and some duct tape or, especially made insulation wrap can be purchased.
Keep the thermostat at a reasonable temperature. 42 degrees Celsius for washing yourself and 50 degrees Celsius for washing dishes is as hot as you need it. Any higher then that is wasting energy and your money, and creating a burning hazard for young children.
4. If your hot water cylinder needs replacing, why not consider solar heating? Solar water can cut up to 35% off your power bill, and not to mention is good for our water-starved environment.
Before buying, be sure to do your research, as they will vary in performance standard; and be sure to get a solid warranty.
5. Install water efficient showerheads if your shower puts out more than 12 litres of water per minute. This is an easy way of reducing your energy and water consumption without even noticing.
6. Try using energy efficient light bulbs, or if the lighting quality is a problem, try half and half (one out of two lightbulbs are energy-saving, the other is normal). Some companies run good deals for buying at a certain time so keep your eye out and upgrade your home for less.
7. If building a new home, do your research and make sensible design decisions. Double-glazed windows reduce heat loss by almost 50% and retain heat better as well. They also reduce noise and condensation, which can be a constant battle in some houses. Good insulation between walls can have the same effect (noise reduction) as well as insulation. Investigate the large variety of plasterboard on the market to find one that’s right for you.
Consider the houses orientation to the sun, the climate you live in, any existing trees or houses, etc. talk to your architect- its their job to know about these kinds of things.
While these may seem like expensive decisions at the time, remember the money you will save in the long run on power and energy costs.
So as you can see, some simple changes can be made to a new or existing home to create a cosy and environmentally friendly haven for all.
