How to Build an Energy-Efficient House

You’re finally going to do it! You’re going to build your Dream House. Making it as energy efficient as possible will save you loads of money down the road… and possibly save the planet at the same time. It’s complicated, but if you start with the steps outlined below, you’ll be well on your way.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Examine the aboriginal architecture in your area. This should instruct you on what’s most energy and environmentally efficient there. For example, people dug holes in the ground or in cliffs or made massive stone buildings in the desert in order to reduce the heating effect of the sun. The local “architectural vernacular” can instruct you on what works best in your climate.
2. Consider the sun when orienting your building. Depending on your climate, orient your house with consideration of whether you wish to avoid the sun’s rays or collect them. For example, south-facing glass (in northern climates) will collect the sun’s heat even in winter.
3. Build as small a house as your household can comfortably inhabit. Obviously, the smaller the house, the less space there is inside it to heat, cool, light and maintain.
4. Limit your “exposed” walls. Buildings like townhouses, duplexes, apartments or just attached single family homes eliminate walls facing the outside. Less outside exposure provides more protection from losing air and temperature from inside the house.
5. Provide ample and consistent insulation. A well-insulated wall will do no good next to an open window. Use foam board insulating sheathing (instead of, or on top of, the structural OSB/plywood) as it works for both insulation and moisture/condensation control. There are lots of innovative building systems for insulation (e.g. SIPS structural foam panels, insulated concrete forms (ICFs), externally insulated buildings, straw bale construction). All are good ideas to consider.
6. Create intentional ventilation. Keep the house airtight and provide circulation through a controlled system.
7. Select good windows. Fewer and smaller windows can provide less opportunity to counteract the positive impacts of your excellent insulation. Good windows are low emissivity coated, double or triple glazed, or with argon fill gas.
8. Choose energy-efficient mechanical equipment (water heater, air conditioner when necessary, furnace). These are generally labeled as such at the store. Specifically, shoot for a tankless instantaneous hot water heater (EF=~0.85), a 90 percent condensing furnace, and a 12 to 13 SEER air conditioner. In hot climates, get a 14 or higher SEER air conditioner instead.
9. Select an efficient refrigerator. After heating, cooling and water heating, address the electric loads inside the house. The refrigerator is probably most important since it’s always on.
10. Light consciously. Carefully placed windows (and furniture) can reduce your need for electric lighting during the day. For example, make sure the living room and kitchen have windows that aren’t obstructed inside or out.

Tips & Warnings

• Before adding technologies such as home solar energy panels, home windmills, fuel cells or gas turbine cogeneration, make sure you’ve maximized the unit’s energy efficiency (as described above). These technologies are very expensive, so the less energy you use, the less money you’ll need to spend on these technologies to generate your own power.
• Structural (enclosure) improvements will generally have a greater benefit than good appliances.

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