How to Design an Energy-Efficient Home

Forget about automated kitchens and floor treadmills. Energy efficiency is the watermark of the home of the future. Many homes currently being built have been designed to consume as little energy as possible, while a few have even attempted to create a Zero Energy Home, which is so energy efficient that it produces more energy than it consumes.

Instructions

1. Research the climate where the home will be built before you start to design. Take into account weather extremes and the length of the seasons when designing your energy-efficient home, as this will help you determine whether your future home needs to focus more on being heated or cooled. Performing research on the building site will also help you discover what heating and cooling systems are most advantageous, and may also help you determine the most cost-effective way to construct the house.

2. Seal the home's thermal envelope, which separates the living area of the home from the outside space. Energy-efficient windows and doors will go a long way towards sealing the thermal envelope and will make sure the walls of the home have as few construction mistakes as possible, since design and construction errors will allow heat and cold to enter the home.

3. Increase the R-value of the home with insulation. Make sure that the ceiling has been covered with an R-value of at least 50 to prevent heat from escaping. Exterior walls should be completely filled with fiberglass or foam insulation that has an R-value of at least 20, and make sure the floor has been filled with insulation that has an equivalent R-value.

4. Control the ventilation. While a house with a sealed thermal envelope is more energy efficient, it also lacks ventilation coming in from the outside. Use heat recovery ventilators and energy recovery ventilators to transfer in fresh air while retaining most of the temperature of the air inside the home.

5. Concentrate on the home's foundation. Most foundation walls are not well insulated, which negatively impacts energy efficiency. Placing heat-generating appliances, such as washing machines, dryers and freezers, in the basement will allow them to perform double-duty by providing additional heat as they are running.

6. Use heating and cooling systems that are alternative and energy efficient. Many homes have oversized heating and cooling systems, resulting in unnecessary energy consumption to adjust the temperature. A home with a sealed thermal envelope should not require a heating system that produces more than 50,000 BTU's per hour, while a good cooling system may require nothing more than an intake fan to bring in cool air during the summer before the house is sealed until the next evening.

Tips & Warnings

• Designing an energy-efficient home can be challenging. Consult with an architect who is certified in designing "green" homes in order to make sure your design is energy efficient.